include-null-values-in-json-include-null-values-option.md

title	Include Null Values in JSON - INCLUDE_NULL_VALUES Option
description	To include null values in the JSON output of the FOR JSON clause, specify the INCLUDE_NULL_VALUES option.
author	WilliamDAssafMSFT
ms.author	wiassaf
ms.reviewer	jovanpop, umajay
ms.date	07/23/2025
ms.service	sql
ms.topic	how-to
ms.custom	ignite-2025
helpviewer_keywords	INCLUDE_NULL_VALUES (FOR JSON)
monikerRange	=azuresqldb-current || >=sql-server-2016 || >=sql-server-linux-2017 || =azuresqldb-mi-current || =fabric || =fabric-sqldb

Include Null Values in JSON - INCLUDE_NULL_VALUES Option

[!INCLUDE sqlserver2016-asdb-asdbmi-asa-serverless-pool-only-fabricse-fabricdw-fabricsqldb]

To include null values in the JSON output of the FOR JSON clause, specify the INCLUDE_NULL_VALUES option.

If you don't specify the INCLUDE_NULL_VALUES option, the JSON output doesn't include properties for values that are null in the query results.

Examples

The following example shows the output of the FOR JSON clause with and without the INCLUDE_NULL_VALUES option.

Without the INCLUDE_NULL_VALUES option	With the INCLUDE_NULL_VALUES option
{ "name": "John", "surname": "Doe" }	{ "name": "John", "surname": "Doe", "age": null, "phone": null }

Here's another example of a FOR JSON clause with the INCLUDE_NULL_VALUES option.

Query

SELECT name, surname  
FROM emp  
FOR JSON AUTO, INCLUDE_NULL_VALUES    

Result

[{
    "name": "John",
    "surname": null
}, {
    "name": "Jane",
    "surname": "Doe"
}] 

Learn more about JSON in the SQL Database Engine

For a visual introduction to the built-in JSON support, see the following videos:

• JSON as a bridge between NoSQL and relational worlds

Related content

• SELECT - FOR Clause (Transact-SQL)