Creating an Array of Objects from a Bash Array using jq

Learn how to convert a Bash array into an array of JSON objects using `jq`. Discover effective methods to achieve your desired results in easy steps.
---

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: Creating Array of Objects from Bash Array using jq

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Creating an Array of Objects from a Bash Array using jq

If you have ever worked with Bash and JSON simultaneously, you likely faced the challenge of converting Bash arrays into formatted JSON objects. This kind of operation is often necessary for API interactions, data manipulation, or configurations. In this guide, we’ll tackle this problem and show you how to create an array of objects in Bash from a simple Bash array using jq.

Understanding the Problem

You might have encountered a situation where you want to convert an array of IDs in Bash into a structured JSON format using jq. For instance, given the following Bash array:

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

Using the following command, one might expect to produce objects representing each ID with associated names.

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

However, the resulting output is not as expected, grouping all IDs into a single object:

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

Desired Outcome

The desired outcome is to have each ID in its own object, structured as follows:

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

Solution Steps

To achieve the desired format, you can utilize a loop structure in Bash to iterate through each element of your array. Let’s break this down into easy steps.

Step 1: Loop Through the Bash Array

Use a for loop to iterate over each ID in the IDS array:

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

Step 2: One-liner Alternative

If you prefer a more compact approach, you can employ a one-liner using printf for cleaner output:

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

Explanation of the Code

jq -nR: This option tells jq to read raw input.

inputs: This function within jq collects the input data processed before the signal is sent.

The names property is assigned a static array of names for each object.

Example Implementation

Here’s a practical example that yields the correct JSON format with each ID in its own object:

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

Expected Output

When you run either method, the output will be:

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

Conclusion

Manipulating arrays and JSON together in Bash can be challenging, but with the right methods, it becomes straightforward. By iterating through your Bash array and utilizing jq, you can effectively create structured JSON output for various applications. Whether you choose a loop or a one-liner, you can achieve your goal of building an array of objects with ease.

Happy coding!