yq/operators/select.md

# Select

Select is used to filter arrays and maps by a boolean expression.

## Select elements from array

Given a sample.yml file of:

```yaml
- cat
- goat
- dog
```

then

```bash
yq eval '.[] | select(. == "*at")' sample.yml
```

will output

```yaml
cat
goat
```

## Select and update matching values in map

Given a sample.yml file of:

```yaml
a:
  things: cat
  bob: goat
  horse: dog
```

then

```bash
yq eval '(.a.[] | select(. == "*at")) |= "rabbit"' sample.yml
```

will output

```yaml
a:
  things: rabbit
  bob: rabbit
  horse: dog
```