jq is a lightweight and flexible command-line JSON processor, like sed for JSON data.
What is jq?
jq is a lightweight and flexible command-line JSON processor, like sed for JSON data.
SubcategoryCommand-Line JSON Processing Tool
Version1.8.2
PriceFree
What is jq?
Introduction to jq — what it does and who it is for.
What do you need to run jq?
System requirements, OS support, and hardware needs for jq.
jq is distributed as a standalone, dependency-free binary for Linux, macOS, and Windows across AMD64 and ARM64 architectures, requiring no additional runtime or software installation.
| Operating system | LinuxmacOSWindows |
|---|---|
| Devices | DesktopServer |
| Processor | AMD64, ARM64 (Windows ARM64 and Docker arm/v7 also supported) |
Programming languages
- ✓C#
How much does jq cost?
Pricing plans, license type, and availability for jq.
jq is completely free and open source, licensed under the MIT license for its code and CC-BY-3.0 for its documentation.
| Price summary | Free (MIT (code); CC-BY-3.0 (documentation)) |
|---|---|
| License details | MIT License for source code; Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 for documentation; bundles the decNumber library under the ICU License. |
| Availability | Public / Open Source |
What is jq used for?
Key features, use cases, and capabilities of jq.
jq lets users slice, filter, map, and transform JSON data directly from the command line using its own concise filter language, functioning much like sed does for text.
Key features
- ✓JSON slicing, filtering, mapping, and transformation
- ✓portable C implementation with zero runtime dependencies
- ✓standalone single-binary distribution
- ✓online playground
- ✓jq filter language
Use cases
- ✓Parsing and transforming JSON in shell scripts and pipelines
- ✓API response processing
- ✓data extraction and reformatting
- ✓command-line data analysis
Who should use jq?
Target users, industries, and ideal use cases for jq.
jq is primarily used by developers, system administrators, and DevOps practitioners who need to process JSON output in scripts, pipelines, and command-line workflows.
| Target audience | Developers, DevOps Engineers, System Administrators, Data Engineers |
|---|---|
| Integration complexity | Low |
How is jq deployed?
Deployment options, API, and hosting for jq.
jq runs locally as a single self-contained binary with no server component or self-hosting considerations required.
| API integration | ✗ |
|---|---|
| Open source | ✗ |
| Self-hosting | ✗ |
How do you get started with jq?
Installation and onboarding steps for jq.
Users can download a prebuilt binary from jqlang.org/download or install via common package managers, then run jq filters directly against JSON input from files or piped commands.
Where can you learn more about jq?
Documentation, support, and official links for jq.
Official resources include the jqlang.org manual and tutorial, the GitHub repository, an online playground at play.jqlang.org, a Discord server, and the #jq channel on Libera.Chat.
| Website | Website |
|---|---|
| Documentation | Documentation |
| Source code | Source code |
| Install | Install |
| Demo | Demo |
Frequently asked questions
What is jq?
jq is a lightweight and flexible command-line JSON processor, like sed for JSON data.
Is jq free?
jq is completely free and open source, licensed under the MIT license for its code and CC-BY-3.0 for its documentation.
What is jq used for?
jq lets users slice, filter, map, and transform JSON data directly from the command line using its own concise filter language, functioning much like sed does for text.
Where can I get jq?
You can get jq via the official website, the install page, GitHub and a live demo. See the resources section on this page for direct links.
Who should use jq?
jq is primarily used by developers, system administrators, and DevOps practitioners who need to process JSON output in scripts, pipelines, and command-line workflows.
What do you need to run jq?
jq is distributed as a standalone, dependency-free binary for Linux, macOS, and Windows across AMD64 and ARM64 architectures, requiring no additional runtime or software installation.
How do you get started with jq?
Users can download a prebuilt binary from jqlang.org/download or install via common package managers, then run jq filters directly against JSON input from files or piped commands.
How is jq deployed?
jq runs locally as a single self-contained binary with no server component or self-hosting considerations required.
Who developed jq?
jq is developed by Stephen Dolan (original author); maintained by the jqlang community.
Where can I learn more about jq?
Official resources include the jqlang.org manual and tutorial, the GitHub repository, an online playground at play.jqlang.org, a Discord server, and the #jq channel on Libera.Chat.