# Kind

The `kind` operator identifies the type of a node as either `scalar`, `map`, or `seq`.

This can be used for filtering or transforming nodes based on their type.

Note that `null` values are treated as `scalar`.

## Get kind

Given a sample.yml file of:

```yaml
a: cat
b: 5
c: 3.2
e: true
f: []
g: {}
h: null
```

then

```bash
yq '.. | kind' sample.yml
```

will output

```yaml
map
scalar
scalar
scalar
scalar
seq
map
scalar
```

## Get kind, ignores custom tags

Unlike tag, kind is not affected by custom tags.

Given a sample.yml file of:

```yaml
a: !!thing cat
b: !!foo {}
c: !!bar []
```

then

```bash
yq '.. | kind' sample.yml
```

will output

```yaml
map
scalar
map
seq
```

## Add comments only to scalars

An example of how you can use kind

Given a sample.yml file of:

```yaml
a:
  b: 5
  c: 3.2
e: true
f: []
g: {}
h: null
```

then

```bash
yq '(.. | select(kind == "scalar")) line_comment = "this is a scalar"' sample.yml
```

will output

```yaml
a:
  b: 5 # this is a scalar
  c: 3.2 # this is a scalar
e: true # this is a scalar
f: []
g: {}
h: null # this is a scalar
```


---

# 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://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/operators/kind.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.