Windows PowerShell ConvertTo-Json compact equivalent in Linux
Prints compact one-line JSON.
PowerShell ConvertTo-Json compact
jq -c . file.json
jq -c . file.json
jq -c . file.json
Overview
What this command does
On Windows, "PowerShell ConvertTo-Json compact" is used to compact JSON. On Linux, the closest practical mapping shown here is "jq -c . file.json". Prints compact one-line JSON. This reference is grouped under Text Processing → JSON.
Windows → Linux context
What changes when you use this on Linux?
Equivalent task, different tool
Windows PowerShell ConvertTo-Json compact maps to jq -c . file.json for this task. Treat this as a workflow mapping rather than a character-for-character syntax translation.
Portable across the compared distros
The Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch rows use the same command in this mapping. Package availability or defaults can still vary, so check the installed tool version when an option behaves differently.
For the broader concept behind this mapping, read Linux command-line basics.
Practical tasks
Common use cases
Compact JSON
Prints compact one-line JSON.
jq -c . file.json
Compact JSON
jq --help
Show command help when supported
man jq
Open the manual page when installed
Ready to run
Copyable Linux commands
Review paths, device names, package names and permissions before running any command.
jq -c . file.json
Walkthrough
Examples with explanations
# Windows equivalent: PowerShell ConvertTo-Json compact
jq -c . file.jsonReference
Common options and variations
| Command or option | Use |
|---|---|
jq -c . file.json | Compact JSON |
jq --help | Show command help when supported |
man jq | Open the manual page when installed |
Distro differences
Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch
Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch all use "jq -c . file.json" for this mapping. The command syntax shown here is portable across the three rows, although installed versions and system defaults can still vary.
| Distribution | Package manager / base | Equivalent command | Difference to notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu | same command | jq -c . file.json |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Fedora | same command | jq -c . file.json |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Arch | same command | jq -c . file.json |
Same command on this distribution. |
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