jq
A free command-line JSON processor for filters, transformations and scripted data extraction.
About jq
jq is a free, open source command-line JSON processor. It is used to slice, filter, map, and transform structured JSON data, and its homepage describes it as working on JSON in much the same way that sed, awk, and grep work on text.
jq is written in portable C and has zero runtime dependencies. The homepage states that a single binary can be copied to another machine of the same type and is expected to work there. Prebuilt downloads are listed for Linux (AMD64 and ARM64), macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), and Windows (AMD64), along with other platforms, older versions, and source.
Key features
- Slices, filters, maps, and transforms structured JSON data from the command line
- Written in portable C with zero runtime dependencies
- Single downloadable binary that can be copied to another machine of the same type
- Prebuilt downloads for Linux, macOS, and Windows, plus source
- Tutorial and manual covering basic and advanced use
- Community help through Stack Overflow, the #jq channel on Libera.Chat, and Discord
Best for: Developers and system operators who need to filter or reshape JSON data from the command line or in scripts.
Good for
- Has zero runtime dependencies, so a single binary can be moved between machines of the same type
- Written in portable C
- Free and open source
jq at a glance
- Website
- jqlang.org
- Category
- Development › Developer Tools
- Type
- Online tool
- Pricing
- Free
- Open source
- Yes
- Last checked
- Oct 9, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 9, 2026
Guides for Developer Tools
jq alternatives
Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.
ArtiVC provides command-line data versioning for managing large files in cloud storage.
Open source
24 alternatives
Mockium generates fake data from user-defined fields and schemas and can export results in formats such as CSV, SQL, JSON, and XML.
Coders Tool offers browser-based utilities for JSON, SQL, text, encoding, networking, time conversion, and data formatting.
The OpenSSH toolkit provides secure remote connections and command-line file transfer, including an SFTP client.
FreeOpen source
23 alternatives
A command-line file-transfer program with SFTP support, queues and scripting for repeatable transfer jobs.
FreeOpen source
21 alternatives
torchaudio provides data manipulation and transformation tools for audio signal processing with PyTorch.
Open source
24 alternativesPopular in Developer Tools
Well-known listings from the same topic.
AppDevToolsappdevtools.comCommand Not Foundcommand-not-found.comTestFlighttestflight.apple.com/join/A8GwCnq8Sourcegraphabout.sourcegraph.comProject Wallaceprojectwallace.comCarbon Calculatorwebsitecarbon.com
jq FAQ
Where can I get help with jq?
The homepage lists Stack Overflow (using the jq tag), the #jq channel on Libera.Chat, and a Discord server for more interactive discussion.
Where can I learn how to use jq?
The homepage links to a tutorial for an introduction and to a manual that covers the program in more detail.
What is the latest version of jq?
The homepage lists jq 1.8.2 as the current download, with a release date of 20 June 2026.
Is something wrong or out of date?
Tell us and an editor will check it.
Own this website?
Claim this listing
Claim the listing and suggest updates yourself. An editor checks every claim first.