JSON Merge Patch

External

• https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc7386
• https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/manage-kubernetes-objects/update-api-object-kubectl-patch/
• https://erosb.github.io/post/json-patch-vs-merge-patch/

Internal

• kubectl patch
• JSON Patch

Overview

JSON merge patch is defined by RFC7386.

JSON merge patch defines a JSON document format appropriate for modifying a target JSON document. The format is suitable to use with the HTTP PATCH method and an "application/merge-patch+json" media type.

PATCH /target HTTP/1.1
Host: example.org
Content-Type: application/merge-patch+json

{
  "a":"z",
  "c": {
 "f": null
   }
}

Behavior on Lists

If a list is updated with JSON merge patch, a whole new list must be specified. The new list completely replaces the existing list.

Also See

JSON Patch

Kubernetes Strategic Merge Patch