Add block scalar newline warning (#295)

In YAML, block scalars (`|` and `>`) silently add a trailing newline by default
("clip" chomping). This can cause subtle bugs when the newline is unintentional.

This PR adds a warning when clip chomping is used in fields where trailing
newlines commonly cause issues:

- Environment variables (workflow, job, step, container, service levels)
- Action inputs (`with:`)
- Reusable workflow inputs and secrets
- Job outputs
- Matrix values (including `include` and `exclude`)
- Concurrency groups

The warning suggests using `|-` (strip) or `|+` (keep) to be explicit.

Intentionally does NOT warn for:
- `run:` scripts (trailing newlines are normal)
- Fields trimmed server-side (`if:`, `name:`, `runs-on:`, etc.)

The feature is gated behind the `blockScalarChompingWarning` feature flag.

expressions/src/features.test.ts

@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ describe("FeatureFlags", () => {
 
     it("returns all features when all is enabled", () => {
       const flags = new FeatureFlags({all: true});
-      expect(flags.getEnabledFeatures()).toEqual(["missingInputsQuickfix"]);
+      expect(flags.getEnabledFeatures()).toEqual(["missingInputsQuickfix", "blockScalarChompingWarning"]);
     });
   });
 });

expressions/src/features.ts

@@ -21,6 +21,13 @@ export interface ExperimentalFeatures {
    * @default false
    */
   missingInputsQuickfix?: boolean;
+
+  /**
+   * Warn when block scalars (| or >) use implicit clip chomping,
+   * which adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional.
+   * @default false
+   */
+  blockScalarChompingWarning?: boolean;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -32,7 +39,7 @@ export type ExperimentalFeatureKey = Exclude<keyof ExperimentalFeatures, "all">;
  * All known experimental feature keys.
  * This list must be kept in sync with the ExperimentalFeatures interface.
  */
-const allFeatureKeys: ExperimentalFeatureKey[] = ["missingInputsQuickfix"];
+const allFeatureKeys: ExperimentalFeatureKey[] = ["missingInputsQuickfix", "blockScalarChompingWarning"];
 
 export class FeatureFlags {
   private readonly features: ExperimentalFeatures;

languageserver/README.md

@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ initializationOptions: {
 | Feature | Description |
 |---------|-------------|
 | `missingInputsQuickfix` | Code action to add missing required inputs for actions |
+| `blockScalarChompingWarning` | Warn when block scalars (`\|` or `>`) use implicit clip chomping, which adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional |
 
 Individual feature flags take precedence over `all`. For example, `{ all: true, missingInputsQuickfix: false }` enables all experimental features except `missingInputsQuickfix`.
 

languageserver/src/connection.ts

@@ -123,7 +123,8 @@ export function initConnection(connection: Connection) {
       actionsMetadataProvider: getActionsMetadataProvider(client, cache),
       fileProvider: getFileProvider(client, cache, repoContext?.workspaceUri, async path => {
         return await connection.sendRequest(Requests.ReadFile, {path} satisfies ReadFileRequest);
-      })
+      }),
+      featureFlags
     };
 
     const result = await validate(textDocument, config);

languageservice/src/validate.block-scalar-warning.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,835 @@
+import {FeatureFlags} from "@actions/expressions";
+import {DiagnosticSeverity} from "vscode-languageserver-types";
+import {registerLogger} from "./log.js";
+import {createDocument} from "./test-utils/document.js";
+import {TestLogger} from "./test-utils/logger.js";
+import {clearCache} from "./utils/workflow-cache.js";
+import {validate, ValidationConfig} from "./validate.js";
+
+registerLogger(new TestLogger());
+
+const configWithFlag: ValidationConfig = {
+  featureFlags: new FeatureFlags({blockScalarChompingWarning: true})
+};
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  clearCache();
+});
+
+describe("block scalar chomping - warning cases", () => {
+  describe("step-level env values", () => {
+    it("warns with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo $VAR
+        env:
+          VAR: |
+            \${{ matrix.value }}
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+
+    it("does not warn with keep chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo $VAR
+        env:
+          VAR: |+
+            \${{ matrix.value }}
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result.filter(d => d.code === "block-scalar-chomping")).toEqual([]);
+    });
+
+    it("does not warn with strip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo $VAR
+        env:
+          VAR: |-
+            \${{ matrix.value }}
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result.filter(d => d.code === "block-scalar-chomping")).toEqual([]);
+    });
+
+    it("uses > indicator in warning message for folded scalars", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo $VAR
+        env:
+          VAR: >
+            \${{ matrix.value }}
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '>' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '>-' to remove it, or '>+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+
+    it("warns for plain string env value with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo $VAR
+        env:
+          VAR: |
+            hello world
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("job-level env values", () => {
+    it("warns with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      MY_VAR: |
+        some value
+    steps:
+      - run: echo done
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("workflow-level env values", () => {
+    it("warns with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+env:
+  GLOBAL_VAR: |
+    some value
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo done
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("container env values", () => {
+    it("warns with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    container:
+      image: node:18
+      env:
+        CONTAINER_VAR: |
+          some value
+    steps:
+      - run: echo done
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("service container env values", () => {
+    it("warns with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    services:
+      redis:
+        image: redis
+        env:
+          REDIS_PASSWORD: |
+            secret123
+    steps:
+      - run: echo done
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("action input (with)", () => {
+    it("warns with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          script: |
+            \${{ matrix.value }}
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+
+    it("does not warn with keep chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          script: |+
+            \${{ matrix.value }}
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result.filter(d => d.code === "block-scalar-chomping")).toEqual([]);
+    });
+
+    it("does not warn with strip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          script: |-
+            \${{ matrix.value }}
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result.filter(d => d.code === "block-scalar-chomping")).toEqual([]);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("reusable workflow inputs (with)", () => {
+    it("warns with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  call-workflow:
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/reusable.yml
+    with:
+      my-input: |
+        some value
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("reusable workflow secrets", () => {
+    it("warns with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  call-workflow:
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/reusable.yml
+    secrets:
+      my-secret: |
+        \${{ secrets.TOKEN }}
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("job outputs", () => {
+    it("warns with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    outputs:
+      my_output: |
+        \${{ steps.test.outputs.value }}
+    steps:
+      - id: test
+        run: echo "value=test" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+
+    it("does not warn with strip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    outputs:
+      my_output: |-
+        \${{ steps.test.outputs.value }}
+    steps:
+      - id: test
+        run: echo "value=test" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result.filter(d => d.code === "block-scalar-chomping")).toEqual([]);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("matrix values", () => {
+    it("warns for matrix vector value with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        config:
+          - |
+            value1
+          - value2
+    steps:
+      - run: echo \${{ matrix.config }}
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+
+    it("does not warn with strip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        config:
+          - |-
+            value1
+          - value2
+    steps:
+      - run: echo \${{ matrix.config }}
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result.filter(d => d.code === "block-scalar-chomping")).toEqual([]);
+    });
+
+    it("warns for matrix include value with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        os: [ubuntu-latest]
+        include:
+          - os: |
+              windows-latest
+            special: true
+    steps:
+      - run: echo \${{ matrix.os }}
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+
+    it("warns for matrix exclude value with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        os: [ubuntu-latest, windows-latest]
+        node: [16, 18]
+        exclude:
+          - os: |
+              windows-latest
+            node: 16
+    steps:
+      - run: echo \${{ matrix.os }}
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+
+    it("warns for deeply nested matrix value with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        config:
+          - foo:
+              bar: |
+                baz
+    steps:
+      - run: echo \${{ matrix.config }}
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+
+    it("warns for deeply nested matrix include value with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        os: [ubuntu-latest]
+        include:
+          - os: ubuntu-latest
+            config:
+              nested: |
+                value
+    steps:
+      - run: echo \${{ matrix.config }}
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+
+    it("warns for deeply nested matrix exclude value with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        os: [ubuntu-latest, windows-latest]
+        exclude:
+          - os: windows-latest
+            config:
+              nested: |
+                value
+    steps:
+      - run: echo \${{ matrix.os }}
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("concurrency", () => {
+    it("warns for concurrency string with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+concurrency: |
+  my-group-\${{ github.ref }}
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo done
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+
+    it("does not warn for concurrency with strip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+concurrency: |-
+  my-group-\${{ github.ref }}
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo done
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result.filter(d => d.code === "block-scalar-chomping")).toEqual([]);
+    });
+
+    it("warns for concurrency.group with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+concurrency:
+  group: |
+    my-group-\${{ github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo done
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+
+    it("warns for job-level concurrency with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    concurrency: |
+      job-group-\${{ github.ref }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo done
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          message:
+            "Block scalar '|' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '|-' to remove it, or '|+' to explicitly keep it.",
+          code: "block-scalar-chomping",
+          severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning
+        })
+      );
+    });
+  });
+});
+
+describe("block scalar chomping - no warning cases", () => {
+  describe("fields trimmed server-side", () => {
+    it("does not warn for job-if with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: |
+      github.ref == 'refs/heads/main'
+    steps:
+      - run: echo done
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result.filter(d => d.code === "block-scalar-chomping")).toEqual([]);
+    });
+
+    it("does not warn for step-if with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo done
+        if: |
+          github.ref == 'refs/heads/main'
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result.filter(d => d.code === "block-scalar-chomping")).toEqual([]);
+    });
+
+    it("does not warn for runs-on with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: |
+      ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo done
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result.filter(d => d.code === "block-scalar-chomping")).toEqual([]);
+    });
+
+    it("does not warn for job name with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    name: |
+      My Job
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo done
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result.filter(d => d.code === "block-scalar-chomping")).toEqual([]);
+    });
+
+    it("does not warn for step name with clip chomping", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: |
+          My Step
+        run: echo done
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result.filter(d => d.code === "block-scalar-chomping")).toEqual([]);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("run field (intentionally allowed)", () => {
+    it("does not warn for step run field", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: |
+          echo hello
+          echo world
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result.filter(d => d.code === "block-scalar-chomping")).toEqual([]);
+    });
+
+    it("does not warn for run field with expression", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: |
+          echo \${{ github.ref }}
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result.filter(d => d.code === "block-scalar-chomping")).toEqual([]);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("non-block scalars", () => {
+    it("does not warn for quoted strings", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo $VAR
+        env:
+          VAR: "hello world"
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result.filter(d => d.code === "block-scalar-chomping")).toEqual([]);
+    });
+
+    it("does not warn for flow scalars", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo $VAR
+        env:
+          VAR: hello world
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result.filter(d => d.code === "block-scalar-chomping")).toEqual([]);
+    });
+
+    it("does not warn for inline expressions", async () => {
+      const input = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo $VAR
+        env:
+          VAR: \${{ matrix.value }}
+`;
+      const result = await validate(createDocument("wf.yaml", input), configWithFlag);
+
+      expect(result.filter(d => d.code === "block-scalar-chomping")).toEqual([]);
+    });
+  });
+});

languageservice/src/validate.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import {Lexer, Parser, data} from "@actions/expressions";
+import {FeatureFlags, Lexer, Parser, data} from "@actions/expressions";
 import {Expr, FunctionCall, Literal, Logical} from "@actions/expressions/ast";
 import {TemplateParseResult, WorkflowTemplate, isBasicExpression, isMapping, isString} from "@actions/workflow-parser";
 import {ErrorPolicy} from "@actions/workflow-parser/model/convert";
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ export type ValidationConfig = {
   contextProviderConfig?: ContextProviderConfig;
   actionsMetadataProvider?: ActionsMetadataProvider;
   fileProvider?: FileProvider;
+  featureFlags?: FeatureFlags;
 };
 
 export type ActionsMetadataProvider = {
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ async function validateWorkflow(textDocument: TextDocument, config?: ValidationC
       });
 
       // Validate expressions and value providers
-      await additionalValidations(diagnostics, textDocument.uri, template, result.value, config);
+      await additionalValidations(diagnostics, textDocument.uri, template, result.value, config, config?.featureFlags);
     }
 
     // For now map parser errors directly to diagnostics
@@ -109,9 +110,10 @@ async function additionalValidations(
   documentUri: URI,
   template: WorkflowTemplate,
   root: TemplateToken,
-  config?: ValidationConfig
+  config?: ValidationConfig,
+  featureFlags?: FeatureFlags
 ) {
-  for (const [parent, token, key] of TemplateToken.traverse(root)) {
+  for (const [parent, token, key, ancestors] of TemplateToken.traverse(root)) {
     // If  the token is a value in a pair, use the key definition for validation
     // If the token has a parent (map, sequence, etc), use this definition for validation
     const validationToken = key || parent || token;
@@ -129,7 +131,12 @@ async function additionalValidations(
       );
     }
 
-    // If this is a job-if, step-if, or snapshot-if field (which are strings that should be treated as expressions), validate it
+    // Validate block scalar chomping for expressions and strings
+    if (featureFlags?.isEnabled("blockScalarChompingWarning")) {
+      validateBlockScalarChomping(diagnostics, token, parent, key, ancestors);
+    }
+
+    // `if` conditions allow omitting ${{ }}, so validate strings in these fields as expressions
     const definitionKey = token.definition?.key;
     if (
       isString(token) &&
@@ -149,7 +156,9 @@ async function additionalValidations(
           finalCondition,
           token.definitionInfo,
           undefined,
-          token.source
+          token.source,
+          undefined,
+          token.blockScalarHeader
         );
 
         await validateExpression(
@@ -845,3 +854,90 @@ function getStaticConcurrencyGroup(token: TemplateToken | undefined): StringToke
 
   return undefined;
 }
+
+/**
+ * Validates YAML block scalar chomping.
+ *
+ * Block scalars (| and >) implicitly add a trailing newline by default ("clip" chomping).
+ * This is often unintended by the workflow author and can cause unexpected behavior.
+ * This function warns on certain fields when clip chomping is used (implicit trailing newline)
+ * and suggests they explicitly use strip (|-) or keep (|+) to clarify intent.
+ *
+ * Only specific fields are validated - those where trailing newlines may cause
+ * issues but aren't automatically trimmed server-side. For example env, inputs, outputs, etc.
+ *
+ * Skipped fields:
+ * - run: Multi-line scripts commonly have trailing newlines
+ * - Fields trimmed server-side: name, uses, shell, if, etc.
+ */
+function validateBlockScalarChomping(
+  diagnostics: Diagnostic[],
+  token: TemplateToken,
+  parent: TemplateToken | undefined,
+  key: TemplateToken | undefined,
+  ancestors: TemplateToken[]
+): void {
+  // Not an expression or string?
+  if (!isBasicExpression(token) && !isString(token)) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Not a block scalar?
+  const header = token.blockScalarHeader;
+  if (!header) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Not "clip" chomp style?
+  if (header.includes("+") || header.includes("-")) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Check if we should warn
+  let shouldWarn = false;
+  const parentDefinitionName = parent?.definition?.key;
+  const tokenDefinitionName = token.definition?.key;
+  const keyName = key && isString(key) ? key.value : undefined;
+  if (
+    parentDefinitionName &&
+    [
+      "workflow-env",
+      "job-env",
+      "step-env",
+      "container-env",
+      "step-with",
+      "job-outputs",
+      "workflow-job-with",
+      "workflow-job-secrets"
+    ].includes(parentDefinitionName)
+  ) {
+    // env, with, outputs, or secrets fields
+    shouldWarn = true;
+  } else if (
+    ancestors.some(ancestor => {
+      const ancestorKey = ancestor.definition?.key;
+      return ancestorKey === "matrix" || ancestorKey === "matrix-filter" || ancestorKey === "matrix-filter-item";
+    })
+  ) {
+    // Matrix values (vectors, include, exclude)
+    shouldWarn = true;
+  } else if (tokenDefinitionName && ["workflow-concurrency", "job-concurrency"].includes(tokenDefinitionName)) {
+    // Concurrency shorthand
+    shouldWarn = true;
+  } else if (keyName === "group" && parentDefinitionName === "concurrency-mapping") {
+    // Concurrency group field
+    shouldWarn = true;
+  }
+
+  if (!shouldWarn) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const blockIndicator = header.startsWith("|") ? "|" : ">";
+  diagnostics.push({
+    message: `Block scalar '${blockIndicator}' implicitly adds a trailing newline that may be unintentional. Use '${blockIndicator}-' to remove it, or '${blockIndicator}+' to explicitly keep it.`,
+    range: mapRange(token.range),
+    severity: DiagnosticSeverity.Warning,
+    code: "block-scalar-chomping"
+  });
+}

workflow-parser/src/expressions.test.ts

@@ -201,4 +201,355 @@ jobs:
       throw new Error("expected if to be a string (will be converted to expression later)");
     }
   });
+
+  describe("Block scalar chomp style preservation", () => {
+    it("preserves clip chomping (|) for literal block scalar", () => {
+      const result = parseWorkflow(
+        {
+          name: "test.yaml",
+          content: `on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      TEST: |
+        \${{ github.event_name }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`
+        },
+        nullTrace
+      );
+
+      expect(result.context.errors.getErrors()).toHaveLength(0);
+
+      const workflowRoot = result.value!.assertMapping("root")!;
+      const jobs = workflowRoot.get(1).value.assertMapping("jobs");
+      const build = jobs.get(0).value.assertMapping("job");
+      const env = build.get(1).value.assertMapping("env");
+      const testToken = env.get(0).value;
+
+      if (!isBasicExpression(testToken)) {
+        throw new Error("expected TEST to be a basic expression");
+      }
+
+      expect(testToken.blockScalarHeader).toBe("|");
+    });
+
+    it("preserves strip chomping (|-) for literal block scalar", () => {
+      const result = parseWorkflow(
+        {
+          name: "test.yaml",
+          content: `on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      TEST: |-
+        \${{ github.event_name }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`
+        },
+        nullTrace
+      );
+
+      expect(result.context.errors.getErrors()).toHaveLength(0);
+
+      const workflowRoot = result.value!.assertMapping("root")!;
+      const jobs = workflowRoot.get(1).value.assertMapping("jobs");
+      const build = jobs.get(0).value.assertMapping("job");
+      const env = build.get(1).value.assertMapping("env");
+      const testToken = env.get(0).value;
+
+      if (!isBasicExpression(testToken)) {
+        throw new Error("expected TEST to be a basic expression");
+      }
+
+      expect(testToken.blockScalarHeader).toBe("|-");
+    });
+
+    it("preserves keep chomping (|+) for literal block scalar", () => {
+      const result = parseWorkflow(
+        {
+          name: "test.yaml",
+          content: `on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      TEST: |+
+        \${{ github.event_name }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`
+        },
+        nullTrace
+      );
+
+      expect(result.context.errors.getErrors()).toHaveLength(0);
+
+      const workflowRoot = result.value!.assertMapping("root")!;
+      const jobs = workflowRoot.get(1).value.assertMapping("jobs");
+      const build = jobs.get(0).value.assertMapping("job");
+      const env = build.get(1).value.assertMapping("env");
+      const testToken = env.get(0).value;
+
+      if (!isBasicExpression(testToken)) {
+        throw new Error("expected TEST to be a basic expression");
+      }
+
+      expect(testToken.blockScalarHeader).toBe("|+");
+    });
+
+    it("preserves folded clip (>) chomping", () => {
+      const result = parseWorkflow(
+        {
+          name: "test.yaml",
+          content: `on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      TEST: >
+        \${{ github.event_name }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`
+        },
+        nullTrace
+      );
+
+      expect(result.context.errors.getErrors()).toHaveLength(0);
+
+      const workflowRoot = result.value!.assertMapping("root")!;
+      const jobs = workflowRoot.get(1).value.assertMapping("jobs");
+      const build = jobs.get(0).value.assertMapping("job");
+      const env = build.get(1).value.assertMapping("env");
+      const testToken = env.get(0).value;
+
+      if (!isBasicExpression(testToken)) {
+        throw new Error("expected TEST to be a basic expression");
+      }
+
+      expect(testToken.blockScalarHeader).toBe(">");
+    });
+
+    it("preserves folded strip (>-) chomping", () => {
+      const result = parseWorkflow(
+        {
+          name: "test.yaml",
+          content: `on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      TEST: >-
+        \${{ github.event_name }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`
+        },
+        nullTrace
+      );
+
+      expect(result.context.errors.getErrors()).toHaveLength(0);
+
+      const workflowRoot = result.value!.assertMapping("root")!;
+      const jobs = workflowRoot.get(1).value.assertMapping("jobs");
+      const build = jobs.get(0).value.assertMapping("job");
+      const env = build.get(1).value.assertMapping("env");
+      const testToken = env.get(0).value;
+
+      if (!isBasicExpression(testToken)) {
+        throw new Error("expected TEST to be a basic expression");
+      }
+
+      expect(testToken.blockScalarHeader).toBe(">-");
+    });
+
+    it("preserves with explicit indent (|2)", () => {
+      const result = parseWorkflow(
+        {
+          name: "test.yaml",
+          content: `on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      TEST: |2
+        \${{ github.event_name }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`
+        },
+        nullTrace
+      );
+
+      expect(result.context.errors.getErrors()).toHaveLength(0);
+
+      const workflowRoot = result.value!.assertMapping("root")!;
+      const jobs = workflowRoot.get(1).value.assertMapping("jobs");
+      const build = jobs.get(0).value.assertMapping("job");
+      const env = build.get(1).value.assertMapping("env");
+      const testToken = env.get(0).value;
+
+      if (!isBasicExpression(testToken)) {
+        throw new Error("expected TEST to be a basic expression");
+      }
+
+      expect(testToken.blockScalarHeader).toBe("|2");
+    });
+
+    it("preserves with explicit indent and strip (|-2)", () => {
+      const result = parseWorkflow(
+        {
+          name: "test.yaml",
+          content: `on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      TEST: |-2
+        \${{ github.event_name }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`
+        },
+        nullTrace
+      );
+
+      expect(result.context.errors.getErrors()).toHaveLength(0);
+
+      const workflowRoot = result.value!.assertMapping("root")!;
+      const jobs = workflowRoot.get(1).value.assertMapping("jobs");
+      const build = jobs.get(0).value.assertMapping("job");
+      const env = build.get(1).value.assertMapping("env");
+      const testToken = env.get(0).value;
+
+      if (!isBasicExpression(testToken)) {
+        throw new Error("expected TEST to be a basic expression");
+      }
+
+      expect(testToken.blockScalarHeader).toBe("|-2");
+    });
+
+    it("handles flow scalars (no chomp info for inline)", () => {
+      const result = parseWorkflow(
+        {
+          name: "test.yaml",
+          content: `on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      TEST: \${{ github.event_name }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`
+        },
+        nullTrace
+      );
+
+      expect(result.context.errors.getErrors()).toHaveLength(0);
+
+      const workflowRoot = result.value!.assertMapping("root")!;
+      const jobs = workflowRoot.get(1).value.assertMapping("jobs");
+      const build = jobs.get(0).value.assertMapping("job");
+      const env = build.get(1).value.assertMapping("env");
+      const testToken = env.get(0).value;
+
+      if (!isBasicExpression(testToken)) {
+        throw new Error("expected TEST to be a basic expression");
+      }
+
+      expect(testToken.blockScalarHeader).toBeUndefined();
+    });
+
+    it("preserves block scalar info for format expressions with multiple sub-expressions", () => {
+      const result = parseWorkflow(
+        {
+          name: "test.yaml",
+          content: `on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      TEST: |
+        Hello \${{ github.event_name }} World \${{ github.ref }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`
+        },
+        nullTrace
+      );
+
+      expect(result.context.errors.getErrors()).toHaveLength(0);
+
+      const workflowRoot = result.value!.assertMapping("root")!;
+      const jobs = workflowRoot.get(1).value.assertMapping("jobs");
+      const build = jobs.get(0).value.assertMapping("job");
+      const env = build.get(1).value.assertMapping("env");
+      const testToken = env.get(0).value;
+
+      if (!isBasicExpression(testToken)) {
+        throw new Error("expected TEST to be a basic expression");
+      }
+
+      // The format expression should preserve the block scalar info
+      expect(testToken.blockScalarHeader).toBe("|");
+    });
+
+    it("preserves block scalar info on StringToken for isExpression fields", () => {
+      const result = parseWorkflow(
+        {
+          name: "test.yaml",
+          content: `on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: |
+      github.event_name == 'push'
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`
+        },
+        nullTrace
+      );
+
+      expect(result.context.errors.getErrors()).toHaveLength(0);
+
+      const workflowRoot = result.value!.assertMapping("root")!;
+      const jobs = workflowRoot.get(1).value.assertMapping("jobs");
+      const build = jobs.get(0).value.assertMapping("job");
+      const ifToken = build.get(1).value;
+
+      // For isExpression fields without ${{ }}, the token is a StringToken
+      if (!isString(ifToken)) {
+        throw new Error("expected if to be a string");
+      }
+
+      expect(ifToken.blockScalarHeader).toBe("|");
+    });
+
+    it("preserves block scalar info on StringToken for isExpression fields with strip", () => {
+      const result = parseWorkflow(
+        {
+          name: "test.yaml",
+          content: `on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: |-
+      github.event_name == 'push'
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`
+        },
+        nullTrace
+      );
+
+      expect(result.context.errors.getErrors()).toHaveLength(0);
+
+      const workflowRoot = result.value!.assertMapping("root")!;
+      const jobs = workflowRoot.get(1).value.assertMapping("jobs");
+      const build = jobs.get(0).value.assertMapping("job");
+      const ifToken = build.get(1).value;
+
+      if (!isString(ifToken)) {
+        throw new Error("expected if to be a string");
+      }
+
+      expect(ifToken.blockScalarHeader).toBe("|-");
+    });
+  });
 });

workflow-parser/src/templates/template-reader.ts

@@ -613,7 +613,9 @@ class TemplateReader {
       `format('${format.join("")}'${args.join("")})`,
       definitionInfo,
       expressionTokens,
-      raw
+      raw,
+      undefined,
+      token.blockScalarHeader
     );
   }
 
@@ -695,7 +697,8 @@ class TemplateReader {
         definitionInfo,
         undefined,
         token.source,
-        expressionRange
+        expressionRange,
+        token.blockScalarHeader
       ),
       error: undefined
     };

workflow-parser/src/templates/tokens/basic-expression-token.ts

@@ -24,7 +24,19 @@ export class BasicExpressionToken extends ExpressionToken {
   public readonly expressionRange: TokenRange | undefined;
 
   /**
-   * @param originalExpressions If the basic expression was transformed from individual expressions, these will be the original ones
+   * The block scalar header (e.g., "|", "|-", "|+", ">", ">-", ">+") if parsed from a YAML block scalar.
+   */
+  public readonly blockScalarHeader: string | undefined;
+
+  /**
+   * @param file The file ID where this token originated
+   * @param range The range of the entire expression including `${{` and `}}`
+   * @param expression The expression string without `${{` and `}}` markers
+   * @param definitionInfo Schema definition info for this token
+   * @param originalExpressions If transformed from individual expressions (e.g., format()), these are the originals
+   * @param source The original source string from the YAML
+   * @param expressionRange The range of just the expression, excluding `${{` and `}}`
+   * @param blockScalarHeader The block scalar header (e.g., "|", "|-") if parsed from a YAML block scalar
    */
   public constructor(
     file: number | undefined,
@@ -33,13 +45,15 @@ export class BasicExpressionToken extends ExpressionToken {
     definitionInfo: DefinitionInfo | undefined,
     originalExpressions: BasicExpressionToken[] | undefined,
     source: string | undefined,
-    expressionRange?: TokenRange | undefined
+    expressionRange?: TokenRange | undefined,
+    blockScalarHeader?: string | undefined
   ) {
     super(TokenType.BasicExpression, file, range, undefined, definitionInfo);
     this.expr = expression;
     this.source = source;
     this.originalExpressions = originalExpressions;
     this.expressionRange = expressionRange;
+    this.blockScalarHeader = blockScalarHeader;
   }
 
   public get expression(): string {
@@ -55,7 +69,8 @@ export class BasicExpressionToken extends ExpressionToken {
           this.definitionInfo,
           this.originalExpressions,
           this.source,
-          this.expressionRange
+          this.expressionRange,
+          this.blockScalarHeader
         )
       : new BasicExpressionToken(
           this.file,
@@ -64,7 +79,8 @@ export class BasicExpressionToken extends ExpressionToken {
           this.definitionInfo,
           this.originalExpressions,
           this.source,
-          this.expressionRange
+          this.expressionRange,
+          this.blockScalarHeader
         );
   }
 

workflow-parser/src/templates/tokens/string-token.ts

@@ -6,23 +6,26 @@ import {TokenType} from "./types.js";
 export class StringToken extends LiteralToken {
   public readonly value: string;
   public readonly source: string | undefined;
+  public readonly blockScalarHeader: string | undefined;
 
   public constructor(
     file: number | undefined,
     range: TokenRange | undefined,
     value: string,
     definitionInfo: DefinitionInfo | undefined,
-    source?: string
+    source?: string,
+    blockScalarHeader?: string
   ) {
     super(TokenType.String, file, range, definitionInfo);
     this.value = value;
     this.source = source;
+    this.blockScalarHeader = blockScalarHeader;
   }
 
   public override clone(omitSource?: boolean): TemplateToken {
     return omitSource
-      ? new StringToken(undefined, undefined, this.value, this.definitionInfo, this.source)
-      : new StringToken(this.file, this.range, this.value, this.definitionInfo, this.source);
+      ? new StringToken(undefined, undefined, this.value, this.definitionInfo, this.source, this.blockScalarHeader)
+      : new StringToken(this.file, this.range, this.value, this.definitionInfo, this.source, this.blockScalarHeader);
   }
 
   public override toString(): string {

workflow-parser/src/templates/tokens/template-token.test.ts

@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 /* eslint-disable @typescript-eslint/no-non-null-assertion, @typescript-eslint/no-unnecessary-type-assertion */
 import {nullTrace} from "../../test-utils/null-trace.js";
 import {parseWorkflow} from "../../workflows/workflow-parser.js";
+import {MappingToken} from "./mapping-token.js";
+import {SequenceToken} from "./sequence-token.js";
 import {StringToken} from "./string-token.js";
 import {TemplateToken} from "./template-token.js";
 
 describe("traverse", () => {
-  it("returns parent token and key", () => {
+  it("returns parent token, key, and ancestors", () => {
     const workflow = parseWorkflow(
       {
         name: "wf.yaml",
@@ -18,19 +20,118 @@ describe("traverse", () => {
     const traverser = TemplateToken.traverse(root);
 
     // Root
-    expect(traverser.next()!.value).toEqual([undefined, root, undefined]);
+    const rootResult = traverser.next()!.value!;
+    expect(rootResult[0]).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(rootResult[1]).toBe(root);
+    expect(rootResult[2]).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(rootResult[3]).toEqual([]);
 
     // On
     const onResult = traverser.next().value!;
     expect(onResult[0]).toBe(root);
     expect(getValue(onResult[1])).toEqual("on");
     expect(onResult[2]).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(onResult[3]).toEqual([root]);
 
     // Push
     const pushResult = traverser.next().value!;
     expect(pushResult[0]).toBe(root);
     expect(getValue(pushResult[1])).toEqual("push");
     expect(getValue(pushResult[2])).toEqual("on");
+    expect(pushResult[3]).toEqual([root]);
+  });
+
+  it("returns ancestors for nested mappings", () => {
+    const workflow = parseWorkflow(
+      {
+        name: "wf.yaml",
+        content: `on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest`
+      },
+      nullTrace
+    );
+
+    const root = workflow.value!;
+    const results = Array.from(TemplateToken.traverse(root));
+
+    // Find the "ubuntu-latest" token
+    const ubuntuResult = results.find(r => getValue(r[1]) === "ubuntu-latest")!;
+    expect(ubuntuResult).toBeDefined();
+
+    // Ancestors should be: root -> jobs mapping -> build mapping
+    const ancestors = ubuntuResult[3];
+    expect(ancestors.length).toBe(3);
+    expect(ancestors[0]).toBe(root);
+    expect(ancestors[1]).toBeInstanceOf(MappingToken); // jobs mapping
+    expect(ancestors[2]).toBeInstanceOf(MappingToken); // build mapping
+  });
+
+  it("returns ancestors for sequences", () => {
+    const workflow = parseWorkflow(
+      {
+        name: "wf.yaml",
+        content: `on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hello`
+      },
+      nullTrace
+    );
+
+    const root = workflow.value!;
+    const results = Array.from(TemplateToken.traverse(root));
+
+    // Find the "echo hello" token
+    const echoResult = results.find(r => getValue(r[1]) === "echo hello")!;
+    expect(echoResult).toBeDefined();
+
+    // Ancestors should be: root -> jobs mapping -> build mapping -> steps sequence -> step mapping
+    const ancestors = echoResult[3];
+    expect(ancestors.length).toBe(5);
+    expect(ancestors[0]).toBe(root);
+    expect(ancestors[1]).toBeInstanceOf(MappingToken); // jobs mapping
+    expect(ancestors[2]).toBeInstanceOf(MappingToken); // build mapping
+    expect(ancestors[3]).toBeInstanceOf(SequenceToken); // steps sequence
+    expect(ancestors[4]).toBeInstanceOf(MappingToken); // step mapping
+  });
+
+  it("returns correct ancestors for matrix values", () => {
+    const workflow = parseWorkflow(
+      {
+        name: "wf.yaml",
+        content: `on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        node: [a, b]
+    steps:
+      - run: echo hi`
+      },
+      nullTrace
+    );
+
+    const root = workflow.value!;
+    const results = Array.from(TemplateToken.traverse(root));
+
+    // Find the "a" token (first matrix value)
+    const nodeValueResult = results.find(r => {
+      const token = r[1];
+      return token instanceof StringToken && token.value === "a";
+    })!;
+    expect(nodeValueResult).toBeDefined();
+
+    // Ancestors: root -> jobs mapping -> build mapping -> strategy mapping -> matrix mapping -> node sequence
+    const ancestors = nodeValueResult[3];
+    expect(ancestors.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(5);
+    expect(ancestors[0]).toBe(root);
+    // Last ancestor should be the sequence containing [a, b]
+    expect(ancestors[ancestors.length - 1]).toBeInstanceOf(SequenceToken);
   });
 });
 

workflow-parser/src/templates/tokens/template-token.ts

@@ -185,14 +185,23 @@ export abstract class TemplateToken {
 
   /**
    * Returns all tokens (depth first)
-   * @param value The object to travese
+   * @param value The object to traverse
    * @param omitKeys Whether to omit mapping keys
+   * @yields A tuple of [parent, token, keyToken, ancestors] for each token in the tree
    */
   public static *traverse(
     value: TemplateToken,
     omitKeys?: boolean
-  ): Generator<[parent: TemplateToken | undefined, token: TemplateToken, keyToken: TemplateToken | undefined], void> {
-    yield [undefined, value, undefined];
+  ): Generator<
+    [
+      parent: TemplateToken | undefined,
+      token: TemplateToken,
+      keyToken: TemplateToken | undefined,
+      ancestors: TemplateToken[]
+    ],
+    void
+  > {
+    yield [undefined, value, undefined, []];
 
     switch (value.templateTokenType) {
       case TokenType.Sequence:
@@ -202,7 +211,7 @@ export abstract class TemplateToken {
         while (state.parent) {
           if (state.moveNext(omitKeys ?? false)) {
             value = state.current as TemplateToken;
-            yield [state.parent?.current, value, state.currentKey];
+            yield [state.parent?.current, value, state.currentKey, state.getAncestors()];
 
             switch (value.type) {
               case TokenType.Sequence:

workflow-parser/src/templates/tokens/traversal-state.ts

@@ -66,4 +66,19 @@ export class TraversalState {
         throw new Error(`Unexpected token type '${this._token.templateTokenType}' when traversing state`);
     }
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Returns the ancestor tokens from root to the current token's parent container.
+   */
+  public getAncestors(): TemplateToken[] {
+    const ancestors: TemplateToken[] = [];
+    let state: TraversalState | undefined = this.parent;
+    while (state) {
+      if (state.current) {
+        ancestors.unshift(state.current);
+      }
+      state = state.parent;
+    }
+    return ancestors;
+  }
 }

workflow-parser/src/workflows/yaml-object-reader.ts

@@ -152,11 +152,27 @@ export class YamlObjectReader implements ObjectReader {
         return new BooleanToken(fileId, range, value, undefined);
       case "string": {
         let source: string | undefined;
+        let blockScalarHeader: string | undefined;
+
         if (token.srcToken && "source" in token.srcToken) {
           source = token.srcToken.source;
+
+          // Extract block scalar header (e.g., |-, |+, >-)
+          //
+          // CST node interfaces are supported and documented per yaml library maintainer:
+          // https://eemeli.org/yaml/#parser -> "For a complete description of CST node
+          // interfaces, please consult the cst.ts source."
+          // See also: https://github.com/eemeli/yaml/issues/643
+          if (token.srcToken.type === "block-scalar" && "props" in token.srcToken) {
+            const props = token.srcToken.props as Array<{type: string; source?: string}>;
+            const headerProp = props.find(p => p.type === "block-scalar-header");
+            if (headerProp?.source) {
+              blockScalarHeader = headerProp.source;
+            }
+          }
         }
 
-        return new StringToken(fileId, range, value, undefined, source);
+        return new StringToken(fileId, range, value, undefined, source, blockScalarHeader);
       }
       default:
         throw new Error(`Unexpected value type '${typeof value}' when reading object`);