# HCL-YAML Converter

Convert between HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL) and YAML formats for Terraform configurations

> Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/hcl-yaml-converter

- **Category:** Format Conversion

- **Keywords:** hcl, hashicorp, terraform, yaml, convert, transform, hcl converter, yaml to hcl, hcl to yaml, config, configuration

## Overview

The HCL-YAML Converter is a specialized utility designed to seamlessly transform configuration files between HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL) and YAML. It simplifies infrastructure-as-code workflows by allowing developers to bridge the gap between Terraform-native HCL syntax and standard YAML data structures.

## Inputs

- **Input Data** (textarea): Enter HCL or YAML data...
- **Conversion Direction** (select)
- **YAML Indent Size** (number): Enter YAML indent size (1-8)

## When to use

- When migrating infrastructure definitions from YAML-based tools to Terraform HCL.
- When you need to visualize or parse complex HCL configurations using YAML-compatible tools.
- When standardizing configuration management across different DevOps pipelines.

## How it works

- Paste your source HCL or YAML code into the input area.
- Select the desired conversion direction (HCL to YAML or YAML to HCL).
- Adjust the YAML indent size if necessary to match your project's style guide.
- Click convert to generate the transformed configuration output.

## Use cases

- Standardizing infrastructure documentation by converting HCL to readable YAML.
- Integrating Terraform configurations into YAML-based CI/CD pipeline templates.
- Refactoring legacy configuration files for better compatibility with automation scripts.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does this tool support all Terraform HCL features?

The tool handles standard HCL structure mapping to YAML. Complex HCL-specific expressions or functions may require manual adjustment after conversion.

### Can I convert multiple files at once?

This tool is designed for single-block text conversion. Please process files individually.

### What is the purpose of the YAML Indent Size setting?

It allows you to define the number of spaces used for indentation in the resulting YAML, ensuring it aligns with your existing codebase standards.

### Is my data stored on your servers?

No, all conversions are performed locally in your browser to ensure your configuration data remains private.

### Will comments in my HCL file be preserved?

Due to the structural differences between HCL and YAML, comments may not be preserved during the conversion process.

## Related tools

- [TOML-YAML Converter](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/toml-yaml-converter): Convert between TOML and YAML formats with support for complex data structures and configuration files
- [YAML-JSON Converter](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/yaml-json-converter): Convert between YAML and JSON formats
- [HCL-JSON Converter](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/hcl-json-converter): Convert between HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL) and JSON formats for Terraform configurations
- [HCL-TOML Converter](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/hcl-toml-converter): Convert between HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL) and TOML formats for infrastructure configurations
- [Text to Excel Converter](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/text-to-excel): Convert various text formats to Excel with customizable parsing and formatting options
- [WireGuard/OpenVPN to Clash and sing-box Config Bridge](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/wireguard-openvpn-to-clash-singbox-bridge): Convert pasted WireGuard or OpenVPN client text into Mihomo/Clash YAML or sing-box JSON with secret-field diagnostics; do not share private keys
- [Excel to CSV Converter](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/excel-to-csv): Convert Excel file to CSV format, extracting data from the first worksheet
- [Excel to HTML Table Converter](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/excel-to-html): Convert Excel file to HTML table format, extracting data from the first worksheet

## Samples

- [YAML Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/yaml-samples): YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language) format examples from simple to complex structures
- [YAML Viewer Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/yaml-viewer-samples): Sample YAML files (app config, docker-compose, k8s) for the in-browser YAML Viewer
- [Kubernetes YAML Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/kubernetes-yaml): Complete Kubernetes YAML manifests for Deployment, Service, ConfigMap, Secret, Ingress and other essential resources
- [CircleCI Configuration Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/circleci-config): CircleCI configuration examples including workflows, orbs, caching, and advanced deployment strategies

## Related content

- [Environment and Configuration Format Workflow](https://elysiatools.com/en/hubs/config-workflows): Inspect, validate, convert, merge, and diff configuration without exposing secrets or losing the source of truth.