JSON vs YAML
JSON and YAML represent the same data — objects, lists, values — but with different priorities: JSON optimizes for machines to parse fast and unambiguously; YAML optimizes for people to read and edit. That is why JSON rules APIs and YAML rules config files.
| Aspect | JSON | YAML |
|---|---|---|
| Human readability | Medium (braces and quotes) | High (clean indentation) |
| Comments | Not supported | Yes (#) |
| Parse speed | Very fast | Slower |
| Error risk | Low | High (indentation) |
| Typical use | APIs, storage | Config, CI/CD |
When to use JSON
Use JSON for API responses, service-to-service exchange, storage and anything consumed by a program. It is stricter, faster to parse and does not depend on indentation.
When to use YAML
Use YAML for human-edited config (CI, Docker Compose, Kubernetes): comments, fewer braces and quotes, and anchors to reuse blocks. The trade-off: indentation is significant and one extra space breaks the file.
In short: It is not "one is better": JSON for machines, YAML for humans. Because YAML is a superset of JSON, you can almost always convert between them without losing data.