# Json Data

`jq` is your lightweight, flexible command-line JSON processor. It's built in portable C with zero runtime dependencies, making it simple to install and powerful for parsing JSON in Bash.

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### Demo Setup: QuizAPI

This demo uses the [QuizAPI](https://quizapi.io/) to fetch JSON data. Obtain a free **API key** from their [client area](https://quizapi.io/clientarea/settings/token) to follow along.

-----

### Installing `jq`

`jq` is easily installed via your system's package manager or direct download.

  * **Ubuntu/Debian:** `sudo apt-get install jq`
  * **Red Hat/Fedora:** `sudo dnf install jq`
  * **Arch Linux:** `sudo pacman -S jq`

For other systems, refer to the [official `jq` download page](https://www.google.com/search?q=%5Bhttps://stedolan.github.io/jq/download/%5D\(https://stedolan.github.io/jq/download/\)). Verify your installation:

```bash
jq --version
```

-----

### Basic JSON Parsing with `jq`

Once `jq` is installed and you have your QuizAPI key, you can start processing JSON.

First, set your API key:

```bash
API_KEY=YOUR_API_KEY_HERE # Replace with your actual key
```

Fetch questions using `curl`:

```bash
curl "https://quizapi.io/api/v1/questions?apiKey=${API_KEY}&limit=10"
```

The raw output is hard to read. Pipe it to `jq` for beautifully formatted and colored JSON:

```bash
curl "https://quizapi.io/api/v1/questions?apiKey=${API_KEY}&limit=10" | jq
```

This command makes the JSON output structured and easy to inspect.

-----

### Extracting Specific Elements

To get only the first element from a JSON array, use `.[0]`:

```bash
curl "https://quizapi.io/api/v1/questions?apiKey=${API_KEY}&limit=10" | jq '.[0]'
```

This will output only the first JSON object in the array.

-----

### Fetching Key Values Across an Array

To extract the value of a specific key (e.g., `question`) from every object in a JSON array, use `.[].key`:

```bash
curl "https://quizapi.io/api/v1/questions?apiKey=${API_KEY}&limit=10" | jq '.[].question'
```

This will return a list of all questions from the API response.

-----

### Integrating `jq` into a Bash Script

Let's create a script to fetch a question and its answers, then display them. We'll use `jq` to parse specific fields and assign them to Bash variables.

Create `quiz_script.sh`:

```bash
touch quiz_script.sh
```

Open `quiz_script.sh` and add (remember to replace `YOUR_API_KEY_HERE`):

```bash
#!/usr/bin/env bash

# Your QuizAPI Key (replace YOUR_API_KEY_HERE with your actual key)
API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"

# Make an API call and get the first question object
# Using -s for silent mode to suppress curl's progress meter
QUIZ_DATA=$(curl -s "https://quizapi.io/api/v1/questions?apiKey=${API_KEY}&limit=1" 2>/dev/null)

# Extract specific values using jq with raw output (-r) for Bash variables
question=$(echo "${QUIZ_DATA}" | jq -r '.[0].question')
answer_a=$(echo "${QUIZ_DATA}" | jq -r '.[0].answers.answer_a')
answer_b=$(echo "${QUIZ_DATA}" | jq -r '.[0].answers.answer_b')
answer_c=$(echo "${QUIZ_DATA}" | jq -r '.[0].answers.answer_c')
answer_d=$(echo "${QUIZ_DATA}" | jq -r '.[0].answers.answer_d')

# Output the question and answers
echo "
Question: ${question}

A) ${answer_a}
B) ${answer_b}
C) ${answer_c}
D) ${answer_d}
"
```

Save, make executable, and run:

```bash
chmod +x quiz_script.sh
./quiz_script.sh
```

The script will print a random question and its corresponding answers. For more advanced, interactive Bash quizzes, explore community projects that build upon these `jq` principles.

-----

### Conclusion

`jq` empowers you to process **JSON** directly within your Bash terminal, facilitating seamless interaction with **REST APIs**. For deeper dives, consult the [official `jq` manual](https://www.google.com/search?q=%5Bhttps://stedolan.github.io/jq/manual/%5D\(https://stedolan.github.io/jq/manual/\)) and the [QuizAPI documentation](https://quizapi.io/docs/1.0/overview).

> {notice} This content was inspired by a piece by softwareshinobi on Dev Team Six.