---
title: About the json Resource
platform: os
---

# json

Use the `json` InSpec audit resource to test data in a JSON file.

<br>

## Availability

### Installation

This resource is distributed along with InSpec itself. You can use it automatically.

### Version

This resource first became available in v1.0.0 of InSpec.

## Syntax

A `json` resource block declares the data to be tested. Assume the following JSON file:

    {
      "name" : "hello",
      "meta" : {
        "creator" : "John Doe"
      },
      "array": [
        "zero",
        "one"
      ]
    }

This file can be queried using:

    describe json('/path/to/name.json') do
      its('name') { should eq 'hello' }
      its(['meta','creator']) { should eq 'John Doe' }
      its(['array', 1]) { should eq 'one' }
    end

where

* `name` is a configuration setting in a JSON file
* `should eq 'foo'` tests a value of `name` as read from a JSON file versus the value declared in the test

The `json` resource can also be used with JSON formatted output from a command.
Using the same JSON as the previous example, it can be queried using:

    describe json({ command: 'retrieve_data.py --json'}) do
      its('name') { should eq 'hello' }
      its(['meta','creator']) { should eq 'John Doe' }
      its(['array', 1]) { should eq 'one' }
    end

Finally, content can be passed directly to the resource:

    describe json({ content: '{\"item1\": { \"status\": \"available\" } }' }) do
      its(['item1', 'status']) { should cmp 'available' }
    end

<br>

## Examples

The following examples show how to use this InSpec audit resource.

### name

The `name` matcher tests the value of the filename as read from a JSON file versus the value declared in the test:

    its('name') { should eq '/tmp/example.json' }

### Test a cookbook version in a policyfile.lock.json file

    describe json('policyfile.lock.json') do
      its(['cookbook_locks', 'omnibus', 'version']) { should eq('2.2.0') }
    end

<br>

### Test JSON output from an HTTP API

Our example API has a `/health` endpoint, which looks like this:

    {
      "service": {
        "port": 3000,
        "status": "ok"
      }
    }

Example test:

    describe json(content: http('http://localhost:3000/health').body) do
      its(['service', 'port']) { should eq 3000 }
      its(['service', 'status']) { should eq 'ok' }
    end

## Matchers

For a full list of available matchers, please visit our [matchers page](https://www.inspec.io/docs/reference/matchers/).