Output formats (json, table, tsv) in Azure - Step-by-Step Execution

Process Flow - Output formats (json, table, tsv)

Start Command

↓

Select Output Format

↓

Format Data

↓

Display Output

↓

End

The command starts, you choose an output format (json, table, or tsv), data is formatted accordingly, then displayed.

Execution Sample

Azure

az vm list --output json
az vm list --output table
az vm list --output tsv

These commands list virtual machines in Azure with output in JSON, table, or TSV formats.

Process Table

Step	Command	Output Format Selected	Data Formatting	Output Example
1	az vm list --output json	json	Data structured as JSON objects	{"name": "vm1", "location": "eastus"}
2	az vm list --output table	table	Data formatted into columns and rows	Name Location vm1 eastus
3	az vm list --output tsv	tsv	Data formatted as tab-separated values	vm1 eastus
4	End	N/A	Output displayed to user	Output shown in chosen format

💡 All commands complete after displaying output in the selected format.

Status Tracker

Variable	Start	After json	After table	After tsv	Final
output_format	none	json	table	tsv	tsv
formatted_data	none	JSON object	Table string	TSV string	TSV string

Key Moments - 2 Insights

Why does the output look different when I change the format?

Because each format structures data differently: JSON uses nested objects, table uses columns and rows, and TSV uses tabs to separate values, as shown in execution_table rows 1-3.

Can I use these formats for automation?

Yes, JSON and TSV are easier for scripts to parse, while table is better for human reading, as seen in the output examples in execution_table.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution_table, what output format is used in step 2?

A json

B table

C tsv

D xml

💡 Hint

Check the 'Output Format Selected' column in execution_table row 2.

At which step is data formatted as tab-separated values?

A Step 1

B Step 2

C Step 3

D Step 4

💡 Hint

Look at the 'Data Formatting' column in execution_table.

If you want output easy for scripts to read, which format should you choose?

A json

B plain text

C table

D none

💡 Hint

Refer to key_moments about automation and execution_table output examples.

Concept Snapshot

Azure CLI output formats:
- json: structured data, good for automation
- table: human-readable columns
- tsv: tab-separated, easy for scripts
Use --output or -o flag to select format
Example: az vm list --output json

Full Transcript

This lesson shows how Azure CLI commands can output data in different formats: JSON, table, or TSV. The command starts, you pick a format, the data is formatted accordingly, then shown. JSON outputs structured data good for automation. Table outputs columns and rows for easy reading. TSV outputs tab-separated values for scripts. Examples include 'az vm list --output json' and others. Understanding these helps you choose the best format for your needs.