What is JSONPath and how is it different from dot notation?

JSONPath is a query language for JSON, similar to XPath for XML. Dot notation (user.name) is simple but limited. JSONPath adds powerful features: wildcards ($.users[*].name gets all user names), filters ($.users[?(@.age > 21)] finds users over 21), recursive descent ($..email finds all emails at any depth), and array slicing ($.users[0:3] gets first three users). Use dot notation for simple access; use JSONPath for complex queries, filtering, and searching.

What are common JSONPath expressions?

Essential expressions: $.store.book (all books), $.store.book[0] (first book), $.store.book[*].author (all authors), $.store.book[?(@.price 18)].email.

How do I filter JSON arrays with conditions?

Use filter expressions with [?()]. Syntax: [?(@.field operator value)]. Examples: $.products[?(@.inStock == true)] (in-stock products), $.orders[?(@.total > 100)] (orders over $100), $.users[?(@.role == "admin")] (admin users). Combine conditions with && (AND) or || (OR): $.items[?(@.price 4)]. Supported operators: ==, !=, , =. Filter expressions are crucial for extracting subsets from large datasets.

What does the recursive descent operator (..) do?

The recursive descent operator (..) searches the entire JSON tree at any depth. Example: $..email finds all email fields regardless of nesting level. In {"user": {"email": "a@b.com", "contact": {"email": "c@d.com"}}}, $..email returns ["a@b.com", "c@d.com"]. Use cases: finding all occurrences of a field (IDs, timestamps, prices), debugging complex JSON, and extracting scattered data. Warning: can be slow on very large JSON (10,000+ nodes).

Can JSONPath modify JSON data or only query it?

Standard JSONPath is read-only (querying/extraction). Some extended libraries (JSONPath Plus, jq) support mutations: setting values, deleting keys, or transforming data. For modifications, use: JavaScript (lodash set/update), Python (dict manipulation), or jq (powerful JSON processor with full transformation capabilities). For most use cases, query with JSONPath, then programmatically modify results. Pure querying keeps operations predictable and safe.

Why does my JSONPath expression return no results?

Common issues: 1) Incorrect root ($. prefix required), 2) Case sensitivity (@.Name vs @.name), 3) Wrong filter syntax (use @ not $), 4) Invalid operators (use == not =), 5) Missing quotes (@.role == "admin" not @.role == admin for strings), 6) Path does not exist (verify JSON structure). Debug strategy: test simpler queries first ($.users before $.users[?(@.age > 21)]), validate JSON structure, and check for typos in field names.

JSON Query - JSONPath Expression Tool

How to Query JSON with JSONPath

Paste your JSON data into the input area
Enter a JSONPath expression (e.g., $.users[*].name)
Click execute to run the query
View matched results and copy extracted data

Why Use Our JSON Query Tool?

JSONPath Support: Full implementation of JSONPath specification
Filter Expressions: Query with conditions like [?(@.price < 10)]
Wildcard Matching: Use * to select all elements in arrays or objects
Recursive Descent: Search deeply nested structures with ..
Examples Included: Common query patterns to get started
Syntax Help: Built-in documentation for JSONPath expressions

What is JSONPath?

JSONPath is a query language for JSON, similar to XPath for XML. It lets you write expressions to extract specific data from JSON without writing code. Instead of manually traversing objects, you write a path expression.

Example: You have JSON with 1000 products, and you need all products priced under $20. The JSONPath $.products[?(@.price < 20)] returns just those items. The $ represents root, [?(...)] is a filter, and @ refers to the current item being evaluated.

Use cases: Extracting specific fields from large API responses, filtering arrays based on conditions without writing loops, testing API responses during development, and creating reusable query patterns for data extraction. JSONPath is especially useful when JSON structure is consistent but data is large.

Privacy & Security

All JSON querying happens locally in your browser. Your JSON data and query expressions are never uploaded to servers, stored, or logged. The processing uses JavaScript, keeping your data private.

JSON Query (JSONPath)

How to Query JSON with JSONPath

Why Use Our JSON Query Tool?

What is JSONPath?

Privacy & Security