Basically, both JSON and YAML were developed to provide a human-readable data interchange format.
YAML is implemented as a superset of the JSON format. This means that we can parse JSON using a YAML parser.
The following are some key differences between YAML and JSON:
| YAML | JSON |
|---|---|
| Complex and time consuming process of parsing Serialized data | Quickly and easily parse JSON serialized data with its simpler design |
| Less community support | Larger community support and popularity |
| Supports comments | Doesn't support comments |
| Ability to use reference of other data objects | Impossible to serialize complex structures with object references |
| Hierarchy is denoted by using double space characters. Tab characters are not allowed | Objects and Arrays are denoted in braces and brackets. |
| String quotes are optional but it supports single and double quotes. | Strings must be in double quotes. |
| Root node can be any of the valid data types | Root node must either be an array or an object. |