CLI output formats

Every command that returns data takes --output (or -o) and --query.

Value	What you get
`table`	The command’s own table (default).
`wide`	Same as `table`; with `--query` it prints every column.
`json`	Indented JSON. `--json` is shorthand.
`yaml`	The same value as YAML.
`text`	Tab separated values, no header, for awk or cut.
`name`	One name (or id, or slug) per line.
`custom-columns=NAME:.name,STATUS:.status`	A table with the headers and paths you choose. A missing value prints `<none>`.
`jsonpath={.items[*].name}`	A kubectl style template.

--query takes a JMESPath expression and runs first; the format then renders the projected value.

jsonpath and JMESPath

The jsonpath support is a small subset: .key, [n], [*], quoted literals such as {"\n"}, and {range PATH}...{end}. Filters and recursive descent are not supported; use --query for those.

Goal	jsonpath	JMESPath (`--query`)
All names	`{.[*].name}`	`[].name`
First item	`{.[0]}`	`[0]`
Nested field	`{.status.phase}`	`status.phase`
One line per item	`{range .[*]}{.name}{"\n"}{end}`	`[].name` with `-o text`
Filter	not supported	`[?status=='running'].name`

Multiple jsonpath matches are joined by a space. Objects and arrays print as compact JSON.

Last modified on October 31, 2026

​jsonpath and JMESPath

jsonpath and JMESPath