jq: Sorting JSON objects

Sort objects by attribute value

Use jq 'sort_by(.my_attribute):

Example: sort objects by attribute attr_2

• Input:

  [
    {
      "attr_1": "foo",
      "attr_2": 1
    },
    {
      "attr_1": "baz",
      "attr_2": 3
    },
    {
      "attr_1": "bar",
      "attr_2": 2
    }
  ]
  

• Command

  $ cat objects.json | jq 'sort_by(.attr_2)'

• Output

  [
    {
      "attr_1": "foo",
      "attr_2": 1
    },
    {
      "attr_1": "bar",
      "attr_2": 2
    },
    {
      "attr_1": "baz",
      "attr_2": 3
    }
  ]
  

Sort objects by attribute value, reverse

To sort objects in descending order instead use: jq 'sort_by(.my_attribute) | reverse'

Example: sort objects by attribute attr_2, in descending order

• Input:

  [
    {
      "attr_1": "foo",
      "attr_2": 1
    },
    {
      "attr_1": "baz",
      "attr_2": 3
    },
    {
      "attr_1": "bar",
      "attr_2": 2
    }
  ]
  

• Command

  $ cat objects.json | jq 'sort_by(.attr_2) | reverse'

• Output

  [
    {
      "attr_1": "baz",
      "attr_2": 3
    },
    {
      "attr_1": "bar",
      "attr_2": 2
    },
    {
      "attr_1": "foo",
      "attr_2": 1
    }
  ]