jq
jq is a free command-line processor for working with JSON data. Its filters can select values, access nested attributes, build objects, collect results into arrays, and slice, map or transform content. Filters can be combined; each takes input and produces output, with an expression able to yield zero or more results per value. jq reads whitespace-separated JSON values and writes serialized output separated by whitespace. For very large inputs, the --stream option parses incrementally. Output controls include compact, raw, ASCII, sorted-key and colored formats. jq is written in portable C and has no runtime dependencies; a binary can be copied to another machine of the same type. Standalone executables are available for Linux, macOS and Windows, with packages listed for several distributions and package managers, plus a Docker image. Release binaries have SHA-256 checksums and signed release artifacts use jq release keys. The code is MIT-licensed, while its documentation uses CC-BY-3.0. The project news page lists jq 1.8.2 as released on June 20, 2026.
Who it is for
jq suits developers and other command-line users who need to query or reshape JSON streams. The incremental streaming option may be useful when processing very large inputs.
What is good
- Free software with MIT-licensed code.
- No runtime dependencies.
- Supports incremental parsing with --stream.
- Standalone executables cover Linux, macOS and Windows.
What to know first
- It is a command-line tool.
- Its input and output are JSON streams.
Verdict
jq provides a flexible filter model for selecting and transforming JSON, with options for output formatting and large inputs. Its command-line approach suits users comfortable working with streams and filters.
jq plans and pricing
All plansCompared on data transformation tools
- Free plan
- Yes
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