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Ruby Academy · Lesson

Working with JSON and YAML

Parse and generate structured data in JSON and YAML formats.

Lesson 3 of 310 steps

Working with JSON and YAML is a free Ruby Academy lesson on CoddyKit. This is lesson 3 of 3. Any 3 lessons of this learning path are free to read in full — after that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus hands-on practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Ruby Academy learning path, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app. The Ruby Academy course includes 3 lessons in total.

Working with JSON and YAML

JSON and YAML are widely used formats for storing and exchanging structured data.

In this lesson, you will learn how to parse and generate JSON and YAML in Ruby.

Working with JSON and YAML — illustration 1

What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data format used for data exchange.

Parsing JSON

Use JSON.parse to convert a JSON string into a Ruby hash.

require 'json'
json_data = '{"name": "Alice", "age": 25}'
data = JSON.parse(json_data)
puts data['name']

Converting a Ruby Object to JSON

Use to_json to convert a Ruby hash into JSON format.

require 'json'
data = { name: 'Alice', age: 25 }
json_string = data.to_json
puts json_string

What is YAML?

YAML (Yet Another Markup Language) is a human-readable format used for configuration files.

Parsing YAML

Use YAML.load to convert a YAML string into a Ruby hash.

require 'yaml'
yaml_data = "name: Alice\nage: 25"
data = YAML.load(yaml_data)
puts data['name']

Converting a Ruby Object to YAML

Use to_yaml to convert a Ruby hash into YAML format.

require 'yaml'
data = { name: 'Alice', age: 25 }
yaml_string = data.to_yaml
puts yaml_string

Use Cases for JSON and YAML

JSON is commonly used for APIs, while YAML is preferred for configuration files.

Congratulations!

You have learned how to work with JSON and YAML in Ruby.

Next, you will explore exception handling and debugging techniques.

Working with JSON and YAML — illustration 10
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the “Working with JSON and YAML” lesson free?

Yes — any 3 lessons of the Ruby Academy learning path, including “Working with JSON and YAML”, are free to read in full here on the web. After that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus interactive practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. The Ruby Academy course includes 3 lessons in total.

What will I learn in “Working with JSON and YAML”?

Parse and generate structured data in JSON and YAML formats. You practise Ruby Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start Ruby Academy?

No prior experience is required. Ruby Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace. This is lesson 3 of 3.

How long does the “Working with JSON and YAML” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this Ruby Academy lesson?

Yes. Every Ruby Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

  1. Reading and Writing Files
  2. User Input and Output
  3. Working with JSON and YAML
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