What about SQL dates and times?

Typically converted to ISO 8601 strings (2024-01-15T10:30:00Z). Some tools offer Unix timestamp or custom format options. Ensure consistent timezone handling.

Can I convert JOINed results?

Yes, but flattened. For nested JSON from JOINs, you need multiple queries or database-specific JSON functions (JSON_AGG in PostgreSQL, JSON_ARRAYAGG in MySQL).

How do I handle large result sets?

Stream conversion for large datasets. Convert row-by-row rather than loading all into memory. Output as JSON Lines (one object per line) for processing.

SQL to JSON

Guide & TutorialOffline

Convert SQL query results to JSON format

Convert SQL query results to JSON format instantly with our free online SQL to JSON converter. This tool helps developers and database administrators transform SQL data into JSON for APIs and web applications. Simply paste your SQL results and get JSON output in real-time.

SQL Query Result

0 characters, 1 lines

JSON Output

About SQL to JSON Conversion

Convert SQL query result tables to JSON format. Supports multiple input formats.

Supported formats:

Pipe-separated: id | name | age
Comma-separated: id,name,age
Tab-separated: Headers and values separated by tabs

Features:

Automatic type detection (numbers, booleans, null)
Handles quoted values
Skips separator lines

About SQL to JSON

SQL to JSON converter transforms SQL query results or CREATE TABLE statements into JSON format. Essential for API development, data migration, database documentation, and bridging relational databases with NoSQL or JavaScript applications.

How It Works

For query results: each row becomes a JSON object with column names as keys. For CREATE TABLE: extracts table name, columns, types, and constraints into structured JSON. Handles NULL values, data types, and nested structures appropriately.

Technical Details

SQL types map to JSON: VARCHAR/TEXT → string, INT/BIGINT → number, BOOLEAN → true/false, NULL → null, DATE/TIMESTAMP → ISO string. Arrays and JSON columns may need special handling. Preserves column order from SELECT or table definition.

Common Use Cases

API Response Generation

Convert database results to JSON for REST APIs.

Database Documentation

Export schema as JSON for documentation tools.

Data Migration

Convert relational data to document format for NoSQL.

Test Data Creation

Generate JSON fixtures from SQL queries.

Code Examples

SQL Results to JSON

javascript

// Database query result to JSON
function sqlResultToJSON(columns, rows) {
  return rows.map(row => {
    const obj = {};
    columns.forEach((col, i) => {
      obj[col.name] = row[i];
    });
    return obj;
  });
}

// Example usage
const columns = [{name: 'id'}, {name: 'name'}, {name: 'email'}];
const rows = [
  [1, 'John', 'john@example.com'],
  [2, 'Jane', 'jane@example.com']
];

JSON.stringify(sqlResultToJSON(columns, rows), null, 2);
// [
//   {"id": 1, "name": "John", "email": "john@example.com"},
//   {"id": 2, "name": "Jane", "email": "jane@example.com"}
// ]

Map each row to an object using column names as keys. Handle nulls and type conversion as needed.

Tips & Best Practices

Use ISO 8601 for dates
Handle NULL consistently
Consider JSON Lines for large data
Preserve column order if important
Validate JSON output schema

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Losing NULL vs empty string distinction
Timezone issues with dates
Memory issues with large datasets
Not handling special characters in strings

When to Use This Tool

Use SQL to JSON when building APIs that query databases, migrating data to document stores, generating test fixtures, or creating database documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

NULL becomes JSON null. Some converters offer options: omit null fields, use empty string, or use a sentinel value. JSON null is usually the correct choice for data integrity.

// Database query result to JSON function sqlResultToJSON(columns, rows) { return rows.map(row => { const obj = {}; columns.forEach((col, i) => { obj[col.name] = row[i]; }); return obj; }); } // Example usage const columns = [{name: 'id'}, {name: 'name'}, {name: 'email'}]; const rows = [ [1, 'John', 'john@example.com'], [2, 'Jane', 'jane@example.com'] ]; JSON.stringify(sqlResultToJSON(columns, rows), null, 2); // [ // {"id": 1, "name": "John", "email": "john@example.com"}, // {"id": 2, "name": "Jane", "email": "jane@example.com"} // ]