yq

name	yq
description	Use this skill when the user wants to query, transform, or convert YAML, JSON, XML, CSV, TOML, or other structured data formats.

yq Plugin

A portable command-line YAML, JSON, XML, CSV, TOML, HCL and properties processor. Query and transform structured data with a simple syntax.

Commands

Data Processing

• yq data query — Query and transform data

Utility

• yq _ _ — Passthrough to yq CLI

Usage Examples

• "Extract value from YAML"
• "Convert JSON to YAML"
• "Query nested data"
• "Transform configuration files"

Installation

brew install yq

Or via Go:

go install github.com/mikefarah/yq/v4@latest

Examples

# Read YAML value
yq data query '.key' config.yaml

# Read nested value
yq data query '.parent.child' config.yaml

# Read array element
yq data query '.items[0]' config.yaml

# Convert YAML to JSON
yq data query '.' -y config.yaml > output.json

# Convert JSON to YAML
yq data query '.' -j config.json > output.yaml

# Update value
yq data query '.key = \"new value\"' -i config.yaml

# Add new key
yq data query '.newKey = value' -i config.yaml

# Delete key
yq data query 'del(.key)' -i config.yaml

# Filter array
yq data query '.items[] | select(.status == \"active\")' config.yaml

# Convert to XML
yq data query '.' -x config.yaml > output.xml

# Convert to CSV
yq data query '.' -c config.yaml > output.csv

# Convert to TOML
yq data query '.' -t config.yaml > output.toml

# Any yq command with passthrough
yq _ _ '.key' config.yaml
yq _ query '.' -j config.json

Key Features

• Multiple formats — YAML, JSON, XML, CSV, TOML, HCL, properties
• Format conversion — Convert between any supported formats
• jq-like syntax - Familiar query language
• In-place editing — Modify files directly
• Nested queries — Access deeply nested data
• Array operations — Filter, map, transform arrays
• Portable — Single binary, no dependencies
• Cross-platform — Linux, macOS, Windows
• Pipeline support — Read from stdin, output to stdout
• Type-aware — Handles different data types correctly

Notes

• Uses dot notation for nested keys
• Supports all standard jq operations
• Can merge multiple files
• Default output format matches input
• Use -i flag for in-place editing
• Perfect for CI/CD configuration management