gron
Python library to grep JSON.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you work with JSON on the command line and want to leverage Unix text tools for searching and filtering. The package is stable, has no dependencies, and installs easily. The dormant maintenance status is not a concern for a mature, single-purpose tool with no external dependencies, but verify that the feature set meets your needs—it is primarily a CLI tool, not a general-purpose JSON library.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.10 or later.
- Low friction install with no runtime dependencies.
- Maintenance is dormant (last commit 2024-11-25, no activity for 720 days), but the package is marked Production/Stable and has received a recent release.
License · maintenance · safety
permissive license (permissive) — MIT License permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with only attribution and liability disclaimer required—no restrictions on commercial or private use.
last release 2024-08-24 (720 days) · last repo commit 2024-11-25 · 17 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 514,095 downloads/mo, #6,240 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install gron
# Command-line usage:
gron input.json
# Or pipe JSON to stdin:
cat data.json | gron- Whether the package provides a Python API for programmatic use or is primarily a CLI tool.
- Performance characteristics when handling large JSON files.
- Exact feature parity with the original Go implementation of gron.
What it is and what it does
Gron is a Python implementation of the original gron tool that converts JSON into a line-oriented, grep-friendly format. Each line represents one value assignment with its complete path, making it straightforward to search, filter, and analyze JSON data using standard Unix tools like grep, awk, and sed.
The tool reads JSON from a file or stdin and outputs each field and value as a separate line in the form `json.path.to.field = value;`, with array indices shown as `[n]`. This transformation makes JSON data searchable without needing specialized JSON query tools, and the output can be piped back through gron's reverse function to reconstruct the original JSON. It requires Python 3.10 or later and has no external runtime dependencies.
Use it for
- Search for specific keys or values in large JSON files using grep patterns.
- Extract particular fields from complex nested JSON structures via command-line filters.
- Debug API responses by viewing JSON in a line-by-line format that's easier to scan.
- Combine JSON queries with Unix text processing tools (grep, awk, sed) in shell pipelines.
- Convert JSON to a format suitable for version control diffs or line-based analysis.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you work with JSON on the command line and want to leverage Unix text tools for searching and filtering.
The package is stable, has no dependencies, and installs easily. The dormant maintenance status is not a concern for a mature, single-purpose tool with no external dependencies, but verify that the feature set meets your needs—it is primarily a CLI tool, not a general-purpose JSON library.
Install
gron on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction install with no runtime dependencies. Maintenance is dormant (last commit 2024-11-25, no activity for 720 days), but the package is marked Production/Stable and has received a recent release.
Requires Python 3.10 or later.
License in practice
MIT License permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with only attribution and liability disclaimer required—no restrictions on commercial or private use.
Quickstart
pip install gron
# Command-line usage:
gron input.json
# Or pipe JSON to stdin:
cat data.json | gronVerify before relying
- Whether the package provides a Python API for programmatic use or is primarily a CLI tool.
- Performance characteristics when handling large JSON files.
- Exact feature parity with the original Go implementation of gron.
Package facts
| License | permissive license permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Dormant 720 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 514,095 / month, #6,240 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseProgramming Language :: Python :: 3 |
Evidence: gron-1.4.0-py3-none-any.whl
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