Question 1

What is YAML format?

Accepted Answer

YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language) is a human-readable data serialization format. Uses indentation for structure, key: value pairs for data, and - for lists. Common for config files (Kubernetes, Docker Compose, Ansible, GitHub Actions). More readable than JSON but requires careful indentation.

Question 2

How do I fix YAML indentation errors?

Accepted Answer

YAML indentation rules: Use spaces only (never tabs), consistent indent size (2 or 4), nested items must be indented relative to parent. Common errors: mixing tabs and spaces, inconsistent indent levels, missing indentation for nested items. Most YAML parsers show line number for indentation errors.

Question 3

What is the difference between YAML and JSON?

Accepted Answer

YAML: Human-readable, uses indentation, supports comments (#), less verbose, harder to parse, good for config files. JSON: Machine-readable, uses braces/brackets, no comments, strict syntax, easy to parse, good for APIs and data transfer. YAML is superset of JSON - valid JSON is valid YAML.

Question 4

How do I write YAML lists?

Accepted Answer

YAML lists use hyphen + space: - item. Each item on new line at same indentation level. Inline list: [item1, item2]. Nested objects in list: - key: value. List items can be strings, numbers, objects, or nested lists. Example: items: - apple - banana - orange

Question 5

Why is YAML used for Kubernetes?

Accepted Answer

Kubernetes uses YAML for manifest files because: 1) Human-readable - easier to write and review. 2) Supports comments - documentation inline. 3) Less verbose - cleaner than JSON. 4) Standard format - kubectl apply -f manifest.yaml. Kubernetes YAML defines pods, services, deployments, configmaps, and all resources.

YAML Formatter & Validator

YAML Syntax Rules

Common YAML Use Cases