> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mariadb.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/special-functions/json-functions/json-arrow-operators.md).

# JSON Arrow Operators

## Syntax

```bnf
json_doc -> path
json_doc ->> path
```

## Description

{% hint style="info" %}
The `->` and `->>` operators were introduced in MariaDB 13.1.
{% endhint %}

The `->` and `->>` operators are shorthand for extracting a value from a JSON document by a [JSONPath expression](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/special-functions/json-functions/jsonpath-expressions.md):

* `json_doc -> path` is equivalent to [`JSON_EXTRACT(json_doc, path)`](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/special-functions/json-functions/json_extract.md).
* `json_doc ->> path` is equivalent to [`JSON_UNQUOTE`](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/special-functions/json-functions/json_unquote.md)`(`[`JSON_EXTRACT`](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/special-functions/json-functions/json_extract.md)`(json_doc, path))`.

MariaDB supports these operators for compatibility with MySQL 5.7 and later, where they originated. Each operator builds the same expression as its equivalent function call and inherits the same `NULL` and error behavior. On the left, `json_doc` is any JSON expression — typically a column, a function result, or a JSON literal.

The two operators differ only in quoting:

* `->` returns the extracted value in its JSON representation, so a matched string keeps its surrounding double quotes (for example, `"Alice"`).
* `->>` additionally unquotes the result, returning the raw value (for example, `Alice`). Use `->>` when comparing against, sorting by, or displaying scalar values.

The following caveats apply and distinguish the operators from the underlying functions:

* **The path must be a string literal.** Unlike [`JSON_EXTRACT()`](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/special-functions/json-functions/json_extract.md), which accepts any expression as its path argument, the right-hand side of `->` and `->>` must be a literal string. A column, user variable (`data -> @path`), or placeholder (`data -> ?`) will not parse.
* **Chaining requires parentheses.** The operators do not chain directly; `col -> '$.a' -> '$.b'` is a syntax error. Wrap the intermediate result in parentheses instead: `(col -> '$.a') -> '$.b'`.
* **Precedence** is higher than the arithmetic and comparison operators, so `col ->> '$.age' = 30` is evaluated as `(col ->> '$.age') = 30`.

## Examples

Before MariaDB 13.1, only the function form (`JSON_EXTRACT()` / `JSON_UNQUOTE(JSON_EXTRACT())`) worked in MariaDB; the `->` and `->>` operator form was accepted only by MySQL. As of MariaDB 13.1 both forms work, so queries written for MySQL 5.7+ port across unchanged.

The function form works in both MySQL and MariaDB:

```sql
SELECT JSON_EXTRACT('{"id":"1", "name":"Name"}', '$.name') `name`;
+--------+
| name   |
+--------+
| "Name" |
+--------+

SELECT JSON_UNQUOTE(JSON_EXTRACT('{"id":"1", "name":"Name"}', '$.name')) `name`;
+------+
| name |
+------+
| Name |
+------+
```

The equivalent operator form worked only in MySQL before MariaDB 13.1, and now works in MariaDB too:

```sql
SELECT '{"id":"1", "name":"Name"}'->'$.name' `name`;
+--------+
| name   |
+--------+
| "Name" |
+--------+

SELECT '{"id":"1", "name":"Name"}'->>'$.name' `name`;
+------+
| name |
+------+
| Name |
+------+
```

As with the function form, `->` keeps the JSON quoting (`"Name"`) while `->>` returns the unquoted value (`Name`).

The operators can be used anywhere an expression is allowed, such as in a `WHERE` clause:

```sql
CREATE TABLE t1 (id INT, data JSON);
INSERT INTO t1 VALUES (1, '{"id":"1", "name":"Name"}');

SELECT id FROM t1 WHERE data->>'$.name' = 'Name';
+------+
| id   |
+------+
|    1 |
+------+
```

## See Also

* [JSON\_EXTRACT](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/special-functions/json-functions/json_extract.md) — the function `->` is shorthand for.
* [JSON\_UNQUOTE](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/special-functions/json-functions/json_unquote.md) — combined with `JSON_EXTRACT`, the function `->>` is shorthand for.
* [JSONPath Expressions](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/special-functions/json-functions/jsonpath-expressions.md) — the path syntax used on the right-hand side.
* [JSON\_VALUE](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/special-functions/json-functions/json_value.md) — related, but *not* equivalent: returns only scalar values, always unquoted.
* [JSON\_QUERY](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/special-functions/json-functions/json_query.md) — related, but *not* equivalent: returns only objects or arrays.

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