How to convert between data formats
- Paste your data into Input or open a file. Detect works out whether it's JSON, CSV, XML or YAML; pick the format yourself if it guesses wrong.
- Choose the format you want under To. The result updates as you type.
- Copy the result or download it. The file gets the right extension for the format you chose.
Which format to use
| Format | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| JSON | APIs, web apps, settings | No comments; every key needs quotes |
| CSV | Spreadsheets, exports, bulk imports | Only one flat table; no types, everything is text to Excel |
| XML | Older APIs, office documents, RSS feeds | Verbose; attributes and elements both hold data |
| YAML | Config files: Docker Compose, Kubernetes, CI pipelines | Indentation matters; words like no and on can turn into true/false in older parsers |
Tips
- Spreadsheet to config: export the sheet as CSV, paste it here and choose YAML or JSON. Each row becomes one item.
- API response to spreadsheet: paste the JSON and choose CSV. Open the download in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets.
- Check the result: if a conversion looks wrong, run the input through the JSON formatter or XML formatter first. A missing bracket or tag is the usual cause.
For one conversion with more options, such as choosing the CSV delimiter or YAML indentation, use the single converters: CSV to JSON, JSON to CSV, JSON to YAML, YAML to JSON, XML to JSON and JSON to XML.