How to Search JSON — Find Keys, Values & Nested Data
Search any JSON document instantly. Find keys, values and deeply nested data using JSONPath expressions, text search or tree navigation — all in your browser.
Enter a JSONPath expression to see matching results
JSON Search Techniques
Master these approaches to quickly find data inside any JSON structure.
Start with Text Search for Quick Lookups
Press Ctrl+F (Cmd+F) in the editor for simple text matches. This is the fastest way when you know the exact value or key name you are looking for.
Use $.. for Deep Searches
The JSONPath recursive descent operator ($..key) finds a key at every depth level. Use $..name to find all 'name' fields regardless of where they appear in the hierarchy.
Filter Arrays with Conditions
JSONPath filter expressions let you query arrays by value. $.products[?( inStock == true )] returns only in-stock products. Combine with field selection: $.products[?( price < 50 )].name.
Use the Tree View for Unknown Structures
When you do not know the JSON structure, the tree view is your best friend. Start collapsed at depth 1, identify the top-level shape, then expand the branches that look relevant.
Powerful JSON Search Tools
Multiple ways to find exactly what you need inside any JSON document.
JSONPath Query Language
Use JSONPath expressions like $.users[*].name to extract specific fields from complex structures. Supports wildcards, filters and recursive descent.
Built-In Text Search
Press Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on Mac) to search for any text inside the JSON editor. Highlights all matches and lets you jump between them.
Interactive Tree Navigation
Explore JSON visually with the collapsible tree view. Expand and collapse nodes to drill into nested structures without writing queries.
Complete Guide to Searching JSON
JSON search spans three levels: text search (find a literal string), structural search (navigate by key paths), and query search (filter and extract data with JSONPath). Choosing the right approach depends on what you know about the data and what you need to extract.
JSON Search Quick Reference
Text search (Ctrl+F) — fastest for known strings. Use when you know the exact text.
$..keyName — recursive search for a key at any depth. Use when the key exists but you do not know where.
$.path[?( field == value )] — conditional filter. Use when you need to match records by field values.
How to Search JSON — FAQ
How do I search for a specific key in JSON?
Use the JSONPath recursive descent operator: $..keyName. This searches the entire JSON document at every depth level and returns all values associated with that key name, no matter how deeply nested.
How do I find a value in a large JSON file?
Use the editor's text search (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) to find the raw text. For structured searches, use JSONPath filter expressions like $.data[?( status == 'active' )] to find objects where a field matches a specific value.
What is JSONPath and how does it work?
JSONPath is a query language for JSON, similar to XPath for XML. It uses path expressions starting with $ (the root) to navigate the document. For example, $.store.book[0].title gets the title of the first book in the store object.
How do I search JSON in JavaScript?
In JavaScript, use Object.keys() to search keys, JSON.stringify() with includes() for text search, or a JSONPath library like jsonpath-plus for complex queries. For simple access, use optional chaining: data?.users?.[0]?.name.
How do I search JSON in Python?
In Python, use dictionary methods like .get() and .items() for simple searches. For complex queries, use the jsonpath-ng library: from jsonpath_ng import parse; results = parse('$.users[*].name').find(data).
How do I search JSON with command-line tools?
select(.age > 30)' data.json finds users over 30. jq '..
Can I search JSON without knowing the structure?
Yes. Use the recursive descent operator $..* to get all values, or $..keyName to find a specific key at any depth. The tree view also lets you visually explore unknown structures by expanding nodes level by level.
How do I filter JSON arrays by condition?
Use JSONPath filter expressions: $.items[?( price less than 20 )] returns items where price is under 20. You can combine conditions and use comparison operators including equals, not-equals, less-than, greater-than and their or-equal variants.
How do I search for multiple keys at once?
Use separate JSONPath queries for each key, or use the recursive descent operator with each key name: $..firstName and $..lastName. In jq, use: jq '.[]
Is there a way to search JSON in VS Code?
VS Code has built-in Ctrl+F text search. For JSONPath queries, install extensions like 'JSONPath StatusBar' or 'JSON Tools'. For large files that VS Code struggles with, use this online tool instead.
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JSON Diff
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