The answer is `echo "$json" | jq '.["123"].status'`. This is correct because when a JSON object uses dynamic keys like user IDs, you must use the bracket notation `.["key"]` to access the property by its string value, and then chain `.status` to extract the nested field. On the CompTIA Linux+ XK0-005 exam, this tests your ability to parse non-standard JSON structures where keys are not fixed field names—a common scenario when handling API responses or configuration data. A frequent trap is trying `jq '.123.status'`, which fails because dot notation treats `123` as a property name, not a string key. Remember the memory tip: "Brackets for dynamic keys, dots for fixed fields"—when the key is a number or variable, always wrap it in quotes inside square brackets.
XK0-005 Scripting, Containers and Automation Practice Question
This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of scripting, containers and automation. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A script receives a JSON object where keys are user IDs. Which command extracts the 'status' of user id '123'?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
echo "$json" | jq '.["123"].status'
Option D is correct because the JSON object uses user IDs as keys, so `.["123"]` directly accesses the object property for user ID '123', and `.status` extracts the 'status' field from that nested object. The `jq` syntax `.["key"]` is the standard way to access a property by a string key in a JSON object.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
echo "$json" | jq '.status'
Why it's wrong here
Attempts to access .status at the root, not within a specific key.
Iterates over array elements, not applicable for an object with keys.
✓
echo "$json" | jq '.["123"].status'
Why this is correct
Correctly accesses the object by key and extracts status.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often default to using `select(.id=="123")` as if the JSON were an array of objects with an 'id' field, failing to recognize that the user IDs are the object keys themselves, requiring direct key access with `.["123"]`.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In `jq`, `.["key"]` is the object index operator for string keys, equivalent to `.[key]` when the key is a valid identifier. This is distinct from array iteration (`.[]`) or the identity filter (`.`). A real-world scenario is processing a JSON map of user profiles keyed by user ID from an API response, where direct key access is more efficient than filtering an array.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the XK0-005 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this XK0-005 question in full detail.
Scripting, Containers and Automation — This question tests Scripting, Containers and Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: echo "$json" | jq '.["123"].status' — Option D is correct because the JSON object uses user IDs as keys, so `.["123"]` directly accesses the object property for user ID '123', and `.status` extracts the 'status' field from that nested object. The `jq` syntax `.["key"]` is the standard way to access a property by a string key in a JSON object.
What should I do if I get this XK0-005 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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