---
title: "JSON_OBJECT (Transact-SQL)"
description: JSON_OBJECT constructs JSON object text from zero or more expressions.
author: WilliamDAssafMSFT
ms.author: wiassaf
ms.reviewer: jovanpop, umajay, randolphwest
ms.date: 10/27/2025
ms.service: sql
ms.subservice: t-sql
ms.topic: reference
ms.custom:
  - ignite-2025
f1_keywords:
  - "JSON_OBJECT"
  - "JSON_OBJECT_TSQL"
helpviewer_keywords:
  - "JSON_OBJECT function"
  - "JSON, validating"
dev_langs:
  - TSQL
monikerRange: "=azuresqldb-current || >=sql-server-ver16 || >=sql-server-linux-ver16 || =azuresqldb-mi-current || =fabric || =fabric-sqldb"
---
# JSON_OBJECT (Transact-SQL)

[!INCLUDE [sql-asdb-asdbmi-fabricse-fabricdw](../../includes/applies-to-version/sql-asdb-asdbmi-fabricse-fabricdw-fabricsqldb.md)]

The `JSON_OBJECT` syntax constructs JSON object text from zero or more expressions.

## Syntax

```syntaxsql
JSON_OBJECT ( [ <json_key_value> [ , ...n ] ] [ json_null_clause ] [ RETURNING json ] )

<json_key_value> ::= json_key_name : value_expression

<json_null_clause> ::=
      NULL ON NULL
    | ABSENT ON NULL
```

## Arguments

#### *json_key_name*

A character expression that defines the value of the JSON key name.

#### *value_expression*

An expression that defines the value of the JSON key.

#### *json_null_clause*

Can be used to control the behavior of `JSON_OBJECT` function when value_expression is `NULL`. The option `NULL ON NULL` converts the SQL `NULL` value into a JSON null value when generating the JSON key value. The option `ABSENT ON NULL` will omit the entire key if the value is `NULL`. The default setting for this option is `NULL ON NULL`.

## Return value

Returns a valid JSON object string of **nvarchar(max)** type. If the `RETURNING json` option is included then the JSON object is returned as **json** type.

For more info about what you see in the output of the `JSON_OBJECT` function, see the following articles:

| Article | Description |
| --- | --- |
| [How FOR JSON converts SQL Server data types to JSON data types](../../relational-databases/json/how-for-json-converts-sql-server-data-types-to-json-data-types-sql-server.md) | The `JSON_OBJECT` function uses the rules described in this `FOR JSON` article to convert SQL data types to JSON types in the JSON object output. |
| [How FOR JSON escapes special characters and control characters](../../relational-databases/json/how-for-json-escapes-special-characters-and-control-characters-sql-server.md) | The `JSON_OBJECT` function escapes special characters and represents control characters in the JSON output as described in this `FOR JSON` article. |

## Examples

### Example 1

The following example returns an empty JSON object.

```sql
SELECT JSON_OBJECT();
```

**Result**

```json
{}
```

### Example 2

The following example returns a JSON object with two keys.

```sql
SELECT JSON_OBJECT('name':'value', 'type':1);
```

**Result**

```json
{"name":"value","type":1}
```

### Example 3

The following example returns a JSON object with one key since the value for one of the keys is `NULL` and the `ABSENT ON NULL` option is specified.

```sql
SELECT JSON_OBJECT('name':'value', 'type':NULL ABSENT ON NULL);
```

**Result**

```json
{"name":"value"}
```

### Example 4

The following example returns a JSON object with two keys. One key contains a JSON string and another key contains a JSON array.

```sql
SELECT JSON_OBJECT('name':'value', 'type':JSON_ARRAY(1, 2));
```

**Result**

```json
{"name":"value","type":[1,2]}
```

### Example 5

The following example returns a JSON object with a two keys. One key contains a JSON string and another key contains a JSON object.

```sql
SELECT JSON_OBJECT('name':'value', 'type':JSON_OBJECT('type_id':1, 'name':'a'));
```

**Result**

```json
{"name":"value","type":{"type_id":1,"name":"a"}}
```

### Example 6

The following example returns a JSON object with the inputs specified as variables or SQL expressions.

```sql
DECLARE @id_key AS NVARCHAR (10) = N'id', @id_value AS NVARCHAR (64) = NEWID();
SELECT JSON_OBJECT('user_name':USER_NAME(), @id_key:@id_value, 'sid':(SELECT @@SPID));
```

**Result**

```json
{"user_name":"dbo","id":"E2CBD8B4-13C1-4D2F-BFF7-E6D722F095FD","sid":63}
```

### Example 7

The following example returns a JSON object per row in the query.

```sql
SELECT s.session_id,
       JSON_OBJECT('security_id':s.security_id, 'login':s.login_name, 'status':s.status) AS info
FROM sys.dm_exec_sessions AS s
WHERE s.is_user_process = 1;
```

**Result**

| `session_id` | `info` |
| --- | --- |
| 51 | `{"security_id":"AQYAAAAAAAVQAAAAY/0dmFnai5oioQHh9eNArBIkYd4=","login":"NT SERVICE\\SQLTELEMETRY$SQL22"`,"status":"sleeping"} |
| 52 | `{"security_id":"AQUAAAAAAAUVAAAAoGXPfnhLm1/nfIdwAMgbAA==","login":WORKGROUP\\sqluser","status":"running"}` |

### Example 8

The following example returns a JSON object as **json** type.

```sql
SELECT JSON_OBJECT("a":1 RETURNING json);
```

**Result**

```json
{"a":1}
```

## Related content

- [JSON data in SQL Server](../../relational-databases/json/json-data-sql-server.md)