Split a text file into a JSON array
To split a text file into a JSON array, with one element per line:
cat lines.txt | jq --raw-input --slurp 'split("\n")'
To ignore all blank lines, so the array has no empty strings:
cat lines.txt | jq --raw-input --slurp 'split("\n") | map(select(. != ""))'
You can use any delimiter. For example, Unix fortunes, which are delimited by a line with just “%”:
cat /usr/share/games/fortunes/computers | jq --raw-input --slurp 'split("\n%\n") | map(select(. != ""))'
To trim whitespace, add a gsub before the select:
cat lines.txt | jq --raw-input --slurp 'split("\n") | map(gsub("^ +| +$";""))'
To trim whitespace AND skip blank lines
cat lines.txt | jq --raw-input --slurp 'split("\n") | map(gsub("^ +| +$";"") | select(. != ""))'
