> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.fluentbit.io/manual/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.fluentbit.io/manual/data-pipeline/parsers/json.md).

# JSON format

Use the *JSON* parser format to create custom parsers compatible with JSON data. This format transforms JSON logs by converting them to internal binary representations.

For available configuration parameters, see [Configuring custom parsers](/manual/data-pipeline/parsers/configuring-parser.md).

For example, the default parsers configuration file includes a parser for parsing Docker logs (when the Tail input plugin is used):

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="parsers.yaml" %}

```yaml
parsers:
  - name: docker
    format: json
    time_key: time
    time_format: '%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S %z'
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="parsers.conf" %}

```
[PARSER]
  Name        docker
  Format      json
  Time_Key    time
  Time_Format %Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S %z
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

The following log entry is valid content for the previously defined parser:

```
{"key1": 12345, "key2": "abc", "time": "2006-07-28T13:22:04Z"}
```

After processing, its internal representation will be:

```
[1154103724, {"key1"=>12345, "key2"=>"abc"}]
```

The time was converted to a UTC timestamp and the map was reduced to each component of the original message.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.fluentbit.io/manual/data-pipeline/parsers/json.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.