> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/operators/eval.md).

# Eval

Use `eval` to dynamically process an expression - for instance from an environment variable.

`eval` takes a single argument, and evaluates that as a `yq` expression. Any valid expression can be used, be it a path `.a.b.c | select(. == "cat")`, or an update `.a.b.c = "gogo"`.

Tip: This can be a useful way to parameterise complex scripts.

## Dynamically evaluate a path

Given a sample.yml file of:

```yaml
pathExp: .a.b[] | select(.name == "cat")
a:
  b:
    - name: dog
    - name: cat
```

then

```bash
yq 'eval(.pathExp)' sample.yml
```

will output

```yaml
name: cat
```

## Dynamically update a path from an environment variable

The env variable can be any valid yq expression.

Given a sample.yml file of:

```yaml
a:
  b:
    - name: dog
    - name: cat
```

then

```bash
pathEnv=".a.b[0].name"  valueEnv="moo" yq 'eval(strenv(pathEnv)) = strenv(valueEnv)' sample.yml
```

will output

```yaml
a:
  b:
    - name: moo
    - name: cat
```


---

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