# Select

Select is the default command for the `dasel` cli.

The select command allows you to select data from any supported data structure.

## Usage

```
$ echo '{"name":{"first":"Tom","last":"Wright"}}' | dasel -r json 'name.first'
"Tom"
```

See the [function documentation](/v2/functions/selector-overview.md) for information on the available selectors.

## Flags/Args

<table><thead><tr><th>Flag</th><th>Type</th><th width="249.33333333333331">Description</th><th>Default</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><code>--colour</code></td><td><code>bool</code></td><td>Print colourised output.</td><td><code>false</code></td></tr><tr><td><code>--escape-html</code></td><td><code>bool</code></td><td>Escape HTML tags when writing output.</td><td><code>false</code></td></tr><tr><td><code>-f</code>, <code>--file</code></td><td><code>string</code></td><td>The file to query.<br>If no file is given dasel reads from <code>stdin</code>.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><code>--pretty</code></td><td><code>bool</code></td><td>Pretty print the output.</td><td><code>true</code></td></tr><tr><td><code>-r</code>, <code>--read</code></td><td><code>string</code></td><td>The parser to use when reading.<br>If no parser is given dasel attempts to find a parser from the <code>--file</code> flag.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><code>-s</code>, <code>--selector</code></td><td><code>string</code></td><td>The selector used to query the input data.<br>If no flag is given dasel attempts to use the first argument as the selector.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><code>-w</code>, <code>--write</code></td><td><code>string</code></td><td>The parser to use when writing.<br>If no parser is given dasel will use the <code>--read</code> flag.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><code>--csv-comma</code></td><td><code>string</code></td><td>The separator used when working with csv files.</td><td><code>,</code></td></tr><tr><td><code>--csv-write-comma</code></td><td><code>string</code></td><td>The separator used when writing csv files.</td><td>value of <code>--csv-comma</code> </td></tr><tr><td><code>--csv-comment</code></td><td><code>string</code></td><td>The comment character used when working with csv files.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><code>--csv-crlf</code></td><td><code>bool</code></td><td>True to write csv files with a <code>\r\n</code> instead of <code>\n.</code></td><td><code>false</code></td></tr></tbody></table>


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# 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/v2/commands/select.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.