JSONPath Cheat Sheet for API Testers (2026)

2026-07-17 · By Avinash Kamble, reviewed by Priyanka G.

JSONPath is the fastest way to pluck values out of a JSON response for assertions. This cheat sheet covers every operator you'll actually use, with runnable examples you can validate live in the free JSON / JSONPath / JMESPath Tester.

$              root
@              current element (inside filters)
.name          child by name
['name']       child by name (bracket form)
..name         recursive descent (any depth)
*              wildcard
[n]            array index
[n,m]          multiple indices
[start:end]    array slice
[?(@.x > 1)]   filter expression

Sample JSON:
{ "orders": [
    { "id": 1, "total": 45, "status": "paid" },
    { "id": 2, "total": 120, "status": "pending" },
    { "id": 3, "total": 30, "status": "paid" }
]}

$.orders[*].id                       -> [1, 2, 3]
$.orders[0].total                    -> 45
$..status                            -> ["paid","pending","paid"]
$.orders[?(@.status=='paid')].id     -> [1, 3]
$.orders[?(@.total > 50)].id         -> [2]
$.orders[-1:].id                     -> [3]

const body = pm.response.json();
pm.test("first order is paid", () => {
  pm.expect(body.orders[0].status).to.eql("paid");
});

given().when().get("/orders")
  .then().body("orders.findAll { it.status == 'paid' }.id", hasItems(1, 3));

const res = await request.get('/orders');
const body = await res.json();
expect(body.orders.filter((o:any)=>o.status==='paid').map((o:any)=>o.id)).toEqual([1,3]);

Paste any JSON and a JSONPath expression into the JSON / JSONPath / JMESPath Tester to see instant matches. It also exports the assertion as Postman, Rest Assured, Playwright, or curl code.