The jq Playground
for VS Code
A jq editor and notebook for Visual Studio Code: write jq filters in .jqpg files and run them on JSON from files, URLs, or command line outputs — with live results, autocomplete, and AI assistance.
Notebook-style jq editing in VS Code
Execute jq filters interactively with instant results
Everything you need to use jq in VS Code
A comprehensive toolkit for working with jq in Visual Studio Code
Filter Panel
A dedicated webview to pick JSON files, write filters with autocomplete, and see results side by side.
Multiple Input Sources
Work with JSON from inline text, files, URLs, workspace buffers, or command line outputs.
AI-Powered Assistance
Explain, fix, and generate jq filters with GitHub Copilot. Chat with @jq for interactive help.
Command Line Integration
Pipe output from curl, ls, grep, and other commands directly into your jq filters.
Intelligent Autocomplete
IntelliSense powered by official jq builtins with docs and examples as you type.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Execute filters quickly with Cmd/Ctrl+Enter for output or Shift+Enter for editor.
Variable Support
Define variables in your playground and use them in commands and filters.
Chat Participant @jq
Ask @jq in GitHub Copilot chat for help writing, explaining, or debugging jq filters.
jq filter examples
Learn jq through practical examples
Fundamental jq operations
Identity
Returns the input unchanged
jq '.'{"name": "Alice", "age": 30}{
"name": "Alice",
"age": 30
}jq '.'
{"name": "Alice", "age": 30}jq Playground documentation
Everything you need to master jq Playground
Overview
New in v5.0.6 — A dedicated webview panel to experiment with jq filters without leaving the editor.
Run JQPG: Open Playground Panel from the Command Palette, or click the jq Playground icon in the Activity Bar to open the filter panel.
jq in VS Code: FAQ
Installing, .jqpg files, the jq binary and the online playground
How do I use jq in VS Code?
Install jq Playground from the VS Code Marketplace (search "jq playground" in the Extensions view or run "ext install davidnussio.vscode-jq-playground"), create a file with the .jqpg extension, write a jq filter followed by its JSON input, then press Ctrl+Enter (Cmd+Enter on macOS). The result appears in the output panel, or in a side editor with Shift+Enter.
What is a .jqpg file?
A .jqpg file is a jq playground notebook: it holds one or more jq filters, each with its own input (inline JSON, a workspace file, a URL or the output of a shell command). The extension adds syntax highlighting, autocomplete and run buttons for every filter in the file.
Do I need to install jq first?
No. The extension looks for jq on your system and, if it is missing, offers to download the official jq binary for your platform. You can also point it to a custom jq binary with the jqPlayground.binaryPath setting.
Can I try jq online without installing anything?
Yes. The online jq playground on this site runs jq 1.8.2 compiled to WebAssembly directly in your browser, so you can test filters on your JSON without installing anything and without sending your data to a server. Open the jq playground →
Is jq Playground for VS Code free?
Yes. It is free and open source under the MIT license, with 33k+ installs and a 4.7/5 rating from 16 reviews on the VS Code Marketplace.
Does it work with GitHub Copilot?
Yes. With GitHub Copilot installed you can explain a jq filter step by step, fix a failing filter, generate a filter from a plain-language description, and ask the @jq chat participant. AI features can be turned off with the jqPlayground.ai.enabled setting.
Ready to get started?
Install jq Playground for VS Code and start working with JSON data more efficiently.