01
Start with a specific branch
Use the book-title example to select one field per record. Recursive descent searches every depth, so $..price includes the bicycle price as well as book prices. Compare paths before broadening a query.
JSON tools
JSONPath testerfind the value and its location
Try the price filter, then inspect matching values and normalized paths. Switch off auto-run for deliberate queries.
JSONPath tester
JSON input
JSON stays in this browser. Only expressions you explicitly save are stored locally.
Matches
| Normalized path | Value |
|---|
Each value preview shows up to 1,200 characters. Copy and download include the full selected view.
RFC 9535 · jsonpath-rfc9535 1.3.0 · No JavaScript expressions
Result is out of date; export and sending are disabled.
A JSONPath tester helps when an API response contains the right data somewhere inside nested objects. Finding a value is only half the task: its path tells you which record produced it.
This JSONPath evaluator uses a single named dialect rather than silently trying several. Compare a narrow JSONPath expression with a recursive query before using it in your own application.
Why use this JSONPath tester?
Keep a match attached to its location
The JSONPath tester pairs each value with normalized paths such as $['store']['book'][0]. Two identical values can belong to different records; the table preserves that distinction instead of hiding their origins.
Continue with the right data
Choose the original document or the matched values array before sending it to another tool. Object selections can become CSV rows; scalar matches remain available for JSON formatting. No transfer starts just because a query completed.
Build a query you can explain
02
Control when evaluation runs
Auto-run waits 350ms after edits. Turn it off to use Run query or Ctrl/Cmd+Enter. Editing JSON or the expression immediately makes the old result unavailable for copying, downloading and sending.
03
Check the exported shape
Values are always exported as an array of matches, even for one match. Paths view exports an array of normalized path strings. Saving an expression stores only that expression, up to 20 entries in this browser.
From nested records to useful selections
Filters with a defined meaning
Select books with $.store.book[?@.price < 10], combine conditions with && or ||, and use standard length, count, match, search and value functions. The engine parses these expressions; it does not treat them as JavaScript code.
Several ways to reach a node
Child names, wildcards, recursive descent, negative indices, slices and selector lists let you narrow a nested response. A repeated selector can produce repeated matches; the result is not automatically deduplicated.
An empty result is still a result
A valid query with no matches exports []. A property whose value is null is a real match and exports [null]. The match count distinguishes these cases, while syntax failures show an error and disable export.
Reusable queries and complete exports
Load a saved expression against a different document without replacing that document. Deletion has a preview and one undo. Results appear 50 at a time with 1,200-character value previews; copying and downloading use the full accepted result.
Know the dialect and the limits
- One RFC implementation
- This page uses jsonpath-rfc9535 1.3.0, based on RFC 9535. It is not a compatibility switch for Jayway, Goessner, kubectl or JSONPath Plus extensions. jq pipelines, JMESPath, custom functions and embedded JavaScript are not accepted.
- Strict JSON and numeric boundaries
- Comments, JSON5, trailing commas and duplicate keys are rejected. Unsafe integers and numeric overflow are also rejected before parsing. Ordinary decimals use JavaScript numbers; exponent spelling, trailing zeros and negative zero are not preserved in output.
- Bounded execution
- Limits are 500,000 input characters, depth 100, 50,000 nodes, 2,000 expression characters, 5,000 matches and 2,000,000 combined output characters. A worker is stopped after 2 seconds. Limits produce errors, not partial downloadable results.
- Selection does not reshape data
- Queries select existing nodes; they do not update records, group rows or create new objects. CSV transfer accepts an object or an array consisting entirely of objects. An array of scalar matches is not automatically wrapped into rows.
- Explicit local workflow
- There is no file or URL import, cloud query sync or data-bearing share link. Expressions are stored only after Save. Transfer opens a new tab through a same-origin memory handshake, requires this tab to stay open, and accepts at most 500,000 characters.
JSONPath tester questions
Which JSONPath dialect is supported?
This JSONPath tester uses jsonpath-rfc9535 1.3.0 and RFC 9535 syntax. Standard filters and functions are available, but expressions written for a vendor-specific extension may need rewriting.
Why is my expression returning nothing?
Check the root, property spelling, letter case and array level. No match produces []; it is not a parser failure. Test a shorter prefix or use the root example to confirm the data structure first.
Why does my filter expression fail?
Check the current-node marker @ and use JSONPath operators rather than JavaScript methods. The expression error identifies a line and column when the parser provides a location. Unsupported function names are errors too.
What does $..key return?
Recursive descent finds matching child names at every depth. $..price includes prices beneath both books and the bicycle; $.store.book[*].price only follows the book branch. Use the paths to inspect which nodes were selected.
Can a filter expression execute arbitrary JavaScript?
No. The JSONPath tester parses the expression using its RFC engine and does not evaluate arbitrary JavaScript. Standard match and search functions still perform regular-expression work, which remains subject to the worker time limit.
Found a query this tool handles incorrectly?
Try the sample query
Use the JSONPath tester to compare the price filter with recursive descent. Inspect the paths, then choose whether your next tool needs the original document or only the selected values.