YAML

Updated: 10/07/2019 by Computer Hope
YAML example

YAML is a data serialization language first proposed by Clark Evans in 2001. It is used to organize and describe information, like other languages such as XML (extensible markup language). It builds upon another popular data serialization format, JSON (JavaScript Object Notation).

Like the Python programming language, YAML uses indentation (rather than brackets or braces) to delimit blocks of data. It places emphasis on being easy for humans to read.

Today, YAML is a recursive acronym for "YAML Ain't Markup Language." The name distinguishes it from simple markup languages such as HTML (hypertext markup language). Files that contain YAML have the file extension ".yaml."

Note

Originally, YAML was short for "yet another markup language."

What can YAML be used for?

YAML can be used for almost anything where data needs to be described in an ordered fashion. For instance:

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