diff --git a/core/lib/Drupal/Component/Discovery/YamlDiscovery.php b/core/lib/Drupal/Component/Discovery/YamlDiscovery.php
index 5ac0b7d..cadbc9c 100644
--- a/core/lib/Drupal/Component/Discovery/YamlDiscovery.php
+++ b/core/lib/Drupal/Component/Discovery/YamlDiscovery.php
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 namespace Drupal\Component\Discovery;
 
-use Symfony\Component\Yaml\Parser;
+use Drupal\Component\Yaml\Yaml;
 
 /**
  * Provides discovery for YAML files within a given set of directories.
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ class YamlDiscovery implements DiscoverableInterface {
   protected $directories = array();
 
   /**
-   * The symfony YAML parser.
+   * The YAML parser.
    *
-   * @var \Symfony\Component\Yaml\Parser
+   * @var \Drupal\Component\Yaml\Yaml
    */
-  protected $parser;
+  protected $yaml;
 
   /**
    * Constructs a YamlDiscovery object.
@@ -54,10 +54,10 @@ public function __construct($name, array $directories) {
    */
   public function findAll() {
     $all = array();
-    $parser = $this->parser();
+    $yaml = $this->getYaml();
 
     foreach ($this->findFiles() as $provider => $file) {
-      $all[$provider] = $parser->parse(file_get_contents($file));
+      $all[$provider] = $yaml->parse(file_get_contents($file));
     }
 
     return $all;
@@ -69,11 +69,11 @@ public function findAll() {
    * @return \Symfony\Component\Yaml\Parser
    *   The symfony YAML parser.
    */
-  protected function parser() {
-    if (!isset($this->parser)) {
-      $this->parser = new Parser();
+  protected function getYaml() {
+    if (!isset($this->yaml)) {
+      $this->yaml = new Yaml();
     }
-    return $this->parser;
+    return $this->yaml;
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/core/lib/Drupal/Component/Yaml/Pecl.php b/core/lib/Drupal/Component/Yaml/Pecl.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..635b277
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/lib/Drupal/Component/Yaml/Pecl.php
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * @file
+ * Contains \Drupal\Component\Yaml\Pecl.
+ */
+
+namespace Drupal\Component\Yaml;
+
+/**
+ * Yaml implementation using the PECL extension.
+ */
+class Pecl implements YamlInterface {
+
+  /**
+   * Sets defaults according to Drupal coding standards.
+   */
+  public function __construct() {
+    ini_set('yaml.output_indent', 2);
+    // Don't break Yaml files at 80 characters.
+    ini_set('yaml.output_width', -1);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * {@inheritdoc}
+   */
+  public function parse($input) {
+    // Prevent PHP warning if $input is empty.
+    if (empty($input)) {
+      return NULL;
+    }
+    return yaml_parse($input);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * {@inheritdoc}
+   */
+  public function dump($value) {
+    return yaml_emit($value);
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/core/lib/Drupal/Component/Yaml/Symfony.php b/core/lib/Drupal/Component/Yaml/Symfony.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9371802
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/lib/Drupal/Component/Yaml/Symfony.php
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * @file
+ * Contains \Drupal\Component\Yaml\Symfony.
+ */
+
+namespace Drupal\Component\Yaml;
+
+use Symfony\Component\Yaml\Dumper;
+use Symfony\Component\Yaml\Parser;
+
+/**
+ * YAML implementation using the Symfony parser.
+ */
+class Symfony implements YamlInterface {
+
+  /*
+   * Number of spaces to indent sections.
+   *
+   * @var int
+   */
+  protected $indentation = 2;
+
+  /**
+   * A shared YAML dumper instance.
+   *
+   * @var \Symfony\Component\Yaml\Dumper
+   */
+  protected $dumper;
+
+  /**
+   * A shared YAML parser instance.
+   *
+   * @var \Symfony\Component\Yaml\Parser
+   */
+  protected $parser;
+
+  /**
+   * {@inheritdoc}
+   */
+  public function parse($input) {
+    return $this->getParser()->parse($input);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * {@inheritdoc}
+   */
+  public function dump($value) {
+    // The level where you switch to inline YAML is set to PHP_INT_MAX to ensure
+    // this does not occur.
+    return $this->getDumper()->dump($value, PHP_INT_MAX, 0, TRUE);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the YAML dumper instance.
+   *
+   * @return \Symfony\Component\Yaml\Dumper
+   */
+  protected function getDumper() {
+    if (!isset($this->dumper)) {
+      $this->dumper = new Dumper();
+      // Set Yaml\Dumper's default indentation for nested nodes/collections to
+      // 2 spaces for consistency with Drupal coding standards.
+      $this->dumper->setIndentation($this->indentation);
+    }
+    return $this->dumper;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Gets the YAML parser instance.
+   *
+   * @return \Symfony\Component\Yaml\Parser
+   */
+  protected function getParser() {
+    if (!isset($this->parser)) {
+      $this->parser = new Parser();
+    }
+    return $this->parser;
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/core/lib/Drupal/Component/Yaml/Yaml.php b/core/lib/Drupal/Component/Yaml/Yaml.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a632416
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/lib/Drupal/Component/Yaml/Yaml.php
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * @file
+ * Contains of \Drupal\Component\Yaml\Yaml.
+ */
+
+namespace Drupal\Component\Yaml;
+use Drupal\Component\Utility\Settings;
+
+/**
+ * Factory class for YAML parsing.
+ *
+ * Determines which YAML implementation to use, and uses that to parse
+ * and encode YAML.
+ */
+class Yaml implements YamlInterface {
+
+  /**
+   * The YAML implementation class to use.
+   *
+   * @var string
+   */
+  protected static $implementationClass;
+
+  /**
+   * The current YAML implementation.
+   *
+   * @var \Drupal\Component\Yaml\YamlInterface
+   */
+  protected $implementation;
+
+  /**
+   * Instantiates the correct YAML object.
+   */
+  public function __construct() {
+    $class = $this->determineImplementation();
+    $this->implementation = new $class();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * {@inheritdoc}
+   */
+  public function parse($input) {
+    return $this->implementation->parse($input);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * {@inheritdoc}
+   */
+  public function dump($value) {
+    return $this->implementation->dump($value);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Determines the optimal implementation to use for encoding and parsing Yaml.
+   *
+   * The selection is made based on the enabled PHP extensions, with the most
+   * performant available option chosen.
+   *
+   * @return string
+   *  The class name for the optimal YAML implementation.
+   */
+  protected function determineImplementation() {
+    if (isset(static::$implementationClass)) {
+      return static::$implementationClass;
+    }
+
+    $settings = Settings::getSingleton();
+    // If there's a settings.php override, use that.
+    if ($settings && ($class = $settings->get('yaml_parser_class'))) {
+      static::$implementationClass = $class;
+    }
+    // If the PECL YAML extension installed, use that.
+    elseif (function_exists('yaml_emit')) {
+      static::$implementationClass = 'Drupal\Component\Yaml\Pecl';
+    }
+    else {
+      // Otherwise, fallback to the Symfony implementation.
+      static::$implementationClass = 'Drupal\Component\Yaml\Symfony';
+    }
+
+    return static::$implementationClass;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/core/lib/Drupal/Component/Yaml/YamlInterface.php b/core/lib/Drupal/Component/Yaml/YamlInterface.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ecf03a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/lib/Drupal/Component/Yaml/YamlInterface.php
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * @file
+ * Contains \Drupal\Component\Yaml\YamlInterface.
+ */
+
+namespace Drupal\Component\Yaml;
+
+/**
+ * Interface that defines a YAML parser.
+ */
+interface YamlInterface {
+
+  /**
+   * Parses a YAML string to PHP value.
+   *
+   * If $input is empty this should return NULL and not produce a PHP warning.
+   *
+   * @param string $input
+   *   The YAML string to parse.
+   *
+   * @return mixed
+   *   A PHP value.
+   */
+  public function parse($input);
+
+  /**
+   * Dumps a PHP value to YAML string.
+   *
+   * @param mixed $input
+   *   The PHP value.
+   *
+   * @return string
+   *   The dumped YAML string.
+   */
+  public function dump($input);
+
+}
diff --git a/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Config/FileStorage.php b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Config/FileStorage.php
index 2df9fbd..8a2988d 100644
--- a/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Config/FileStorage.php
+++ b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Config/FileStorage.php
@@ -8,9 +8,8 @@
 namespace Drupal\Core\Config;
 
 use Drupal\Component\Utility\String;
-use Symfony\Component\Yaml\Dumper;
 use Symfony\Component\Yaml\Exception\DumpException;
-use Symfony\Component\Yaml\Parser;
+use Drupal\Component\Yaml\Yaml;
 
 /**
  * Defines the file storage controller.
@@ -25,18 +24,11 @@ class FileStorage implements StorageInterface {
   protected $directory = '';
 
   /**
-   * A shared YAML dumper instance.
+   * A shared YAML instance.
    *
-   * @var Symfony\Component\Yaml\Dumper
+   * @var \Drupal\Component\Yaml\YamlInterface
    */
-  protected $dumper;
-
-  /**
-   * A shared YAML parser instance.
-   *
-   * @var Symfony\Component\Yaml\Parser
-   */
-  protected $parser;
+  protected $yaml;
 
   /**
    * Constructs a new FileStorage controller.
@@ -77,8 +69,6 @@ public function exists($name) {
 
   /**
    * Implements Drupal\Core\Config\StorageInterface::read().
-   *
-   * @throws Symfony\Component\Yaml\Exception\ParseException
    */
   public function read($name) {
     if (!$this->exists($name)) {
@@ -154,51 +144,34 @@ public function rename($name, $new_name) {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Gets the YAML dumper instance.
+   * Gets the YAML instance.
    *
-   * @return Symfony\Component\Yaml\Dumper
-   */
-  protected function getDumper() {
-    if (!isset($this->dumper)) {
-      $this->dumper = new Dumper();
-      // Set Yaml\Dumper's default indentation for nested nodes/collections to
-      // 2 spaces for consistency with Drupal coding standards.
-      $this->dumper->setIndentation(2);
-    }
-    return $this->dumper;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Gets the YAML parser instance.
-   *
-   * @return Symfony\Component\Yaml\Parser
+   * @return \Drupal\Component\Yaml\YamlInterface
+   *   The YAML parser.
    */
-  protected function getParser() {
-    if (!isset($this->parser)) {
-      $this->parser = new Parser();
+  protected function getYaml() {
+    if (!isset($this->yaml)) {
+      $this->yaml = new Yaml();
     }
-    return $this->parser;
+
+    return $this->yaml;
   }
 
   /**
    * Implements Drupal\Core\Config\StorageInterface::encode().
-   *
-   * @throws Symfony\Component\Yaml\Exception\DumpException
    */
   public function encode($data) {
     // The level where you switch to inline YAML is set to PHP_INT_MAX to ensure
     // this does not occur. Also set the exceptionOnInvalidType parameter to
     // TRUE, so exceptions are thrown for an invalid data type.
-    return $this->getDumper()->dump($data, PHP_INT_MAX, 0, TRUE);
+    return $this->getYaml()->dump($data, PHP_INT_MAX, 0, TRUE);
   }
 
   /**
    * Implements Drupal\Core\Config\StorageInterface::decode().
-   *
-   * @throws Symfony\Component\Yaml\Exception\ParseException
    */
   public function decode($raw) {
-    $data = $this->getParser()->parse($raw);
+    $data = $this->getYaml()->parse($raw);
     // A simple string is valid YAML for any reason.
     if (!is_array($data)) {
       return FALSE;
diff --git a/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/InfoParser.php b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/InfoParser.php
index 5bb4841..c55d1df 100644
--- a/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/InfoParser.php
+++ b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Extension/InfoParser.php
@@ -8,9 +8,8 @@
 namespace Drupal\Core\Extension;
 
 use Drupal\Component\Utility\String;
+use Drupal\Component\Yaml\Yaml;
 use Symfony\Component\Yaml\Exception\ParseException;
-use Symfony\Component\Yaml\Parser;
-
 
 /**
  * Class that parses Drupal module's, theme's and profile's .info.yml files.
@@ -25,11 +24,11 @@ class InfoParser implements InfoParserInterface {
   protected $parsedInfos = array();
 
   /**
-   * Symfony YAML parser object.
+   * The YAML object.
    *
-   * @var \Symfony\Component\Yaml\Parser
+   * @var \Drupal\Component\Yaml\YamlInterface
    */
-  protected $parser;
+  protected $yaml;
 
   /**
    * {@inheritdoc}
@@ -41,7 +40,7 @@ public function parse($filename) {
       }
       else {
         try {
-          $this->parsedInfos[$filename] = $this->getParser()->parse(file_get_contents($filename));
+          $this->parsedInfos[$filename] = $this->getYaml()->parse(file_get_contents($filename));
         }
         catch (ParseException $e) {
           $message = String::format("Unable to parse !file. Parser error !error.", array('!file' => $filename, '!error' => $e->getMessage()));
@@ -63,14 +62,15 @@ public function parse($filename) {
   /**
    * Returns a parser for parsing .info.yml files.
    *
-   * @return \Symfony\Component\Yaml\Parser
-   *   Symfony YAML parser object.
+   * @return \Drupal\Component\Yaml\YamlInterface
+   *   The YAML parser.
    */
-  protected function getParser() {
-    if (!$this->parser) {
-      $this->parser = new Parser();
+  protected function getYaml() {
+    if (!$this->yaml) {
+      $this->yaml = new Yaml();
     }
-    return $this->parser;
+
+    return $this->yaml;
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/core/tests/Drupal/Tests/Component/Yaml/YamlTest.php b/core/tests/Drupal/Tests/Component/Yaml/YamlTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b0af7f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/tests/Drupal/Tests/Component/Yaml/YamlTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * @file
+ * Contains \Drupal\Tests\Component\Yaml\YamlTest.
+ */
+
+namespace Drupal\Tests\Component\Yaml;
+
+use Drupal\Component\Yaml\Symfony;
+use Drupal\Component\Yaml\Pecl;
+use Drupal\Tests\UnitTestCase;
+
+/**
+ * Tests the Drupal\Component\Uuid\Uuid class.
+ *
+ * @group Drupal
+ * @group YAML
+ */
+class YamlTest extends UnitTestCase {
+
+  public static function getInfo() {
+    return array(
+      'name' => 'YAML handling',
+      'description' => "Test the parsing and dumping of YAML is consistent between the PECL and Symfony implementations.",
+      'group' => 'YAML',
+    );
+  }
+
+  protected function setUp() {
+    if (!extension_loaded('yaml')) {
+      $this->markTestSkipped(
+           'The PECL Yaml extension is not available.'
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Tests dumping with Symfony and parsing with PECL and vice versa.
+   *
+   * @dataProvider providerYamlData
+   */
+  public function testAlternateDumperParser($data, $parser_class, $dumper_class) {
+    $dumper = new $dumper_class;
+    $parser = new $parser_class;
+
+    $dumped = $dumper->dump($data);
+
+    $parsed = $parser->parse($dumped);
+
+    $this->assertEquals($data, $parsed);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Tests parsing YAML with both Symfony and PECL.
+   *
+   * @dataProvider providerYamlNodeAnchors
+   */
+  public function testAlternateParsers($data) {
+    $symfony = new Symfony();
+    $pecl = new Pecl();
+    $this->assertEquals($symfony->parse($data), $pecl->parse($data));
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Data provider for YAML instance tests.
+   *
+   * @return array
+   */
+  public function providerYamlData() {
+    $object = array(
+      'foo' => 'bar',
+      'id' => 'schnitzel',
+      'ponies' => array('nope', 'thanks'),
+      'how' => array(
+        'about' => 'if',
+        'i' => 'ask',
+        'nicely'
+      ),
+      'the' => array(
+        'answer' => array(
+          'still' => 'would',
+          'be' => 'nope',
+        ),
+      ),
+      'how_many_times' => 123,
+      'should_i_ask' => FALSE,
+      1,
+      FALSE,
+      array(1, FALSE),
+      array(10),
+      array(0 => '123456'),
+    );
+    // Test parsing with Symfony and dumping with PECL.
+    $data[] = array(
+      $object,
+      'Drupal\Component\Yaml\Symfony',
+      'Drupal\Component\Yaml\Pecl'
+    );
+
+    // Test parsing with PECL and dumping with Symfony.
+    $data[] = array(
+      $object,
+      'Drupal\Component\Yaml\Pecl',
+      'Drupal\Component\Yaml\Symfony'
+    );
+
+    return $data;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Data provider for YAML instance tests.
+   *
+   * @return array
+   */
+  public function providerYamlNodeAnchors() {
+    $yaml = <<<EOF
+jquery.ui:
+  version: &jquery_ui 1.10.2
+
+jquery.ui.accordion:
+  version: *jquery_ui
+EOF;
+    $data[] = array($yaml);
+    return $data;
+  }
+}