JSONToTable

YAML to Environment Variables

Convert YAML configuration to environment variables in multiple formats

YAML Input

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Environment Variables

Environment variables will appear here

Paste YAML configuration in the input area to get started

How to Convert YAML to Environment Variables - Step by Step Guide

Step 1

Input Your YAML Configuration

Ready to convert your YAML configuration files to environment variables? Just paste your YAML content. The converter flattens nested structures and converts them to environment variable format with customizable naming conventions.

Example: Application Configuration

Here's a typical YAML config file: 😊

# Application Configuration
app:
  name: "MyApp"
  version: "2.1.0"
  debug: true

server:
  host: "0.0.0.0"
  port: 3000
  ssl:
    enabled: true
    cert_path: "/etc/ssl/certs/app.crt"

database:
  host: "postgres.example.com"
  port: 5432
  credentials:
    username: "db_admin"
Step 2

Choose Output Format

Here's where it gets exciting! 🎉 Select from multiple environment variable formats including .env files, shell exports, Docker ENV commands, or JSON format for different deployment scenarios.

Available Output Formats

Choose the format that works best for your deployment:

.env File Format:

APP_NAME=MyApp
APP_VERSION=2.1.0
APP_DEBUG=true
SERVER_HOST=0.0.0.0
SERVER_PORT=3000

Shell Export Format:

export APP_NAME="MyApp"
export APP_VERSION="2.1.0"
export APP_DEBUG="true"
export SERVER_HOST="0.0.0.0"
export SERVER_PORT="3000"
Step 3

Customize Naming Options

Make it yours! Configure prefixes, separators, and case formatting to match your deployment requirements. Options include UPPER_CASE, camelCase, and custom prefixes.

•
Case Format: UPPER_CASE, lower_case, camelCase, PascalCase
•
Separator: Underscore (_), dash (-), or dot (.)
•
Prefix: Add custom prefix (e.g., MYAPP_, PROD_)
•
Nested Keys: Flatten with separators (database_host vs DATABASE_HOST)
•
Array Handling: Index-based or comma-separated values
Step 4

Export & Deploy

Perfect! Copy the generated environment variables or download them as files. Ready for use in Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, or local development.

Deployment Examples

Here's how to use your environment variables:

Docker Compose:

services:
  app:
    env_file: .env
    # or inline:
    environment:
      - APP_NAME=MyApp
      - SERVER_PORT=3000

Kubernetes ConfigMap:

kubectl create configmap app-config \
  --from-env-file=.env

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the tool handle nested YAML structures?

The tool flattens nested YAML structures using customizable separators (underscore, dot, or dash). For example, `database.host` becomes `DATABASE_HOST` or `database_host` depending on your chosen format and case preferences.

Can I customize the output format for different deployment systems?

Yes! Choose from .env file format, shell export commands, Docker ENV statements, or JSON format. Each format is optimized for specific deployment scenarios like Docker Compose, Kubernetes, or shell scripts.

How are YAML arrays converted to environment variables?

Arrays can be converted using index-based naming (FEATURES_0, FEATURES_1) or comma-separated values (FEATURES="auth,logging,monitoring"). You can choose the format that works best with your application's configuration parsing.

Can I add prefixes to all environment variable names?

Absolutely! Add custom prefixes like "MYAPP_", "PROD_", or "DEV_" to all generated environment variables. This helps organize configuration and prevents naming conflicts in complex deployment environments.

Is the output compatible with Docker and Kubernetes?

Yes! The generated environment variables work perfectly with Docker Compose files, Kubernetes ConfigMaps and Secrets, CI/CD pipelines, and any system that uses environment variables for configuration management.

Is the YAML to environment variables converter free?

Yes, completely free with unlimited conversions, no file size restrictions, and no registration required. Perfect for DevOps teams and developers working with configuration management and deployment automation.