# Branches

{% hint style="warning" %}
This feature is potentially unstable. Must be used with the `--unstable` flag.
{% endhint %}

Dasel includes the concept of branches. `branch` allows you to perform one or more sub queries, with each query output as a separate document.

***

## Without branching

When we don't branch, the result is an array containing the items.

Given `numbers.json`:

```json
{ "numbers": [{"x": 1}, {"x": 2}, {"x": 3}] }
```

```bash
$ cat numbers.json | dasel -i json 'numbers'
[
    {
        "x": 1
    },
    {
        "x": 2
    },
    {
        "x": 3
    }
]
```

***

## Branching on an array

When we branch, each element is output as a **separate document** instead of a single array.

```bash
$ cat numbers.json | dasel -i json 'branch(numbers...)'
{
    "x": 1
}
{
    "x": 2
}
{
    "x": 3
}
```

***

## Filtering branches with ignore

Since `filter` operates on arrays and a branch isn't technically an array, you can use [`ignore`](/functions/ignore.md) to exclude specific branches from the result.

```bash
$ echo '[1, 2, 3]' | dasel -i json 'branch().if ($this == 2) { ignore() } else { $this }'
1
3
```

Here, the element `2` is matched by the condition and `ignore()` removes it from the output. The remaining elements `1` and `3` are output as separate documents.

***

## Extracting multiple fields as separate documents

```bash
$ echo '{"name": "Tom", "age": 30, "city": "London"}' \
  | dasel -i json 'branch(name, age)'
"Tom"
30
```

***

## Notes

* `branch` converts an array (or multiple values) into separate output documents.
* Use the [spread operator](/syntax/spread.md) (`...`) to unpack an array into branch arguments.
* Use [`ignore`](/functions/ignore.md) to conditionally exclude branches.


---

# Agent Instructions: 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://daseldocs.tomwright.me/syntax/branches.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.