PostgreSQL 18 reference · JSON Functions

PostgreSQL JSON_EXISTS() Function

Return true if an SQL/JSON path finds anything in a JSON document. Added in PostgreSQL 17.

PostgreSQL 18 Since 17

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Syntax

JSON_EXISTS(json, path)

Parameter	Description
`json`	The JSON document.
`path`	An SQL/JSON path, optionally with a filter.

boolean.

Does the path exist?

SELECT JSON_EXISTS('{"a":{"b":1}}', '$.a.b') AS has_b, JSON_EXISTS('{"a":{}}', '$.a.b') AS missing;

Output

 has_b | missing
-------+---------
 t     | f
(1 row)

Run this on your computer — see “Get Started” for setup.

With a filter

SELECT JSON_EXISTS('{"items":[{"p":3},{"p":12}]}', '$.items[*] ? (@.p > 10)') AS expensive_item;

Output

 expensive_item
----------------
 t
(1 row)

Run this on your computer — see “Get Started” for setup.

Version	Change
PostgreSQL 17	Added

JSON_VALUE() · Extract one scalar from JSON with an SQL/JSON path and return it as a chosen SQL type. Added in PostgreSQL 17.
@> and ? · Test JSON containment with @> (left contains right) and key existence with ?, both of which a GIN index can speed up.
SQL String Functions · tutorial