# ajv-cli

Command line interface for ajv (opens new window), one of the fastest json schema validators (opens new window). Supports JSON (opens new window), JSON5 (opens new window), and YAML (opens new window).

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# Contents

Installation
JSON schema version
Commands
Ajv options
Version History, License

# Installation

npm install -g ajv-cli

# JSON schema language and version

Parameter --spec can be used with all commands (other than help) to choose JSON schema language:

--spec=draft7 (default) - support JSON Schema draft-07 (uses import Ajv from "ajv")
--spec=draft2019 - support JSON Schema draft-2019-09 (uses import Ajv from "ajv/dist/2019")
--spec=draft2020 - support JSON Schema draft-2020-12 (uses import Ajv from "ajv/dist/2020")
--spec=jtd - support JSON Type Definition (opens new window) (uses import Ajv from "ajv/dist/jtd")

# Commands

# Help command

ajv help
ajv help validate
ajv help compile
ajv help migrate
ajv help test

# Validate data

This command validates data files against JSON-schema

ajv validate -s test/schema.json -d test/valid_data.json
ajv -s test/schema.json -d test/valid_data.json

You can omit validate command name and .json from the input file names (opens new window).

# Parameters

# `-s` - file name of JSON-schema

Only one schema can be passed in this parameter

# `-d` - JSON data

Multiple data files can be passed, as in -r parameter:

ajv -s test/schema.json -d "test/valid*.json"

If some file is invalid exit code will be 1.

# `-r` - referenced schemas

The schema in -s parameter can reference any of these schemas with $ref keyword.

Multiple schemas can be passed both by using this parameter multiple times and with glob patterns (opens new window). Glob pattern should be quoted and extensions cannot be omitted.

# `-m` - meta-schemas

Schemas can use any of these schemas as a meta-schema (that is the schema used in $schema keyword - it is used to validate the schema itself).

Multiple meta-schemas can be passed, as in -r parameter.

# `-c` - custom keywords/formats definitions

You can pass module(s) that define custom keywords/formats. The modules should export a function that accepts Ajv instance as a parameter. The file name should start with ".", it will be resolved relative to the current folder. The package name can also be passed - it will be used in require as is. These modules can be written in TypeScript if you have ts-node installed.

For example, you can use -c ajv-keywords to add all keywords from ajv-keywords (opens new window) package or -c ajv-keywords/keywords/typeof to add only typeof keyword.

# Options

--errors=: error reporting format. Possible values:
- js (default): JavaScript object
- json: JSON with indentation and line-breaks
- line: JSON without indentation/line-breaks (for easy parsing)
- text: human readable error messages with data paths
--changes=: detect changes in data after validation.
Data can be modified with Ajv options --remove-additional, --use-defaults and --coerce-types).
The changes are reported in JSON-patch format (RFC6902 (opens new window)).
Possible values are js (default), json and line (see --errors option).

# Compile schemas

This command validates and compiles schema without validating any data.

It can be used to check that the schema is valid and to create a standalone module exporting validation function(s).

ajv compile -s schema

# compile to module file
ajv compile -s schema -o validate.js

## compile to stdout, to allow code formatting (js-beautify has to be installed separately)
ajv compile -s schema -o | js-beautify > validate.js

# Parameters

# `-s` - file name(s) of JSON-schema(s)

Multiple schemas can be passed both by using this parameter multiple times and with glob patterns (opens new window).

ajv compile -s "test/schema*.json"

# `-o` - output file for compiled validation function module

If multiple schemas are compiled with this option the module will have multiple exports named as schema $id's or as file names, otherwise the module will export validation function as default export.

ajv compile -s "schema.json" -o "validate_schema.js"

-o without parameter should be used to output code to stdout to pass it to some code formatter.

This command also supports parameters -r, -m and -c as in validate command.

# Migrate schemas

This command validates and migrates schema from JSON Schema draft-04 to draft-07, draft-2019-09 or draft-2020-12 using json-schema-migrate (opens new window) package.

The version of JSON Schema is determined by --spec parameter (only "draft7", "draft2019" or "draft2020").

ajv migrate -s schema

# compile to specific file name
ajv migrate -s schema -o migrated_schema.json

# Parameters

# `-s` - file name(s) of JSON-schema(s)

Multiple schemas can be passed both by using this parameter multiple times and with glob patterns (opens new window).

ajv migrate -s "test/schema*.json"

If parameter -o is not specified the migrated schema is written to the same file and the original file is preserved with .bak extension.

If migration doesn't change anything in the schema file no changes in files are made.

# `-o` - output file for migrated schema

Only a single schema can be migrated with this option.

ajv compile -s "schema.json" -o migrated_schema.json

# Options

--indent=: indentation in migrated schema JSON file, 4 by default
--validate-schema=false: skip schema validation

# Test validation result

This command asserts that the result of the validation is as expected.

ajv test -s test/schema.json -d test/valid_data.json --valid
ajv test -s test/schema.json -d test/invalid_data.json --invalid

If the option --valid (--invalid) is used for the test to pass (exit code 0) the data file(s) should be valid (invalid).

This command supports the same options and parameters as validate with the exception of --changes.

# Ajv options

You can pass the following Ajv options (opens new window):

Option	Description
Strict mode
`--strict=`	`true`/`false`/`log` - set all strict mode (opens new window) restrictions
`--strict-schema=`	log on (`log`) or ignore (`false`) strict (opens new window) restrictions (the default is to log)
`--strict-tuples=`	throw on (`true`) or ignore (`false`) strict schema (opens new window) restrictions (the default is to throw)
`--strict-types=`	throw on (`true`) or ignore (`false`) strict types (opens new window) restrictions (the default is to log)
`--strict-required=`	throw on (`true`) or log (`log`) required properties (opens new window) restrictions (the default is to ignore)
`--allow-matching-properties`	allow `properties` matching patterns (opens new window) in `patternProperties`
`--allow-union-types`	allow union types (opens new window)
`--validate-formats=false`	disable format validation
Validation and reporting
`--data`	use $data references (opens new window)
`--all-errors`	collect all validation errors
`--verbose`	include schema and data in errors
`--comment`	log schema `$comment`s
`--inline-refs=`	referenced schemas compilation mode (true/false/<number>)
Modify validated data
`--remove-additional`	remove additional properties (true/all/failing)
`--use-defaults`	replace missing properties/items with the values from default keyword
`--coerce-types`	change type of data to match type keyword
Advanced
`--multiple-of-precision`	precision of multipleOf, pass integer number
`--messages=false`	do not include text messages in errors
`--loop-required=`	max size of `required` to compile to expression (rather than to loop)
`--loop-enum=`	max size of `enum` to compile to expression (rather than to loop)
`--own-properties`	only validate own properties (not relevant for JSON, but can have effect for JavaScript objects)
Code generation
`--code-es5`	generate ES5 code
`--code-lines`	generate multi-line code
`--code-optimize=`	disable optimization (`false`) or number of optimization passes (1 pass by default)
`--code-formats=`	code to require formats object (only needed if you generate standalone code and do not use ajv-formats (opens new window))

Options can be passed using either dash-case or camelCase.

See Ajv Options (opens new window) for more information.

# Version History

See https://github.com/ajv-validator/ajv-cli/releases

# Licence

MIT

← ajv-i18n Contributing guide →

# ajv-cli

# Contents

# Installation

# JSON schema language and version

# Commands

# Help command

# Validate data

# Parameters

# -s - file name of JSON-schema

# -d - JSON data

# -r - referenced schemas

# -m - meta-schemas

# -c - custom keywords/formats definitions

# Options

# Compile schemas

# Parameters

# -s - file name(s) of JSON-schema(s)

# -o - output file for compiled validation function module

# Migrate schemas

# Parameters

# -s - file name(s) of JSON-schema(s)

# -o - output file for migrated schema

# Options

# Test validation result

# Ajv options

# Version History

# Licence

# `-s` - file name of JSON-schema

# `-d` - JSON data

# `-r` - referenced schemas

# `-m` - meta-schemas

# `-c` - custom keywords/formats definitions

# `-s` - file name(s) of JSON-schema(s)

# `-o` - output file for compiled validation function module

# `-s` - file name(s) of JSON-schema(s)

# `-o` - output file for migrated schema