9.16. JSON Functions and Operators
Prev | Up | Chapter 9. Functions and Operators | Home | Next

## 9.16. JSON Functions and Operators

This section describes:

- functions and operators for processing and creating JSON data

- the SQL/JSON path language

To learn more about the SQL/JSON standard, see [sqltr-19075-6]. For details on JSON types supported in PostgreSQL, see Section 8.14.

### 9.16.1. Processing and Creating JSON Data

Table 9.44 shows the operators that are available for use with JSON data types (see Section 8.14). In addition, the usual comparison operators shown in Table 9.1 are available for `jsonb`, though not for `json`. The comparison operators follow the ordering rules for B-tree operations outlined in Section 8.14.4.

Table 9.44. `json` and `jsonb` Operators

Operator Description Example(s)
`json` `->` `integer` → `json` `jsonb` `->` `integer` → `jsonb` Extracts `n`'th element of JSON array (array elements are indexed from zero, but negative integers count from the end). `'[{"a":"foo"},{"b":"bar"},{"c":"baz"}]'::json -> 2` → `{"c":"baz"}` `'[{"a":"foo"},{"b":"bar"},{"c":"baz"}]'::json -> -3` → `{"a":"foo"}`
`json` `->` `text` → `json` `jsonb` `->` `text` → `jsonb` Extracts JSON object field with the given key. `'{"a": {"b":"foo"}}'::json -> 'a'` → `{"b":"foo"}`
`json` `->>` `integer` → `text` `jsonb` `->>` `integer` → `text` Extracts `n`'th element of JSON array, as `text`. `'[1,2,3]'::json ->> 2` → `3`
`json` `->>` `text` → `text` `jsonb` `->>` `text` → `text` Extracts JSON object field with the given key, as `text`. `'{"a":1,"b":2}'::json ->> 'b'` → `2`
`json` `#>` `text[]` → `json` `jsonb` `#>` `text[]` → `jsonb` Extracts JSON sub-object at the specified path, where path elements can be either field keys or array indexes. `'{"a": {"b": ["foo","bar"]}}'::json #> '{a,b,1}'` → `"bar"`
`json` `#>>` `text[]` → `text` `jsonb` `#>>` `text[]` → `text` Extracts JSON sub-object at the specified path as `text`. `'{"a": {"b": ["foo","bar"]}}'::json #>> '{a,b,1}'` → `bar`

### Note

The field/element/path extraction operators return NULL, rather than failing, if the JSON input does not have the right structure to match the request; for example if no such key or array element exists.

Some further operators exist only for `jsonb`, as shown in Table 9.45. Section 8.14.4 describes how these operators can be used to effectively search indexed `jsonb` data.

Table 9.45. Additional `jsonb` Operators

Operator Description Example(s)
`jsonb` `@>` `jsonb` → `boolean` Does the first JSON value contain the second? (See Section 8.14.3 for details about containment.) `'{"a":1, "b":2}'::jsonb @> '{"b":2}'::jsonb` → `t`
`jsonb` `<@` `jsonb` → `boolean` Is the first JSON value contained in the second? `'{"b":2}'::jsonb <@ '{"a":1, "b":2}'::jsonb` → `t`
`jsonb` `?` `text` → `boolean` Does the text string exist as a top-level key or array element within the JSON value? `'{"a":1, "b":2}'::jsonb ? 'b'` → `t` `'["a", "b", "c"]'::jsonb ? 'b'` → `t`
`jsonb` `?|` `text[]` → `boolean` Do any of the strings in the text array exist as top-level keys or array elements? `'{"a":1, "b":2, "c":3}'::jsonb ?| array['b', 'd']` → `t`
`jsonb` `?&` `text[]` → `boolean` Do all of the strings in the text array exist as top-level keys or array elements? `'["a", "b", "c"]'::jsonb ?& array['a', 'b']` → `t`

`jsonb` `||` `jsonb` → `jsonb`

Concatenates two `jsonb` values. Concatenating two objects generates an object with the union of their keys, taking the second object's value when there are duplicate keys. Does not operate recursively: only the top-level array or object structure is merged.

`'["a", "b"]'::jsonb || '["a", "d"]'::jsonb` → `["a", "b", "a", "d"]`

`'{"a": "b"}'::jsonb || '{"c": "d"}'::jsonb` → `{"a": "b", "c": "d"}`

`jsonb` `-` `text` → `jsonb` Deletes a key (and its value) from a JSON object, or matching string value(s) from a JSON array. `'{"a": "b", "c": "d"}'::jsonb - 'a'` → `{"c": "d"}` `'["a", "b", "c", "b"]'::jsonb - 'b'` → `["a", "c"]`
`jsonb` `-` `text[]` → `jsonb` Deletes all matching keys or array elements from the left operand. `'{"a": "b", "c": "d"}'::jsonb - '{a,c}'::text[]` → `{}`
`jsonb` `-` `integer` → `jsonb` Deletes the array element with specified index (negative integers count from the end). Throws an error if JSON value is not an array. `'["a", "b"]'::jsonb - 1` → `["a"]`
`jsonb` `#-` `text[]` → `jsonb` Deletes the field or array element at the specified path, where path elements can be either field keys or array indexes. `'["a", {"b":1}]'::jsonb #- '{1,b}'` → `["a", {}]`
`jsonb` `@?` `jsonpath` → `boolean` Does JSON path return any item for the specified JSON value? `'{"a":[1,2,3,4,5]}'::jsonb @? '$.a[*] ? (@ > 2)'` → `t`
`jsonb` `@@` `jsonpath` → `boolean` Returns the result of a JSON path predicate check for the specified JSON value. Only the first item of the result is taken into account. If the result is not Boolean, then `NULL` is returned. `'{"a":[1,2,3,4,5]}'::jsonb @@ '$.a[*] > 2'` → `t`

### Note

The `jsonpath` operators `@?` and `@@` suppress the following errors: missing object field or array element, unexpected JSON item type, datetime and numeric errors. The `jsonpath`-related functions described below can also be told to suppress these types of errors. This behavior might be helpful when searching JSON document collections of varying structure.

Table 9.46 shows the functions that are available for constructing `json` and `jsonb` values.

Table 9.46. JSON Creation Functions

Function Description Example(s)

`to_json` ( `anyelement` ) → `json`

`to_jsonb` ( `anyelement` ) → `jsonb`

Converts any SQL value to `json` or `jsonb`. Arrays and composites are converted recursively to arrays and objects (multidimensional arrays become arrays of arrays in JSON). Otherwise, if there is a cast from the SQL data type to `json`, the cast function will be used to perform the conversion;[a] otherwise, a scalar JSON value is produced. For any scalar other than a number, a Boolean, or a null value, the text representation will be used, with escaping as necessary to make it a valid JSON string value.

`to_json('Fred said "Hi."'::text)` → `"Fred said \"Hi.\""`

`to_jsonb(row(42, 'Fred said "Hi."'::text))` → `{"f1": 42, "f2": "Fred said \"Hi.\""}`

`array_to_json` ( `anyarray` [, `boolean` ] ) → `json` Converts a SQL array to a JSON array. The behavior is the same as `to_json` except that line feeds will be added between top-level array elements if the optional boolean parameter is true. `array_to_json('{{1,5},{99,100}}'::int[])` → `[[1,5],[99,100]]`
`row_to_json` ( `record` [, `boolean` ] ) → `json` Converts a SQL composite value to a JSON object. The behavior is the same as `to_json` except that line feeds will be added between top-level elements if the optional boolean parameter is true. `row_to_json(row(1,'foo'))` → `{"f1":1,"f2":"foo"}`
`json_build_array` ( `VARIADIC` `"any"` ) → `json` `jsonb_build_array` ( `VARIADIC` `"any"` ) → `jsonb` Builds a possibly-heterogeneously-typed JSON array out of a variadic argument list. Each argument is converted as per `to_json` or `to_jsonb`. `json_build_array(1,2,'foo',4,5)` → `[1, 2, "foo", 4, 5]`

`json_build_object` ( `VARIADIC` `"any"` ) → `json`

`jsonb_build_object` ( `VARIADIC` `"any"` ) → `jsonb`

Builds a JSON object out of a variadic argument list. By convention, the argument list consists of alternating keys and values. Key arguments are coerced to text; value arguments are converted as per `to_json` or `to_jsonb`.

`json_build_object('foo',1,2,row(3,'bar'))` → `{"foo" : 1, "2" : {"f1":3,"f2":"bar"}}`

`json_object` ( `text[]` ) → `json`

`jsonb_object` ( `text[]` ) → `jsonb`

Builds a JSON object out of a text array. The array must have either exactly one dimension with an even number of members, in which case they are taken as alternating key/value pairs, or two dimensions such that each inner array has exactly two elements, which are taken as a key/value pair. All values are converted to JSON strings.

`json_object('{a, 1, b, "def", c, 3.5}')` → `{"a" : "1", "b" : "def", "c" : "3.5"}`

`json_object('{{a, 1},{b, "def"},{c, 3.5}}')` → `{"a" : "1", "b" : "def", "c" : "3.5"}`

`json_object` ( `keys` `text[]`, `values` `text[]` ) → `json` `jsonb_object` ( `keys` `text[]`, `values` `text[]` ) → `jsonb` This form of `json_object` takes keys and values pairwise from separate text arrays. Otherwise it is identical to the one-argument form. `json_object('{a, b}', '{1,2}')` → `{"a": "1", "b": "2"}`
[a] For example, the hstore extension has a cast from `hstore` to `json`, so that `hstore` values converted via the JSON creation functions will be represented as JSON objects, not as primitive string values.

Table 9.47 shows the functions that are available for processing `json` and `jsonb` values.

Table 9.47. JSON Processing Functions

Function Description Example(s)

`json_array_elements` ( `json` ) → `setof json`

`jsonb_array_elements` ( `jsonb` ) → `setof jsonb`

Expands the top-level JSON array into a set of JSON values.

`select * from json_array_elements('[1,true, [2,false]]')` → ``

       value
    -----------
     1
     true
     [2,false]

`json_array_elements_text` ( `json` ) → `setof text`

`jsonb_array_elements_text` ( `jsonb` ) → `setof text`

Expands the top-level JSON array into a set of `text` values.

`select * from json_array_elements_text('["foo", "bar"]')` → ``

       value
    -----------
     foo
     bar

`json_array_length` ( `json` ) → `integer` `jsonb_array_length` ( `jsonb` ) → `integer` Returns the number of elements in the top-level JSON array. `json_array_length('[1,2,3,{"f1":1,"f2":[5,6]},4]')` → `5`

`json_each` ( `json` ) → `setof record` ( `key` `text`, `value` `json` )

`jsonb_each` ( `jsonb` ) → `setof record` ( `key` `text`, `value` `jsonb` )

Expands the top-level JSON object into a set of key/value pairs.

`select * from json_each('{"a":"foo", "b":"bar"}')` → ``

     key | value
    -----+-------
     a   | "foo"
     b   | "bar"

`json_each_text` ( `json` ) → `setof record` ( `key` `text`, `value` `text` )

`jsonb_each_text` ( `jsonb` ) → `setof record` ( `key` `text`, `value` `text` )

Expands the top-level JSON object into a set of key/value pairs. The returned `value`s will be of type `text`.

`select * from json_each_text('{"a":"foo", "b":"bar"}')` → ``

     key | value
    -----+-------
     a   | foo
     b   | bar

`json_extract_path` ( `from_json` `json`, `VARIADIC` `path_elems` `text[]` ) → `json`

`jsonb_extract_path` ( `from_json` `jsonb`, `VARIADIC` `path_elems` `text[]` ) → `jsonb`

Extracts JSON sub-object at the specified path. (This is functionally equivalent to the `#>` operator, but writing the path out as a variadic list can be more convenient in some cases.)

`json_extract_path('{"f2":{"f3":1},"f4":{"f5":99,"f6":"foo"}}', 'f4', 'f6')` → `"foo"`

`json_extract_path_text` ( `from_json` `json`, `VARIADIC` `path_elems` `text[]` ) → `text` `jsonb_extract_path_text` ( `from_json` `jsonb`, `VARIADIC` `path_elems` `text[]` ) → `text` Extracts JSON sub-object at the specified path as `text`. (This is functionally equivalent to the `#>>` operator.) `json_extract_path_text('{"f2":{"f3":1},"f4":{"f5":99,"f6":"foo"}}', 'f4', 'f6')` → `foo`

`json_object_keys` ( `json` ) → `setof text`

`jsonb_object_keys` ( `jsonb` ) → `setof text`

Returns the set of keys in the top-level JSON object.

`select * from json_object_keys('{"f1":"abc","f2":{"f3":"a", "f4":"b"}}')` → ``

     json_object_keys
    ------------------
     f1
     f2

`json_populate_record` ( `base` `anyelement`, `from_json` `json` ) → `anyelement`

`jsonb_populate_record` ( `base` `anyelement`, `from_json` `jsonb` ) → `anyelement`

Expands the top-level JSON object to a row having the composite type of the `base` argument. The JSON object is scanned for fields whose names match column names of the output row type, and their values are inserted into those columns of the output. (Fields that do not correspond to any output column name are ignored.) In typical use, the value of `base` is just `NULL`, which means that any output columns that do not match any object field will be filled with nulls. However, if `base` isn't `NULL` then the values it contains will be used for unmatched columns.

To convert a JSON value to the SQL type of an output column, the following rules are applied in sequence:

- A JSON null value is converted to a SQL null in all cases.

- If the output column is of type `json` or `jsonb`, the JSON value is just reproduced exactly.

- If the output column is a composite (row) type, and the JSON value is a JSON object, the fields of the object are converted to columns of the output row type by recursive application of these rules.

- Likewise, if the output column is an array type and the JSON value is a JSON array, the elements of the JSON array are converted to elements of the output array by recursive application of these rules.

- Otherwise, if the JSON value is a string, the contents of the string are fed to the input conversion function for the column's data type.

- Otherwise, the ordinary text representation of the JSON value is fed to the input conversion function for the column's data type.

While the example below uses a constant JSON value, typical use would be to reference a `json` or `jsonb` column laterally from another table in the query's `FROM` clause. Writing `json_populate_record` in the `FROM` clause is good practice, since all of the extracted columns are available for use without duplicate function calls.

`select * from json_populate_record(null::myrowtype, '{"a": 1, "b": ["2", "a b"], "c": {"d": 4, "e": "a b c"}}')` → ``

     a |   b       |      c
    ---+-----------+-------------
     1 | {2,"a b"} | (4,"a b c")

`json_populate_recordset` ( `base` `anyelement`, `from_json` `json` ) → `setof anyelement`

`jsonb_populate_recordset` ( `base` `anyelement`, `from_json` `jsonb` ) → `setof anyelement`

Expands the top-level JSON array of objects to a set of rows having the composite type of the `base` argument. Each element of the JSON array is processed as described above for `json[b]_populate_record`.

`select * from json_populate_recordset(null::myrowtype, '[{"a":1,"b":2},{"a":3,"b":4}]')` → ``

     a | b
    ---+---
     1 | 2
     3 | 4

`json_to_record` ( `json` ) → `record`

`jsonb_to_record` ( `jsonb` ) → `record`

Expands the top-level JSON object to a row having the composite type defined by an `AS` clause. (As with all functions returning `record`, the calling query must explicitly define the structure of the record with an `AS` clause.) The output record is filled from fields of the JSON object, in the same way as described above for `json[b]_populate_record`. Since there is no input record value, unmatched columns are always filled with nulls.

`select * from json_to_record('{"a":1,"b":[1,2,3],"c":[1,2,3],"e":"bar","r": {"a": 123, "b": "a b c"}}') as x(a int, b text, c int[], d text, r myrowtype)` → ``

     a |    b    |    c    | d |       r
    ---+---------+---------+---+---------------
     1 | [1,2,3] | {1,2,3} |   | (123,"a b c")

`json_to_recordset` ( `json` ) → `setof record`

`jsonb_to_recordset` ( `jsonb` ) → `setof record`

Expands the top-level JSON array of objects to a set of rows having the composite type defined by an `AS` clause. (As with all functions returning `record`, the calling query must explicitly define the structure of the record with an `AS` clause.) Each element of the JSON array is processed as described above for `json[b]_populate_record`.

`select * from json_to_recordset('[{"a":1,"b":"foo"},{"a":"2","c":"bar"}]') as x(a int, b text)` → ``

     a |  b
    ---+-----
     1 | foo
     2 |

`jsonb_set` ( `target` `jsonb`, `path` `text[]`, `new_value` `jsonb` [, `create_if_missing` `boolean` ] ) → `jsonb`

Returns `target` with the item designated by `path` replaced by `new_value`, or with `new_value` added if `create_if_missing` is true (which is the default) and the item designated by `path` does not exist. All earlier steps in the path must exist, or the `target` is returned unchanged. As with the path oriented operators, negative integers that appear in the `path` count from the end of JSON arrays. If the last path step is an array index that is out of range, and `create_if_missing` is true, the new value is added at the beginning of the array if the index is negative, or at the end of the array if it is positive.

`jsonb_set('[{"f1":1,"f2":null},2,null,3]', '{0,f1}','[2,3,4]', false)` → `[{"f1": [2, 3, 4], "f2": null}, 2, null, 3]`

`jsonb_set('[{"f1":1,"f2":null},2]', '{0,f3}','[2,3,4]')` → `[{"f1": 1, "f2": null, "f3": [2, 3, 4]}, 2]`

`jsonb_set_lax` ( `target` `jsonb`, `path` `text[]`, `new_value` `jsonb` [, `create_if_missing` `boolean` [, `null_value_treatment` `text` ]] ) → `jsonb`

If `new_value` is not `NULL`, behaves identically to `jsonb_set`. Otherwise behaves according to the value of `null_value_treatment` which must be one of `'raise_exception'`, `'use_json_null'`, `'delete_key'`, or `'return_target'`. The default is `'use_json_null'`.

`jsonb_set_lax('[{"f1":1,"f2":null},2,null,3]', '{0,f1}',null)` → `[{"f1":null,"f2":null},2,null,3]`

`jsonb_set_lax('[{"f1":99,"f2":null},2]', '{0,f3}',null, true, 'return_target')` → `[{"f1": 99, "f2": null}, 2]`

`jsonb_insert` ( `target` `jsonb`, `path` `text[]`, `new_value` `jsonb` [, `insert_after` `boolean` ] ) → `jsonb`

Returns `target` with `new_value` inserted. If the item designated by the `path` is an array element, `new_value` will be inserted before that item if `insert_after` is false (which is the default), or after it if `insert_after` is true. If the item designated by the `path` is an object field, `new_value` will be inserted only if the object does not already contain that key. All earlier steps in the path must exist, or the `target` is returned unchanged. As with the path oriented operators, negative integers that appear in the `path` count from the end of JSON arrays. If the last path step is an array index that is out of range, the new value is added at the beginning of the array if the index is negative, or at the end of the array if it is positive.

`jsonb_insert('{"a": [0,1,2]}', '{a, 1}', '"new_value"')` → `{"a": [0, "new_value", 1, 2]}`

`jsonb_insert('{"a": [0,1,2]}', '{a, 1}', '"new_value"', true)` → `{"a": [0, 1, "new_value", 2]}`

`json_strip_nulls` ( `json` ) → `json` `jsonb_strip_nulls` ( `jsonb` ) → `jsonb` Deletes all object fields that have null values from the given JSON value, recursively. Null values that are not object fields are untouched. `json_strip_nulls('[{"f1":1,"f2":null},2,null,3]')` → `[{"f1":1},2,null,3]`

`jsonb_path_exists` ( `target` `jsonb`, `path` `jsonpath` [, `vars` `jsonb` [, `silent` `boolean` ]] ) → `boolean`

Checks whether the JSON path returns any item for the specified JSON value. If the `vars` argument is specified, it must be a JSON object, and its fields provide named values to be substituted into the `jsonpath` expression. If the `silent` argument is specified and is `true`, the function suppresses the same errors as the `@?` and `@@` operators do.

`jsonb_path_exists('{"a":[1,2,3,4,5]}', '$.a[*] ? (@ >= $min && @ <= $max)', '{"min":2,"max":4}')` → `t`

`jsonb_path_match` ( `target` `jsonb`, `path` `jsonpath` [, `vars` `jsonb` [, `silent` `boolean` ]] ) → `boolean`

Returns the result of a JSON path predicate check for the specified JSON value. Only the first item of the result is taken into account. If the result is not Boolean, then `NULL` is returned. The optional `vars` and `silent` arguments act the same as for `jsonb_path_exists`.

`jsonb_path_match('{"a":[1,2,3,4,5]}', 'exists($.a[*] ? (@ >= $min && @ <= $max))', '{"min":2,"max":4}')` → `t`

`jsonb_path_query` ( `target` `jsonb`, `path` `jsonpath` [, `vars` `jsonb` [, `silent` `boolean` ]] ) → `setof jsonb`

Returns all JSON items returned by the JSON path for the specified JSON value. The optional `vars` and `silent` arguments act the same as for `jsonb_path_exists`.

`select * from jsonb_path_query('{"a":[1,2,3,4,5]}', '$.a[*] ? (@ >= $min && @ <= $max)', '{"min":2,"max":4}')` → ``

     jsonb_path_query
    ------------------
     2
     3
     4

`jsonb_path_query_array` ( `target` `jsonb`, `path` `jsonpath` [, `vars` `jsonb` [, `silent` `boolean` ]] ) → `jsonb`

Returns all JSON items returned by the JSON path for the specified JSON value, as a JSON array. The optional `vars` and `silent` arguments act the same as for `jsonb_path_exists`.

`jsonb_path_query_array('{"a":[1,2,3,4,5]}', '$.a[*] ? (@ >= $min && @ <= $max)', '{"min":2,"max":4}')` → `[2, 3, 4]`

`jsonb_path_query_first` ( `target` `jsonb`, `path` `jsonpath` [, `vars` `jsonb` [, `silent` `boolean` ]] ) → `jsonb`

Returns the first JSON item returned by the JSON path for the specified JSON value. Returns `NULL` if there are no results. The optional `vars` and `silent` arguments act the same as for `jsonb_path_exists`.

`jsonb_path_query_first('{"a":[1,2,3,4,5]}', '$.a[*] ? (@ >= $min && @ <= $max)', '{"min":2,"max":4}')` → `2`

`jsonb_path_exists_tz` ( `target` `jsonb`, `path` `jsonpath` [, `vars` `jsonb` [, `silent` `boolean` ]] ) → `boolean`

`jsonb_path_match_tz` ( `target` `jsonb`, `path` `jsonpath` [, `vars` `jsonb` [, `silent` `boolean` ]] ) → `boolean`

`jsonb_path_query_tz` ( `target` `jsonb`, `path` `jsonpath` [, `vars` `jsonb` [, `silent` `boolean` ]] ) → `setof jsonb`

`jsonb_path_query_array_tz` ( `target` `jsonb`, `path` `jsonpath` [, `vars` `jsonb` [, `silent` `boolean` ]] ) → `jsonb`

`jsonb_path_query_first_tz` ( `target` `jsonb`, `path` `jsonpath` [, `vars` `jsonb` [, `silent` `boolean` ]] ) → `jsonb`

These functions act like their counterparts described above without the `_tz` suffix, except that these functions support comparisons of date/time values that require timezone-aware conversions. The example below requires interpretation of the date-only value `2015-08-02` as a timestamp with time zone, so the result depends on the current TimeZone setting. Due to this dependency, these functions are marked as stable, which means these functions cannot be used in indexes. Their counterparts are immutable, and so can be used in indexes; but they will throw errors if asked to make such comparisons.

`jsonb_path_exists_tz('["2015-08-01 12:00:00 -05"]', '$[*] ? (@.datetime() < "2015-08-02".datetime())')` → `t`

`jsonb_pretty` ( `jsonb` ) → `text`

Converts the given JSON value to pretty-printed, indented text.

`jsonb_pretty('[{"f1":1,"f2":null},2]')` → ``

    [
        {
            "f1": 1,
            "f2": null
        },
        2
    ]

`json_typeof` ( `json` ) → `text`

`jsonb_typeof` ( `jsonb` ) → `text`

Returns the type of the top-level JSON value as a text string. Possible types are `object`, `array`, `string`, `number`, `boolean`, and `null`. (The `null` result should not be confused with a SQL NULL; see the examples.)

`json_typeof('-123.4')` → `number`

`json_typeof('null'::json)` → `null`

`json_typeof(NULL::json) IS NULL` → `t`

See also Section 9.21 for the aggregate function `json_agg` which aggregates record values as JSON, the aggregate function `json_object_agg` which aggregates pairs of values into a JSON object, and their `jsonb` equivalents, `jsonb_agg` and `jsonb_object_agg`.

### 9.16.2. The SQL/JSON Path Language

SQL/JSON path expressions specify the items to be retrieved from the JSON data, similar to XPath expressions used for SQL access to XML. In PostgreSQL, path expressions are implemented as the `jsonpath` data type and can use any elements described in Section 8.14.6.

JSON query functions and operators pass the provided path expression to the path engine for evaluation. If the expression matches the queried JSON data, the corresponding JSON item, or set of items, is returned. Path expressions are written in the SQL/JSON path language and can include arithmetic expressions and functions.

A path expression consists of a sequence of elements allowed by the `jsonpath` data type. The path expression is normally evaluated from left to right, but you can use parentheses to change the order of operations. If the evaluation is successful, a sequence of JSON items is produced, and the evaluation result is returned to the JSON query function that completes the specified computation.

To refer to the JSON value being queried (the context item), use the `$` variable in the path expression. It can be followed by one or more accessor operators, which go down the JSON structure level by level to retrieve sub-items of the context item. Each operator that follows deals with the result of the previous evaluation step.

For example, suppose you have some JSON data from a GPS tracker that you would like to parse, such as:

    {
      "track": {
        "segments": [
          {
            "location":   [ 47.763, 13.4034 ],
            "start time": "2018-10-14 10:05:14",
            "HR": 73
          },
          {
            "location":   [ 47.706, 13.2635 ],
            "start time": "2018-10-14 10:39:21",
            "HR": 135
          }
        ]
      }
    }

To retrieve the available track segments, you need to use the `.`key`` accessor operator to descend through surrounding JSON objects:

    $.track.segments

To retrieve the contents of an array, you typically use the `[*]` operator. For example, the following path will return the location coordinates for all the available track segments:

    $.track.segments[*].location

To return the coordinates of the first segment only, you can specify the corresponding subscript in the `[]` accessor operator. Recall that JSON array indexes are 0-relative:

    $.track.segments[0].location

The result of each path evaluation step can be processed by one or more `jsonpath` operators and methods listed in Section 9.16.2.2. Each method name must be preceded by a dot. For example, you can get the size of an array:

    $.track.segments.size()

More examples of using `jsonpath` operators and methods within path expressions appear below in Section 9.16.2.2.

When defining a path, you can also use one or more filter expressions that work similarly to the `WHERE` clause in SQL. A filter expression begins with a question mark and provides a condition in parentheses:

    ? (condition)

Filter expressions must be written just after the path evaluation step to which they should apply. The result of that step is filtered to include only those items that satisfy the provided condition. SQL/JSON defines three-valued logic, so the condition can be `true`, `false`, or `unknown`. The `unknown` value plays the same role as SQL `NULL` and can be tested for with the `is unknown` predicate. Further path evaluation steps use only those items for which the filter expression returned `true`.

The functions and operators that can be used in filter expressions are listed in Table 9.49. Within a filter expression, the `@` variable denotes the value being filtered (i.e., one result of the preceding path step). You can write accessor operators after `@` to retrieve component items.

For example, suppose you would like to retrieve all heart rate values higher than 130. You can achieve this using the following expression:

    $.track.segments[*].HR ? (@ > 130)

To get the start times of segments with such values, you have to filter out irrelevant segments before returning the start times, so the filter expression is applied to the previous step, and the path used in the condition is different:

    $.track.segments[*] ? (@.HR > 130)."start time"

You can use several filter expressions in sequence, if required. For example, the following expression selects start times of all segments that contain locations with relevant coordinates and high heart rate values:

    $.track.segments[*] ? (@.location[1] < 13.4) ? (@.HR > 130)."start time"

Using filter expressions at different nesting levels is also allowed. The following example first filters all segments by location, and then returns high heart rate values for these segments, if available:

    $.track.segments[*] ? (@.location[1] < 13.4).HR ? (@ > 130)

You can also nest filter expressions within each other:

    $.track ? (exists(@.segments[*] ? (@.HR > 130))).segments.size()

This expression returns the size of the track if it contains any segments with high heart rate values, or an empty sequence otherwise.

PostgreSQL's implementation of the SQL/JSON path language has the following deviations from the SQL/JSON standard:

- A path expression can be a Boolean predicate, although the SQL/JSON standard allows predicates only in filters. This is necessary for implementation of the `@@` operator. For example, the following `jsonpath` expression is valid in PostgreSQL:

      $.track.segments[*].HR < 70

- There are minor differences in the interpretation of regular expression patterns used in `like_regex` filters, as described in Section 9.16.2.3.

#### 9.16.2.1. Strict and Lax Modes

When you query JSON data, the path expression may not match the actual JSON data structure. An attempt to access a non-existent member of an object or element of an array results in a structural error. SQL/JSON path expressions have two modes of handling structural errors:

- lax (default) — the path engine implicitly adapts the queried data to the specified path. Any remaining structural errors are suppressed and converted to empty SQL/JSON sequences.

- strict — if a structural error occurs, an error is raised.

The lax mode facilitates matching of a JSON document structure and path expression if the JSON data does not conform to the expected schema. If an operand does not match the requirements of a particular operation, it can be automatically wrapped as an SQL/JSON array or unwrapped by converting its elements into an SQL/JSON sequence before performing this operation. Besides, comparison operators automatically unwrap their operands in the lax mode, so you can compare SQL/JSON arrays out-of-the-box. An array of size 1 is considered equal to its sole element. Automatic unwrapping is not performed only when:

- The path expression contains `type()` or `size()` methods that return the type and the number of elements in the array, respectively.

- The queried JSON data contain nested arrays. In this case, only the outermost array is unwrapped, while all the inner arrays remain unchanged. Thus, implicit unwrapping can only go one level down within each path evaluation step.

For example, when querying the GPS data listed above, you can abstract from the fact that it stores an array of segments when using the lax mode:

    lax $.track.segments.location

In the strict mode, the specified path must exactly match the structure of the queried JSON document to return an SQL/JSON item, so using this path expression will cause an error. To get the same result as in the lax mode, you have to explicitly unwrap the `segments` array:

    strict $.track.segments[*].location

#### 9.16.2.2. SQL/JSON Path Operators and Methods

Table 9.48 shows the operators and methods available in `jsonpath`. Note that while the unary operators and methods can be applied to multiple values resulting from a preceding path step, the binary operators (addition etc.) can only be applied to single values.

Table 9.48. `jsonpath` Operators and Methods

Operator/Method Description Example(s)
`number` `+` `number` → ``number`` Addition `jsonb_path_query('[2]', '$[0] + 3')` → `5`
`+` `number` → ``number`` Unary plus (no operation); unlike addition, this can iterate over multiple values `jsonb_path_query_array('{"x": [2,3,4]}', '+ $.x')` → `[2, 3, 4]`
`number` `-` `number` → ``number`` Subtraction `jsonb_path_query('[2]', '7 - $[0]')` → `5`
`-` `number` → ``number`` Negation; unlike subtraction, this can iterate over multiple values `jsonb_path_query_array('{"x": [2,3,4]}', '- $.x')` → `[-2, -3, -4]`
`number` `*` `number` → ``number`` Multiplication `jsonb_path_query('[4]', '2 * $[0]')` → `8`
`number` `/` `number` → ``number`` Division `jsonb_path_query('[8.5]', '$[0] / 2')` → `4.2500000000000000`
`number` `%` `number` → ``number`` Modulo (remainder) `jsonb_path_query('[32]', '$[0] % 10')` → `2`
`value` `.` `type()` → ``string`` Type of the JSON item (see `json_typeof`) `jsonb_path_query_array('[1, "2", {}]', '$[*].type()')` → `["number", "string", "object"]`
`value` `.` `size()` → ``number`` Size of the JSON item (number of array elements, or 1 if not an array) `jsonb_path_query('{"m": [11, 15]}', '$.m.size()')` → `2`
`value` `.` `double()` → ``number`` Approximate floating-point number converted from a JSON number or string `jsonb_path_query('{"len": "1.9"}', '$.len.double() * 2')` → `3.8`
`number` `.` `ceiling()` → ``number`` Nearest integer greater than or equal to the given number `jsonb_path_query('{"h": 1.3}', '$.h.ceiling()')` → `2`
`number` `.` `floor()` → ``number`` Nearest integer less than or equal to the given number `jsonb_path_query('{"h": 1.7}', '$.h.floor()')` → `1`
`number` `.` `abs()` → ``number`` Absolute value of the given number `jsonb_path_query('{"z": -0.3}', '$.z.abs()')` → `0.3`
`string` `.` `datetime()` → ``datetime_type`` (see note) Date/time value converted from a string `jsonb_path_query('["2015-8-1", "2015-08-12"]', '$[*] ? (@.datetime() < "2015-08-2".datetime())')` → `"2015-8-1"`
`string` `.` `datetime(`template`)` → ``datetime_type`` (see note) Date/time value converted from a string using the specified `to_timestamp` template `jsonb_path_query_array('["12:30", "18:40"]', '$[*].datetime("HH24:MI")')` → `["12:30:00", "18:40:00"]`
`object` `.` `keyvalue()` → ``array`` The object's key-value pairs, represented as an array of objects containing three fields: `"key"`, `"value"`, and `"id"`; `"id"` is a unique identifier of the object the key-value pair belongs to `jsonb_path_query_array('{"x": "20", "y": 32}', '$.keyvalue()')` → `[{"id": 0, "key": "x", "value": "20"}, {"id": 0, "key": "y", "value": 32}]`

### Note

The result type of the `datetime()` and `datetime(`template`)` methods can be `date`, `timetz`, `time`, `timestamptz`, or `timestamp`. Both methods determine their result type dynamically.

The `datetime()` method sequentially tries to match its input string to the ISO formats for `date`, `timetz`, `time`, `timestamptz`, and `timestamp`. It stops on the first matching format and emits the corresponding data type.

The `datetime(`template`)` method determines the result type according to the fields used in the provided template string.

The `datetime()` and `datetime(`template`)` methods use the same parsing rules as the `to_timestamp` SQL function does (see Section 9.8), with three exceptions. First, these methods don't allow unmatched template patterns. Second, only the following separators are allowed in the template string: minus sign, period, solidus (slash), comma, apostrophe, semicolon, colon and space. Third, separators in the template string must exactly match the input string.

If different date/time types need to be compared, an implicit cast is applied. A `date` value can be cast to `timestamp` or `timestamptz`, `timestamp` can be cast to `timestamptz`, and `time` to `timetz`. However, all but the first of these conversions depend on the current TimeZone setting, and thus can only be performed within timezone-aware `jsonpath` functions.

Table 9.49 shows the available filter expression elements.

Table 9.49. `jsonpath` Filter Expression Elements

Predicate/Value Description Example(s)
`value` `==` `value` → `boolean` Equality comparison (this, and the other comparison operators, work on all JSON scalar values) `jsonb_path_query_array('[1, "a", 1, 3]', '$[*] ? (@ == 1)')` → `[1, 1]` `jsonb_path_query_array('[1, "a", 1, 3]', '$[*] ? (@ == "a")')` → `["a"]`
`value` `!=` `value` → `boolean` `value` `<>` `value` → `boolean` Non-equality comparison `jsonb_path_query_array('[1, 2, 1, 3]', '$[*] ? (@ != 1)')` → `[2, 3]` `jsonb_path_query_array('["a", "b", "c"]', '$[*] ? (@ <> "b")')` → `["a", "c"]`
`value` `<` `value` → `boolean` Less-than comparison `jsonb_path_query_array('[1, 2, 3]', '$[*] ? (@ < 2)')` → `[1]`
`value` `<=` `value` → `boolean` Less-than-or-equal-to comparison `jsonb_path_query_array('["a", "b", "c"]', '$[*] ? (@ <= "b")')` → `["a", "b"]`
`value` `>` `value` → `boolean` Greater-than comparison `jsonb_path_query_array('[1, 2, 3]', '$[*] ? (@ > 2)')` → `[3]`
`value` `>=` `value` → `boolean` Greater-than-or-equal-to comparison `jsonb_path_query_array('[1, 2, 3]', '$[*] ? (@ >= 2)')` → `[2, 3]`
`true` → `boolean` JSON constant `true` `jsonb_path_query('[{"name": "John", "parent": false}, {"name": "Chris", "parent": true}]', '$[*] ? (@.parent == true)')` → `{"name": "Chris", "parent": true}`
`false` → `boolean` JSON constant `false` `jsonb_path_query('[{"name": "John", "parent": false}, {"name": "Chris", "parent": true}]', '$[*] ? (@.parent == false)')` → `{"name": "John", "parent": false}`
`null` → ``value`` JSON constant `null` (note that, unlike in SQL, comparison to `null` works normally) `jsonb_path_query('[{"name": "Mary", "job": null}, {"name": "Michael", "job": "driver"}]', '$[*] ? (@.job == null) .name')` → `"Mary"`
`boolean` `&&` `boolean` → `boolean` Boolean AND `jsonb_path_query('[1, 3, 7]', '$[*] ? (@ > 1 && @ < 5)')` → `3`
`boolean` `||` `boolean` → `boolean` Boolean OR `jsonb_path_query('[1, 3, 7]', '$[*] ? (@ < 1 || @ > 5)')` → `7`
`!` `boolean` → `boolean` Boolean NOT `jsonb_path_query('[1, 3, 7]', '$[*] ? (!(@ < 5))')` → `7`
`boolean` `is unknown` → `boolean` Tests whether a Boolean condition is `unknown`. `jsonb_path_query('[-1, 2, 7, "foo"]', '$[*] ? ((@ > 0) is unknown)')` → `"foo"`

`string` `like_regex` `string` [ `flag` `string` ] → `boolean`

Tests whether the first operand matches the regular expression given by the second operand, optionally with modifications described by a string of `flag` characters (see Section 9.16.2.3).

`jsonb_path_query_array('["abc", "abd", "aBdC", "abdacb", "babc"]', '$[*] ? (@ like_regex "^ab.*c")')` → `["abc", "abdacb"]`

`jsonb_path_query_array('["abc", "abd", "aBdC", "abdacb", "babc"]', '$[*] ? (@ like_regex "^ab.*c" flag "i")')` → `["abc", "aBdC", "abdacb"]`

`string` `starts with` `string` → `boolean` Tests whether the second operand is an initial substring of the first operand. `jsonb_path_query('["John Smith", "Mary Stone", "Bob Johnson"]', '$[*] ? (@ starts with "John")')` → `"John Smith"`

`exists` `(` `path_expression` `)` → `boolean`

Tests whether a path expression matches at least one SQL/JSON item. Returns `unknown` if the path expression would result in an error; the second example uses this to avoid a no-such-key error in strict mode.

`jsonb_path_query('{"x": [1, 2], "y": [2, 4]}', 'strict $.* ? (exists (@ ? (@[*] > 2)))')` → `[2, 4]`

`jsonb_path_query_array('{"value": 41}', 'strict $ ? (exists (@.name)) .name')` → `[]`

#### 9.16.2.3. SQL/JSON Regular Expressions

SQL/JSON path expressions allow matching text to a regular expression with the `like_regex` filter. For example, the following SQL/JSON path query would case-insensitively match all strings in an array that start with an English vowel:

    $[*] ? (@ like_regex "^[aeiou]" flag "i")

The optional `flag` string may include one or more of the characters `i` for case-insensitive match, `m` to allow `^` and `$` to match at newlines, `s` to allow `.` to match a newline, and `q` to quote the whole pattern (reducing the behavior to a simple substring match).

The SQL/JSON standard borrows its definition for regular expressions from the `LIKE_REGEX` operator, which in turn uses the XQuery standard. PostgreSQL does not currently support the `LIKE_REGEX` operator. Therefore, the `like_regex` filter is implemented using the POSIX regular expression engine described in Section 9.7.3. This leads to various minor discrepancies from standard SQL/JSON behavior, which are cataloged in Section 9.7.3.8. Note, however, that the flag-letter incompatibilities described there do not apply to SQL/JSON, as it translates the XQuery flag letters to match what the POSIX engine expects.

Keep in mind that the pattern argument of `like_regex` is a JSON path string literal, written according to the rules given in Section 8.14.6. This means in particular that any backslashes you want to use in the regular expression must be doubled. For example, to match strings that contain only digits:

    $ ? (@ like_regex "^\\d+$")

Prev | Up | Next
9.15. XML Functions | Home | 9.17. Sequence Manipulation Functions