Introduction to YAML and its Uses
Data formats are essential components of modern computing, allowing programmers and organizations to store, share, and distribute data efficiently. YAML (short for “YAML Ain’t Markup Language”) is one such data format that has gained increasing popularity over the years due to its ease of use and versatility.
In this article, we’ll explore the history of YAML, how it compares to other data formats such as XML and JSON, and its practical uses in DevOps and automation tools.
Historical Context
YAML was first introduced in 2001 by Clark Evans, Ingy dt Net, and Oren Ben-Kiki, with the goal of creating a data serialization language that was more human-readable and less verbose than XML. YAML’s design philosophy focuses on readability, simplicity, and expressiveness, making it an excellent choice for data serialization, configuration files, and other types of text-based data interchange.
YAML has since gained traction in a variety of applications, including web development, DevOps, and system administration.
Comparison with XML and JSON
XML (short for “Extensible Markup Language”) and JSON (short for “JavaScript Object Notation) are two of the most popular data interchange formats used today. XML is widely used in web development; it is a markup language that is used to define and structure data, allowing programmatic access to the data.
JSON is a lightweight data interchange format that is commonly used in client-server communication, particularly in web-based applications. YAML shares some similarities with both XML and JSON, but it offers several distinct advantages.
First, YAML is easier to read and write compared to XML, which can be verbose and difficult to parse. YAML also offers a simpler and more intuitive syntax compared to JSON, which can become cumbersome when dealing with complex data structures.
YAML has more flexible data structures than XML, while being more concise than JSON.
Practical Uses of YAML
YAML is ideal for system configuration files, as it provides a simple and intuitive syntax for defining properties, lists, and maps. This is particularly useful in DevOps, where system administrators need to configure large numbers of servers quickly and accurately.
Automation tools like Ansible and Salt use YAML files for defining infrastructure and orchestration tasks, enabling developers to create reproducible and scalable workflows. YAML is also used in software development, providing a way for developers to store and share data structures in a human-readable format.
Many programming languages, including Python and JavaScript, have native support for YAML, making it easy to read and write YAML files within code. YAML is particularly useful for defining complex data structures like lists, dictionaries, and objects, which can be easily read and accessed by other developers.
YAML Syntax
Block Indentation and Inline Blocks
YAML uses a simple, indentation-based syntax for representing data structures. The syntax is designed to be easy to read and intuitive, with minimal punctuation and other syntactic clutter.
Blocks are indented with spaces, and each level of indentation indicates a new nested block. The number of spaces used for indentation is not fixed, but it must be consistent throughout the file.
Inline blocks are also supported in YAML, allowing developers to define simple data structures like key-value pairs, lists, and arrays in a single line. Inline blocks use a comma-separated syntax, with the values enclosed in brackets or braces.
Scalars, Arrays, and Hashes
YAML supports several data types, including scalars, arrays, and hashes. Scalars represent single values, such as strings, integers, and booleans.
Arrays are lists of values, and hashes are key-value pairs, similar to dictionaries in Python or objects in JavaScript. YAML’s data structures are similar in many ways to those used in Python lists and dictionaries, and JavaScript objects and maps.
This makes it easy to store and share data across different programming languages and platforms.
Reserved Words and Null Constant
YAML defines several reserved words that are used to define data types, such as “true,” “false,” “null,” and others. These reserved words are case-sensitive and must be spelled exactly as shown.
Null constant, represented by the tilde (~) character, is used to represent a null or undefined value.
Conclusion
In conclusion, YAML has become one of the most popular data interchange formats used today, thanks to its simplicity, expressiveness, and readability. YAML’s versatile data types and syntax make it an ideal choice for a variety of applications, including DevOps, system administration, and software development.
By understanding YAML’s syntax and data structures, developers can create powerful and efficient workflows that leverage YAML’s unique features.
Getting Started with YAML in Python
YAML is an excellent data interchange format that is easy to read and write. Python users can benefit greatly from using YAML in their projects, as it provides a more readable and intuitive way to store and share data.
In this article, we’ll explore how to use the PyYAML library in Python to serialize and deserialize YAML documents, read and write YAML files, and parse YAML documents at a low level.
Serialize YAML Documents as JSON
Before diving into using YAML in Python, it is worth noting that YAML can be serialized as JSON. This can be useful when working with libraries or frameworks that expect JSON input.
In Python, we can use the PyYAML library to serialize YAML documents as JSON:
import json
import yaml
# Load a YAML document
yaml_doc = """
name: John Smith
age: 35
"""
# Convert YAML to JSON
json_doc = json.dumps(yaml.safe_load(yaml_doc))
print(json_doc)
In this example, we first load a YAML document using the `yaml.safe_load()` method and then convert it to a JSON string using the `json.dumps()` method.
Install the PyYAML Library
To work with YAML in Python, we need to install the PyYAML library. The easiest way to install it is using pip:
pip install pyyaml
Read and Write Your First YAML Document
Once PyYAML is installed, we can start reading and writing YAML documents using Python. In the following example, we’ll read a YAML file and print its contents:
import yaml
# Load a YAML file
with open("config.yml", "r") as f:
yaml_doc = yaml.load(f, Loader=yaml.BaseLoader)
# Print the YAML document
print(yaml_doc)
In this example, we open the `config.yml` file and read its contents using the `yaml.load()` method. We specify the `yaml.BaseLoader` as the loader class to use.
To write a YAML file, we can use the `yaml.dump()` method:
import yaml
# Define some data
data = {
"name": "John Smith",
"age": 35,
}
# Write to a YAML file
with open("config.yml", "w") as f:
yaml.dump(data, f)
In this example, we define a dictionary object `data` and write it to a YAML file using the `yaml.dump()` method.
Loading YAML Documents in Python
When loading YAML documents in Python, we can choose from different loader classes, each with different features and security options.
Choose the Loader Class
The following loader classes are available in PyYAML:
yaml.SafeLoader
: This is the default loader class and only allows specific Python data types like strings, integers, and lists.yaml.FullLoader
: The FullLoader allows for loading arbitrary Python objects.yaml.Loader
: This loader allows loading all Python objects and is suitable for most use cases.
Compare Loader Features
To choose the right loader class for our needs, we must compare their features. The primary difference between the SafeLoader and FullLoader is how they handle Python objects.
The SafeLoader only allows basic Python data types, which makes it the most secure option. In contrast, the FullLoader can load arbitrary Python objects, making it less secure.
The Loader is similar to the FullLoader, but it is missing some advanced features, such as merge keys and custom tags.
Explore Loaders Insecure Features
The FullLoader and Loader classes offer more advanced features than the SafeLoader. However, we should be cautious when using these loaders in untrusted environments, as they may execute arbitrary Python code.
Load a Document From a String, a File, or a Stream
We can load YAML documents from a string, a file, or a stream. In the following examples, we’ll load a YAML document from a string, read it from a file, and read it from a stream:
import yaml
# Load a YAML document from a string
yaml_doc = yaml.load("""
name: John Smith
age: 35
""", Loader=yaml.BaseLoader)
# Load a YAML document from a file
with open("config.yml", "r") as f:
yaml_doc = yaml.load(f, Loader=yaml.BaseLoader)
# Load a YAML document from a stream
with open("config.yml", "rb") as f:
yaml_doc = yaml.load(f, Loader=yaml.BaseLoader)
In each example, we use the `yaml.load()` method with different inputs and the `yaml.BaseLoader` as the loader class.
Load Multiple Documents
We can also load multiple YAML documents using the `yaml.load_all()` method. This method returns a generator that yields each document in the input.
import yaml
# Load multiple YAML documents from a file
with open("config.yml", "r") as f:
for yaml_doc in yaml.load_all(f, Loader=yaml.BaseLoader):
print(yaml_doc)
In this example, we use the `yaml.load_all()` method to load multiple YAML documents from the `config.yml` file.
Dumping Python Objects to YAML Documents
In addition to loading YAML documents, we can also dump Python objects to YAML using PyYAML. To do this, we must choose a dumper class that defines how Python objects are written to YAML.
Choose the Dumper Class
The following dumper classes are available in PyYAML:
yaml.SafeDumper
: This is the default dumper class that only allows specific Python data types.yaml.FullDumper
: The FullDumper allows for dumping arbitrary Python objects.
In most cases, we can use the SafeDumper. Dump to a String, a File, or a Stream
We can dump Python objects to YAML documents using the `yaml.dump()` method.
This method allows dumping to a string, a file, or a stream:
import yaml
# Define some data
data = {
"name": "John Smith",
"age": 35,
}
# Dump to a YAML string
yaml_doc = yaml.dump(data, Dumper=yaml.SafeDumper)
# Dump to a YAML file
with open("config.yml", "w") as f:
yaml.dump(data, f, Dumper=yaml.SafeDumper)
In this example, we first define a Python object `data`, and then we dump it to a YAML string and a YAML file using the `yaml.dump()` method.
Dump Multiple Documents
We can also dump multiple YAML documents using the `yaml.dump_all()` method. This method takes an iterable of Python objects and dumps them to separate YAML documents.
import yaml
# Define some data
data1 = {
"name": "John Smith",
"age": 35,
}
data2 = {
"name": "Jane Doe",
"age": 30,
}
# Dump multiple documents to a YAML file
with open("config.yml", "w") as f:
yaml.dump_all([data1, data2], f, Dumper=yaml.SafeDumper)
In this example, we define two Python objects and dump both to a YAML file using the `yaml.dump_all()` method.
Tweak the Formatting with Optional Parameters
The `yaml.dump()` and `yaml.dump_all()` methods support optional parameters that we can use to tweak the formatting of the dumped YAML. Some of the most commonly used parameters are:
default_flow_style
: Controls whether to use inline or block-style formatting for collections like lists and dictionaries. DefaultFalse
.indent
: Controls the number of spaces used for each level of indentation. Default2
.block_seq_indent
: Controls the number of spaces used for indentation in block-style sequences. DefaultNone
.block_map_indent
: Controls the number of spaces used for indentation in block-style mappings. DefaultNone
.
import yaml
# Define some data
data = {
"name": "John Smith",
"age": 35,
"pets": ["dog", "cat"],
}
# Dump to YAML with custom parameters
yaml_doc = yaml.dump(data, Dumper=yaml.SafeDumper, default_flow_style=True, indent=4)
print(yaml_doc)
In this example, we define a Python object `data` and dump it to YAML with custom parameters using the `default_flow_style` and `indent` options.
Dump Custom Data Types
We can also define custom data types and tell PyYAML how to serialize them to YAML. To do this, we must define a custom YAML constructor and resolver for our data type.
import yaml
# Define a custom data type
class Person:
def __init__(self, name, age):
self.name = name
self.age = age
# Define the constructor and resolver
def person_constructor(loader, node):
fields = loader.construct_mapping(node, deep=True)
return Person(**fields)
def person_representer(dumper, data):
return dumper.represent_mapping("!person", {"name": data.name, "age": data.age})
# Add the constructor and resolver to the PyYAML loader and dumper classes
yaml.add_constructor("!person", person_constructor, loader=yaml.SafeLoader)
yaml.add_representer(Person, person_representer, Dumper=yaml.SafeDumper)
# Define some data
data = {
"person": Person("John Smith", 35),
}
# Dump to YAML with custom data type
yaml_doc = yaml.dump(data, Dumper=yaml.SafeDumper)
print(yaml_doc)
In this example, we define a custom data type `Person` and then define custom constructor and representer functions for it. We then add these functions to the PyYAML loader and dumper classes with the `yaml.add_constructor()` and `yaml.add_representer()` methods.
Finally, we define some data containing a `Person` object and dump it to YAML using the `yaml.dump()` method.
Parsing YAML Documents at a Low Level
While the PyYAML library provides convenient methods for loading and dumping YAML documents quickly, it is sometimes useful to parse YAML documents at a more low-level, event-driven level. The PyYAML library provides several methods for parsing YAML documents at different levels of abstraction.
Tokenize a YAML Document
The most basic method of parsing a YAML document is tokenization. Tokenization involves splitting the input document into individual tokens that represent YAML syntax elements.
import yaml
# Tokenize a YAML document
yaml_doc = """
name: John Smith
age: 35
"""
for token in yaml.scan(yaml_doc):
print(token)
In this example, we use the `yaml.scan()` method to tokenize a YAML document. This method returns a generator that yields each token in the input.
Parse a Stream of Events
Once we have tokenized a YAML document, we can parse it at an event-driven level using the `yaml.parse()` method. This method returns a generator that yields events that represent the structure of the input document.
import yaml
# Parse a YAML document
yaml_doc = """
name: John Smith
age: 35
"""
for event in yaml.parse(yaml_doc):
print(event)
In this example, we use the `yaml.parse()` method to parse a YAML document and print each event yielded by the generator.