---
title: Paths and options
description: JSON and YAML differences are reported by a JSONPath-like path: TreeDiffOptions.IgnorePaths takes paths with wildcards: Per call: Scrub(Func<string, string>),...
url: https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/reference/options
---

# Paths and options
## Paths

JSON and YAML differences are reported by a JSONPath-like path:

| Path                     | Means                                                         |
|--------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
| `$`                      | the root                                                      |
| `$.name`                 | the `name` key                                                |
| `$["key with.dots"]`     | a key that is not a plain identifier                          |
| `$.items[2]`             | the third item                                                |
| `$doc[1].name`           | in the second document of a YAML stream                       |
| `$[1].v (actual $[2].v)` | the verified path, and where the item sits in the actual tree |


## Ignore patterns

`TreeDiffOptions.IgnorePaths` takes paths with wildcards:

| Pattern              | Ignores                  |
|----------------------|--------------------------|
| `$.meta.generatedAt` | that key                 |
| `$.items[*].etag`    | `etag` in every item     |
| `$.config.*`         | every key under `config` |
| `$..id`              | every `id` at any depth  |


## TreeDiffOptions


| Option              | Default       | Effect                                                                    |
|---------------------|---------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `MapOrder`          | `Insensitive` | `Significant` reports a different key order                               |
| `StrictNumbers`     | `false`       | compare numbers by kind and text, so `1` and `1.0` differ                 |
| `NullEqualsMissing` | `false`       | a key with `null` equals the key being absent                             |
| `IgnorePaths`       | none          | see above                                                                 |
| `CellCap`           | 4,000,000     | arrays whose lengths multiply to more are aligned by position, not by LCS |


## SnapshotOptions

Per call: `Scrub(Func<string, string>)`, `Scrub(Regex, string)` and `IgnoreDefaultScrubbers`. See
[scrubbing](/formats#scrubbing-volatile-values).