Efficiently Fetch Data from JSON with PowerShell

Learn how to efficiently `fetch data` from JSON in PowerShell, including methods for extracting specific values with ease.
---

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: Fetch data from JSON with powershell

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Efficiently Fetch Data from JSON with PowerShell

When working with APIs, it's common to encounter data in JSON format. For PowerShell users, extracting specific information from such JSON can sometimes feel daunting. In this post, we'll tackle a common problem: how to efficiently fetch data from JSON using PowerShell.

A user's challenge revolves around handling JSON data returned from a REST API, where the focus is on retrieving the values of certain nodes. Let's break down how you can efficiently extract the data you need.

Understanding the Problem

You start with JSON data that can contain complex objects, and your goal is relatively straightforward: retrieve specific fields from that data. In our example, we want to extract the name and the corresponding href values nested in the JSON structure.

Here is a quick overview of what our JSON structure looks like:

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

The Solution

To efficiently fetch this data in PowerShell, follow these steps:

Step 1: Convert JSON to PowerShell Object

First, you need to convert your JSON string into a PowerShell object. You can accomplish this using the ConvertFrom-Json cmdlet.

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

This command takes the JSON data and transforms it into a format that PowerShell can understand and manipulate.

Step 2: Extract the Required Data

Now that you have the JSON converted, you can move on to extraction. Depending on what format you want the output to be in, there are two straightforward methods to do this.

Method 1: Simplified Extraction with Select-Object

If you just want a summary with the name and an array of href values, you can use the Select-Object cmdlet.

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

Output:

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

In this method, each item will display name paired with an array of href links.

Method 2: Detailed Extraction Using ForEach-Object

If you want each href link as a separate entry alongside its name, you can utilize a ForEach-Object loop.

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

Output:

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

This detailed approach allows for clearer data presentation, with each href associated with its corresponding name.

Conclusion

Working with JSON data in PowerShell doesn't have to be complicated. By using the ConvertFrom-Json cmdlet and leveraging either Select-Object or ForEach-Object, you can efficiently retrieve specific pieces of information.

Whether you're aggregating data or getting granular with your output, PowerShell provides versatile options suited to your needs. Happy scripting!