how-to-guide

How to Use jq `sort_by`, `group_by`, and `unique_by` with Custom Comparators

April 11, 2026 jqlang/jq ↗

jq implements sort_by, group_by, and unique_by as thin wrappers around optimized C functions that accept arbitrary jq expressions as comparators, converting them into parallel key arrays for sorting, grouping, or deduplication.

The jqlang/jq repository provides powerful collection manipulation utilities that allow you to use any valid jq filter as a comparator. These functions reside in the standard library and delegate heavy lifting to optimized C implementations, enabling complex data transformations with concise syntax.

How Custom Comparators Work in jq

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