---
title: YAML vs Classic Pipelines
description: Learn the basics about Azure Pipelines and explore the different features available for both YAML and Classic pipelines.
ms.topic: overview
ms.author: sdanie
author: steved0x
ms.date: 06/12/2024
monikerRange: '<= azure-devops'
---

# YAML vs Classic Pipelines

[!INCLUDE [version-lt-eq-azure-devops](../../includes/version-lt-eq-azure-devops.md)]

Azure Pipelines enables developers to automate a wide variety of tasks, ranging from executing a batch file to setting up a complete continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD) solution for their applications.

Azure Pipelines supports a wide range of languages, platforms, and tools, and offers two types of pipelines to choose from: [YAML-based](yaml-pipeline-editor.md) and [Classic pipeline](../release/define-multistage-release-process.md) editors.

> [!NOTE]
> If you are new to Azure Pipelines, it is recommended to start with YAML pipelines. For existing Classic pipelines, you can choose to continue using them or [migrate to YAML pipelines](../migrate/from-classic-pipelines.md).

## Define pipelines using YAML

Your pipeline configuration resides in a YAML file named `azure-pipelines.yml`, alongside your application.

- The YAML file is versioned alongside your application code, adhering to the same branching structure. 

- Each branch can customize the pipeline by editing the `azure-pipelines.yml` file.

- Keeping the pipeline configuration in version control ensures that any changes that cause issues or unexpected outcomes can be easily identified within your codebase.

For instructions, see [Create your first pipeline](../create-first-pipeline.md) for a step by step guide to building a sample application from a Git repository.

## Define pipelines using the Classic interface 

::: moniker range="<=azure-devops"

Classic pipelines are created in the Azure DevOps web portal with the Classic user interface editor. You can define a *pipeline* to build, test your code, and then publish your artifact (binary). Additionally, you can define a *release pipeline* to consume your binary (artifact) and deploy it to specific targets.

::: moniker-end

For instructions, see [build](../build/ci-build-git.md) and [deploy](../release/define-multistage-release-process.md) for step by step guides to building and deploying your application with Classic Pipelines.

## Feature availability 

::: moniker range="azure-devops"

|                   Feature                             |                                              Description                                       |      YAML        | Classic Pipeline | Classic Release | 
|-------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|------------------|-----------------|
| **Agents**                        | A software component that runs on a virtual machine or a physical machine and is responsible for executing the tasks defined in your Azure Pipelines.                                      |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../agents/agents.md)   |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../agents/agents.md)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../agents/agents.md)        |
| **Approvals**            | Control your deployment workflow by requiring designated approvers to approve before deploying to a stage.                  |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/approvals.md#approvals)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../release/approvals/approvals.md#predeployment-approvals)        |
| **Artifacts**      | Download and publish your binaries and various types of packages to different destinations.          |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../artifacts/pipeline-artifacts.md?&tabs=yaml-task)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../artifacts/pipeline-artifacts.md?&tabs=yaml-task)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../release/deploy-multiple-branches.md#create-a-classic-release-pipeline)          |
| **Caching**                     | Reduce build time by caching and reusing dependencies from previous runs. |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../release/caching.md)   |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../release/caching.md)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::         | 
| **Conditions**               | Specify conditions under which a step, job, or stage should run.                                         |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/conditions.md?tabs=yaml)    |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/conditions.md?tabs=classic)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/conditions.md?tabs=classic)        |
| **Container jobs**      | Specify jobs to run in a container.                                                          |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/container-phases.md)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::        |
| **Demands** | Ensure that the capabilities your pipeline needs are present on the running agent.  |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../agents/agents.md#configure-demands)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../agents/agents.md?tabs=classic#configure-demands)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../agents/agents.md?tabs=classic#configure-demands)        |
| **Dependencies**                  | Specify a requirement that must be met in order to run the next stage.                |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/stages.md?tabs=yaml#specify-dependencies)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/stages.md?tabs=classic#specify-dependencies)        |
| **Deployment groups & Environments** | Deployment groups (Classic): Define a set of target machines each equipped with a deployment agent.<br> Environments (YAML): A collection of resources targeted for deployment.                                         |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/environments.md)   |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::        |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../release/deployment-groups/index.md#create-a-deployment-group)        |  
| **Deployment jobs**      | A collection of deployment steps that are run sequentially against the environment.                                                                  |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/deployment-jobs.md)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::        |
| **Gates**               |  Automate release controls by evaluating health signals from external services before completing a deployment. |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::   |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::        |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../release/deploy-using-approvals.md#set-up-gates)       |
| **Jobs**                    | A series of sequential steps that form the smallest unit of work that can be scheduled to run.                                            |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/phases.md?tabs=yaml)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/phases.md?tabs=classic)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/phases.md?tabs=classic)         |
| **Library**                        | A collection of assets that can be used in your Azure Pipelines. The Library contains two types of assets: [Variable groups](../library/variable-groups.md) and [Secure files](../library/secure-files.md).                                     |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/index.md)   |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/index.md)        |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/index.md)        |
| **Service connections** | Enable connection to an external service required to execute tasks in a job.          |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/service-endpoints.md#create-a-service-connection)   |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/service-endpoints.md#create-a-service-connection)        |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/service-endpoints.md#create-a-service-connection)        |
| **Service containers** | Enable you to manage the lifecycle of a containerized service. most commonly used with container jobs.                                |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/service-containers.md)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::        |
| **Stages**                  | Organize jobs within a pipeline.                                                              |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/stages.md?tabs=yaml#specify-stages)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::        |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/stages.md?tabs=classic#specify-stages)        |
| **Task groups**              | Encapsulate a sequence of tasks into a single reusable task.    |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/task-groups.md)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/task-groups.md)       | 
| **Tasks**                         | The building blocks that define the steps that make up a pipeline job.                                           |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/tasks.md?tabs=yaml)   |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/tasks.md?tabs=classic)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/tasks.md?tabs=classic)          |
| **Templates**                 | Define reusable content, logic, and parameters.                                               |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/templates.md)   |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::        |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::         |
| **Triggers**                      | Define the event that causes a pipeline to run.                                               |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/pipeline-triggers.md)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/pipeline-triggers-classic.md)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../release/triggers.md)        |
| **Variables**                  | A placeholder for values that can be used throughout your pipeline's execution.                            |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/variables.md?tabs=yaml#set-variables-in-pipeline)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/variables.md?tabs=classic#set-variables-in-pipeline)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/variables.md?tabs=classic#set-variables-in-pipeline)        |
| **Variable groups**      | Use to store values and secrets that you want to manage and share across multiple pipelines.     |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/variable-groups.md?tabs=yaml#use-variable-groups-in-pipelines)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/variable-groups.md?tabs=classic#use-variable-groups-in-pipelines)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/variable-groups.md?tabs=classic#use-variable-groups-in-pipelines)        | 

::: moniker-end

::: moniker range="=azure-devops-2022"

|                   Feature                             |                                              Description                                       |      YAML        | Classic Pipeline | Classic Release | 
|-------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|------------------|-----------------|
| **Agents**                        | A software component that runs on a virtual machine or a physical machine and is responsible for executing the tasks defined in your Azure Pipelines.                                      |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../agents/agents.md)   |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../agents/agents.md)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../agents/agents.md)        |
| **Approvals**            | Control your deployment workflow by requiring designated approvers to approve before deploying to a stage.                  |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/approvals.md#approvals)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../release/approvals/approvals.md#predeployment-approvals)        |
| **Artifacts**      | Download and publish your binaries and various types of packages to different destinations.          |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../artifacts/pipeline-artifacts.md?&tabs=yaml-task)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../artifacts/pipeline-artifacts.md?&tabs=yaml-task)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../release/deploy-multiple-branches.md#create-a-classic-release-pipeline)          |
| **Conditions**               | Specify conditions under which a step, job, or stage should run.                                         |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/conditions.md?tabs=yaml)    |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/conditions.md?tabs=classic)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/conditions.md?tabs=classic)        |
| **Container jobs**      | Specify jobs to run in a container.                                                          |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/container-phases.md)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::        |
| **Demands** | Ensure that the capabilities your pipeline needs are present on the running agent.  |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../agents/agents.md#configure-demands)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../agents/agents.md?tabs=classic#configure-demands)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../agents/agents.md?tabs=classic#configure-demands)        |
| **Dependencies**                  | Specify a requirement that must be met in order to run the next stage.                |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/stages.md?tabs=yaml#specify-dependencies)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/stages.md?tabs=classic#specify-dependencies)        |
| **Deployment groups & Environments** | Deployment groups (Classic): Define a set of target machines each equipped with a deployment agent.<br> Environments (YAML): A collection of resources targeted for deployment.                                         |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/environments.md)   |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::        |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../release/deployment-groups/index.md#create-a-deployment-group)        |  
| **Deployment jobs**      | A collection of deployment steps that are run sequentially against the environment.                                                                  |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/deployment-jobs.md)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::        |
| **Gates**               |  Automate release controls by evaluating health signals from external services before completing a deployment. |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::   |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::        |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../release/deploy-using-approvals.md#set-up-gates)       |
| **Jobs**                    | A series of sequential steps that form the smallest unit of work that can be scheduled to run.                                            |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/phases.md?tabs=yaml)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/phases.md?tabs=classic)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/phases.md?tabs=classic)         |
| **Library**                        | A collection of assets that can be used in your Azure Pipelines. The Library contains two types of assets: [Variable groups](../library/variable-groups.md) and [Secure files](../library/secure-files.md).                                     |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/index.md)   |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/index.md)        |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/index.md)        |
| **Service connections** | Enable connection to an external service required to execute tasks in a job.          |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/service-endpoints.md#create-a-service-connection)   |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/service-endpoints.md#create-a-service-connection)        |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/service-endpoints.md#create-a-service-connection)        |
| **Stages**                  | Organize jobs within a pipeline.                                                              |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/stages.md?tabs=yaml#specify-stages)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::        |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/stages.md?tabs=classic#specify-stages)        |
| **Task groups**              | Encapsulate a sequence of tasks into a single reusable task.    |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/task-groups.md)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/task-groups.md)       | 
| **Tasks**                         | The building blocks that define the steps that make up a pipeline job.                                           |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/tasks.md?tabs=yaml)   |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/tasks.md?tabs=classic)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/tasks.md?tabs=classic)          |
| **Templates**                 | Define reusable content, logic, and parameters.                                               |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/templates.md)   |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::        |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/delete-icon.png" border="false":::         |
| **Triggers**                      | Define the event that causes a pipeline to run.                                               |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/pipeline-triggers.md)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/pipeline-triggers-classic.md)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../release/triggers.md)        |
| **Variables**                  | A placeholder for values that can be used throughout your pipeline's execution.                            |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/variables.md?tabs=yaml#set-variables-in-pipeline)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/variables.md?tabs=classic#set-variables-in-pipeline)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../process/variables.md?tabs=classic#set-variables-in-pipeline)        |
| **Variable groups**      | Use to store values and secrets that you want to manage and share across multiple pipelines.     |  :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/variable-groups.md?tabs=yaml#use-variable-groups-in-pipelines)  |       :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/variable-groups.md?tabs=classic#use-variable-groups-in-pipelines)       |        :::image type="icon" source="../../media/icons/checkmark.png" border="false"::: [doc](../library/variable-groups.md?tabs=classic#use-variable-groups-in-pipelines)        | 

::: moniker-end

## Next steps

> [!div class="nextstepaction"]
> [Sign up for Azure Pipelines](pipelines-sign-up.md)
> [Create your first pipeline](../create-first-pipeline.md)
> [Customize your pipeline](../customize-pipeline.md)