How to Convert YAML to Go Structs - Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1

Input Your YAML Configuration

Start by pasting your YAML configuration file. This tool is perfect for converting Kubernetes configs, Docker Compose files, application settings, CI/CD pipelines, or any YAML-based configuration into type-safe Go structs.

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Paste directly: Copy YAML from configuration files, API responses, or documentation

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Upload a file: Click "Upload" to select a .yaml or .yml file from your project

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Try the sample: Click "Sample" to see how a typical application config converts to Go

Example: YAML Configuration Input

Here's a typical YAML configuration for an application:

server:
  host: localhost
  port: 8080
  timeout: 30
  tls:
    enabled: true
    cert_file: /path/to/cert.pem
database:
  host: db.example.com
  port: 5432
  username: admin
  password: secret123
  max_connections: 100
features:
  - authentication
  - logging
  - metrics

Step 2

Automatic Type Detection & Struct Generation

The converter analyzes your YAML structure and automatically generates properly typed Go structs:

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Intelligent type inference: Automatically detects int, float64, bool, string types from YAML values

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Nested struct generation: Creates separate struct definitions for nested YAML objects

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Array handling: Converts YAML sequences to Go slices with proper element types

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Dual tags: Generates both json and yaml struct tags for maximum compatibility

Example: Generated Go Struct Output

The YAML config above becomes these type-safe Go structs:

package main

type Config struct {
    Server   Server   `json:"server" yaml:"server"`
    Database Database `json:"database" yaml:"database"`
    Features []string `json:"features" yaml:"features"`
}

type Server struct {
    Host    string `json:"host" yaml:"host"`
    Port    int    `json:"port" yaml:"port"`
    Timeout int    `json:"timeout" yaml:"timeout"`
    Tls     Tls    `json:"tls" yaml:"tls"`
}

type Tls struct {
    Enabled  bool   `json:"enabled" yaml:"enabled"`
    CertFile string `json:"cert_file" yaml:"cert_file"`
}

type Database struct {
    Host           string `json:"host" yaml:"host"`
    Port           int    `json:"port" yaml:"port"`
    Username       string `json:"username" yaml:"username"`
    Password       string `json:"password" yaml:"password"`
    MaxConnections int    `json:"max_connections" yaml:"max_connections"`
}

Step 3

Customize Your Go Code Generation

Fine-tune the output to match your project's coding standards and requirements:

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Struct name: Customize the root struct name to match your application (e.g., "AppConfig", "Settings")

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JSON tags: Toggle json struct tags if you need JSON marshaling/unmarshaling

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YAML tags: Toggle yaml struct tags for use with yaml.v2 or yaml.v3 libraries

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Field visibility: All fields are exported (capitalized) by default for external package access

Step 4

Export and Integrate Into Your Go Project

Your Go structs are production-ready! Use them with popular YAML libraries like gopkg.in/yaml.v3:

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Copy to clipboard: One-click copying to paste into your Go configuration package

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Download as .go file: Save as a Go source file with proper package declaration

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Ready for yaml.Unmarshal: Works immediately with yaml.Unmarshal(data, &config)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the YAML to Go converter detect field types?

The converter analyzes YAML values to infer types: numbers without decimals become int, numbers with decimals become float64, true/false become bool, and text becomes string. For arrays, it examines the first element to determine the slice type.

Can I use this for Kubernetes config files?

Yes! This tool is perfect for converting Kubernetes manifests, Helm values files, or any k8s configuration to Go structs. It's especially useful when building Kubernetes operators or controllers in Go.

What YAML libraries work with the generated structs?

The generated structs work with popular Go YAML libraries including gopkg.in/yaml.v2, gopkg.in/yaml.v3, and github.com/goccy/go-yaml. The yaml struct tags ensure compatibility across all these libraries.

How are YAML anchors and aliases handled?

The converter processes the resolved YAML (after anchors/aliases are expanded), so the generated Go structs represent the final, expanded structure. YAML anchors are a parsing concern handled by YAML libraries, not the struct definition.

Is this YAML to Go converter completely free?

Yes, absolutely free with no limitations. Convert unlimited YAML files to Go structs, no registration or credit card required. Perfect for DevOps engineers, backend developers, and Go programmers working with configuration files.