📒 YAML Syntax

YAML uses indentation to represent data structure. No curly braces, no brackets — just clean, readable data structures powered by spacing. Here’s a breakdown of the core syntax rules and how to write proper YAML files.

📖 Example YAML Structure

This sample demonstrates basic syntax with key-value pairs, lists, and nesting.

Parsed keys will appear here...

💡 Tip: YAML uses spaces only for indentation. No tabs allowed. Stick to 2 spaces per level!

🔧 Common YAML Syntax Elements

Key-Value Pair: key: value

List: Use dashes for each list item:

fruits:
  - Apple
  - Banana
  - Cherry

Nested Data: Indent child values under parent keys with spaces.
Comments: Use # for comments.
Boolean Values: true / false (lowercase)

📌 Example: Defining a User Profile

username: "alex_dev"
email: "alex@example.com"
roles:
  - admin
  - editor
notifications: true

📌 Strings don’t need to be quoted unless they contain special characters or start with certain symbols.

🖼️ YAML in Practice

YAML is widely used in tools like Docker Compose, GitHub Actions, Kubernetes manifests, and configuration files for many frameworks. Here's an example Docker Compose YAML:

📚 Conclusion

That’s YAML syntax in a nutshell — clean, indented, and super readable. Now you’re ready to write config files, workflows, or structured data without ugly brackets and quotes everywhere. Try building your own YAML file structure next!