---
title: "JSON JMESPath Extractor"
description: "Configure the JMeter JSON JMESPath Extractor post-processors: properties, defaults, and practical usage notes for building reliable load tests."
url: https://docs.jmeter.ai/components/json-jmespath-extractor/
lastUpdated: 2026-10-01
source: docs.jmeter.ai
---

# JSON JMESPath Extractor

*Part of the **Post-Processors** category. Also documented in context in the [full Component Reference](/user-manual/component-reference/#json-jmespath-extractor).*

![JSON JMESPath Extractor](/images/screenshots/extractor/jmespath_extractor.png)

This test element allows the user to extract value(s) from
JSON response using JMESPath query language.

> **Note**
> In the XPATH Extractor we support to extract multiple xpaths at the same time, but in JMES Extractor only
> one JMES Expression can be entered at a time.

| Name | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Name | No | Descriptive name for this element that is shown in the tree. |
| Apply to: | Yes | This is for use with samplers that can generate sub-samples,         e.g. HTTP Sampler with embedded resources, Mail Reader or samples generated by the Transaction Controller.          - `Main sample only` - only applies to the main sample - `Sub-samples only` - only applies to the sub-samples - `Main sample and sub-samples` - applies to both. - `JMeter Variable Name to use` - extraction is to be applied to the contents of the named variable |
| Name of created variable | Yes | The name of the JMeter variable in which to store the result. |
| JMESPath expressions | Yes | Element query in JMESPath query language. Can return the matched result. |
| Match No. (0 for Random) | No | If the JMESPath query leads to many results, you can choose which one(s) to extract as Variables:      - `0`: means random - `-1` means extract all results (default value), they will be named as `_<variable name>__N` (where `N` goes from 1 to Number of results) - `X`: means extract the Xth result. If this Xth is greater than number of matches, then nothing is returned. Default value will be used |
| Default Value | No | Default value returned when no match found.     It is also returned if the node has no value and the fragment option is not selected. |

JMESPath is a query language for JSON. It is described in an ABNF grammar with a complete specification. This ensures that the language syntax is precisely defined.
See [JMESPath Reference](http://jmespath.org/) for more information. Here are also some examples [JMESPath Example](http://jmespath.org/tutorial.html).

## Related

- [Correlation & Dynamic Values](/topics/correlation-dynamic-values/)
- [Regex Extractor Builder](/tools/regex-tester/)
- [Full Component Reference](/user-manual/component-reference/)
- [Functions and Variables](/user-manual/functions/)