Why should we use yml over properties

Question

If we put spring.datasource.url = url it takes only one line.

However, If we put same thing in .yml it takes 4 lines.

spring : 
  datasource:
    url : url

Yet developers and frameworks(like Spring) prefer .yml over .properties.

Why should we use .yml over .properties file?

Answer 1

Some Googling would have definitely helped you.

Ex : From http://javajee.com/a-quick-comparison-of-yaml-with-properties-file ,

YAML supports Maps, lists and scalar types. YAML is hierarchical and may use consistent spaces to denote hierarchy.

and,

Properties file is mainly used with Java, supports only String types and is non-hierarchical; we can have maps by denoting hierarchies as dots

Another long and descriptive guide is http://hsoienterprises.com/2014/03/10/property-list-vs-json-vs-yaml/ , which I'll leave for you to read.