Key-value pairs are a fundamental concept in YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language). They form the backbone of YAML's data representation, allowing you to structure information in a clear and readable format.
A key-value pair in YAML consists of two main components:
Keys and values are separated by a colon (:) followed by a space. This simple structure makes YAML an excellent choice for configuration files and data serialization.
Here's the basic syntax for YAML key-value pairs:
key: value
For example:
name: John Doe
age: 30
city: New York
YAML supports various data types as values, including:
YAML allows for nested structures, creating more complex data representations:
person:
name: Jane Smith
age: 28
address:
street: 123 Main St
city: Boston
country: USA
Key-value pairs in YAML are widely used in:
Understanding key-value pairs is crucial for working with YAML effectively. They provide a simple yet powerful way to structure data, making YAML a popular choice for various applications in modern software development and DevOps practices.
For more advanced YAML concepts, explore YAML anchors and YAML aliases, which can help you create more efficient and maintainable YAML files.