JSON Tools

JSON Pointer Evaluator

Resolve RFC 6901 pointers against JSON documents with precise path errors.

What the JSON Pointer evaluator does

JSON Pointer identifies one value by walking slash-separated reference tokens through a JSON document. Object tokens match member names exactly, while array tokens use zero-based indexes. The evaluator reports a missing member, invalid escape, invalid array index, or attempt to traverse through a primitive instead of silently returning the wrong value.

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Syntax and boundaries

  • Use an empty string for the document root and / for an object member whose name is empty.
  • Encode ~ as ~0 and / as ~1 inside a token; decoding happens in that order as RFC 6901 requires.
  • Array indexes are canonical non-negative decimal integers. The special - token is useful for JSON Patch append operations but does not identify an existing value.
  • The tool evaluates JSON Pointer syntax only; it does not implement JSONPath filters, JSON Patch operations, URI fragment decoding, or schema validation.

Related developer tools

Continue with JSONPath Tester, JSON Formatter, JSON Validator.

JSONPath Tester

Query JSON with RFC 9535-style paths, wildcards, slices, and recursive descent

JSON Formatter

Format and beautify JSON data

JSON Validator

Validate JSON syntax and structure

How to Use JSON Pointer Evaluator

  1. Paste or edit a valid JSON document.
  2. Enter an empty pointer or an RFC 6901 pointer beginning with /.
  3. Review the resolved value or the precise path error.
  4. Copy the selected JSON value when needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is JSON Pointer the same as JSONPath?

No. JSON Pointer is the compact RFC 6901 syntax for identifying one value. JSONPath is a separate query language with filters, wildcards, and other selection features.

How do I reference a slash or tilde in a key?

Encode a tilde as ~0 and a slash as ~1 inside each reference token. For example, /a~1b selects the object member named a/b.

What does an empty pointer select?

The empty JSON Pointer selects the complete JSON document.

Sources & references

Primary references: RFC 6901: JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) Pointer; RFC 8259: The JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) Data Interchange Format.

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