How to Dynamically Add Multiple Key Value Pairs to a JSON Array in Bash

Discover effective methods for appending new entries to a JSON array in Bash using jq for seamless data manipulation.
---

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Dynamically add multiple key value pair in a json array in bash

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Dynamically Adding Multiple Key Value Pairs to a JSON Array in Bash

Are you struggling with the need to dynamically append key-value pairs to a JSON array using Bash? If so, you're not alone! This is a common requirement for developers working with data files. In this guide, we will explore how to accomplish this task effectively using the jq tool – a powerful command-line JSON processor.

Understanding the Problem

Let’s say you have an existing JSON array file structured like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Now, you want to append two new objects to this array:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The final desired JSON array should look like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Solution Overview

To achieve this, we can use jq, a lightweight and flexible command-line JSON processor. Below are several methods to dynamically append key-value pairs based on different scenarios such as hardcoded values, values provided as arguments, or values located in another file.

Method 1: Hardcoded Records

If the entries you want to add are known beforehand, you can hardcode them directly into your command:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Method 2: Using Arguments

If you prefer a more flexible approach, you can pass the records you want to add as command-line arguments by using --argjson:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Method 3: Adding from a File

If you have the new entries stored in another JSON file, you can append them using the --argfile option or the --slurp option. Here’s how you can do it:

Using --argfile:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Using --slurp:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

With the help of jq, you can programmatically manipulate JSON data in Bash with ease. Whether you’re adding hardcoded records, dynamic values passed as arguments, or storing the new data in a separate file, these methods give you the flexibility to work efficiently with JSON arrays.

Start experimenting with these commands and see how smoothly you can manage your JSON data structures in Bash!