diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c0bd7ae..a2dc187 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ Refer to [https://tools.suckless.org/dmenu/](https://tools.suckless.org/dmenu/)
 
 ### Changelog:
 
-2020-08-08 - Added the symbols, managed, morecolor, multi-selection and preselect patches
+2020-08-08 - Added the json, symbols, managed, morecolor, multi-selection and preselect patches
 
 2020-08-05 - Added the grid, highlight, highpriority, dynamic options and numbers patches
 
@@ -81,6 +81,9 @@ Refer to [https://tools.suckless.org/dmenu/](https://tools.suckless.org/dmenu/)
    - [instant](https://tools.suckless.org/dmenu/patches/instant/)
       - adds a flag that will cause dmenu to select an item immediately if there is only one matching option left
 
+   - [json](https://tools.suckless.org/dmenu/patches/json/)
+      - adds basic support for json files
+
    - [line-height](http://tools.suckless.org/dmenu/patches/line-height/)
       - adds a '-h' option which sets the minimum height of a dmenu line
       - this helps integrate dmenu with other UI elements that require a particular vertical size
diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index 017264b..b6b88f2 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ static int histnodup           = 1;	/* if 0, record repeated histories */
  * Characters not considered part of a word while deleting words
  * for example: " /?\"&[]"
  */
-#if PIPEOUT_PATCH && !MULTI_SELECTION_PATCH
+#if PIPEOUT_PATCH
 static const char startpipe[] = "#";
 #endif // PIPEOUT_PATCH
 static const char worddelimiters[] = " ";
diff --git a/config.mk b/config.mk
index 45b75a0..b860e74 100644
--- a/config.mk
+++ b/config.mk
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ FREETYPEINC = /usr/include/freetype2
 # OpenBSD (uncomment)
 #FREETYPEINC = $(X11INC)/freetype2
 
+# Uncomment this for the json patch / JSON_PATCH
+#JANSSONINC = `pkg-config --cflags jansson`
+#JANSSONLIBS = `pkg-config --libs jansson`
+# uncomment on RHEL for strcasecmp
+#EXTRAFLAGS=-D_GNU_SOURCE
+
 # Uncomment this for the alpha patch / ALPHA_PATCH
 #XRENDER = -lXrender
 
@@ -26,11 +32,11 @@ FREETYPEINC = /usr/include/freetype2
 #PANGOLIB = `pkg-config --libs xft pango pangoxft`
 
 # includes and libs
-INCS = -I$(X11INC) -I$(FREETYPEINC) ${PANGOINC}
-LIBS = -L$(X11LIB) -lX11 $(XINERAMALIBS) $(FREETYPELIBS) -lm $(XRENDER) ${PANGOLIB}
+INCS = -I$(X11INC) -I$(FREETYPEINC) $(JANSSONINC) ${PANGOINC}
+LIBS = -L$(X11LIB) -lX11 $(XINERAMALIBS) $(FREETYPELIBS) $(JANSSONLIBS) -lm $(XRENDER) ${PANGOLIB}
 
 # flags
-CPPFLAGS = -D_DEFAULT_SOURCE -D_BSD_SOURCE -D_XOPEN_SOURCE=700 -D_POSIX_C_SOURCE=200809L -DVERSION=\"$(VERSION)\" $(XINERAMAFLAGS)
+CPPFLAGS = -D_DEFAULT_SOURCE -D_BSD_SOURCE -D_XOPEN_SOURCE=700 -D_POSIX_C_SOURCE=200809L -DVERSION=\"$(VERSION)\" $(XINERAMAFLAGS) $(EXTRAFLAGS)
 CFLAGS   = -std=c99 -pedantic -Wall -Os $(INCS) $(CPPFLAGS)
 LDFLAGS  = $(LIBS)
 
diff --git a/dmenu.c b/dmenu.c
index eaa2aca..fe0540a 100644
--- a/dmenu.c
+++ b/dmenu.c
@@ -17,8 +17,24 @@
 #include <X11/Xft/Xft.h>
 
 #include "patches.h"
+/* Patch incompatibility overrides */
+#if MULTI_SELECTION_PATCH
+#undef NON_BLOCKING_STDIN_PATCH
+#undef PIPEOUT_PATCH
+#undef JSON_PATCH
+#undef PRINTINPUTTEXT_PATCH
+#endif // MULTI_SELECTION_PATCH
+#if JSON_PATCH
+#undef NON_BLOCKING_STDIN_PATCH
+#undef PRINTINPUTTEXT_PATCH
+#undef PIPEOUT_PATCH
+#endif // JSON_PATCH
+
 #include "drw.h"
 #include "util.h"
+#if JSON_PATCH
+#include <jansson.h>
+#endif // JSON_PATCH
 
 /* macros */
 #define INTERSECT(x,y,w,h,r)  (MAX(0, MIN((x)+(w),(r).x_org+(r).width)  - MAX((x),(r).x_org)) \
@@ -67,13 +83,16 @@ struct item {
 	#if HIGHPRIORITY_PATCH
 	int hp;
 	#endif // HIGHPRIORITY_PATCH
+	#if JSON_PATCH
+	json_t *json;
+	#endif // JSON_PATCH
 	#if FUZZYMATCH_PATCH
 	double distance;
 	#endif // FUZZYMATCH_PATCH
 };
 
 static char text[BUFSIZ] = "";
-#if PIPEOUT_PATCH && !MULTI_SELECTION_PATCH
+#if PIPEOUT_PATCH
 static char pipeout[8] = " | dmenu";
 #endif // PIPEOUT_PATCH
 static char *embed;
@@ -102,7 +121,7 @@ static int managed = 0;
 static int *selid = NULL;
 static unsigned int selidsize = 0;
 #endif // MULTI_SELECTION_PATCH
-#if PRINTINPUTTEXT_PATCH && !MULTI_SELECTION_PATCH
+#if PRINTINPUTTEXT_PATCH
 static int use_text_input = 0;
 #endif // PRINTINPUTTEXT_PATCH
 #if PRESELECT_PATCH
@@ -536,6 +555,10 @@ match(void)
 	#if NON_BLOCKING_STDIN_PATCH
 	int preserve = 0;
 	#endif // NON_BLOCKING_STDIN_PATCH
+	#if JSON_PATCH
+	if (json)
+		fstrstr = strcasestr;
+	#endif // JSON_PATCH
 
 	strcpy(buf, text);
 	/* separate input text into tokens to be matched individually */
@@ -875,7 +898,10 @@ insert:
 	case XK_Return:
 	case XK_KP_Enter:
 		#if !MULTI_SELECTION_PATCH
-		#if PIPEOUT_PATCH
+		#if JSON_PATCH
+		if (!printjsonssel(ev->state))
+			break;
+		#elif PIPEOUT_PATCH
 		#if PRINTINPUTTEXT_PATCH
 		if (sel && (
 			(use_text_input && (ev->state & ShiftMask)) ||
@@ -1032,7 +1058,13 @@ static void
 readstdin(void)
 {
 	char buf[sizeof text], *p;
+	#if JSON_PATCH
+	size_t i;
+	unsigned int imax = 0;
+	struct item *item;
+	#else
 	size_t i, imax = 0, size = 0;
+	#endif // JSON_PATCH
 	unsigned int tmpmax = 0;
 
 	#if PASSWORD_PATCH
@@ -1044,15 +1076,26 @@ readstdin(void)
 
 	/* read each line from stdin and add it to the item list */
 	for (i = 0; fgets(buf, sizeof buf, stdin); i++)	{
+		#if JSON_PATCH
+		item = itemnew();
+		#else
 		if (i + 1 >= size / sizeof *items)
 			if (!(items = realloc(items, (size += BUFSIZ))))
 				die("cannot realloc %u bytes:", size);
+		#endif // JSON_PATCH
 		if ((p = strchr(buf, '\n')))
 			*p = '\0';
+		#if JSON_PATCH
+		if (!(item->text = strdup(buf)))
+		#else
 		if (!(items[i].text = strdup(buf)))
+		#endif // JSON_PATCH
 			die("cannot strdup %u bytes:", strlen(buf) + 1);
 		#if MULTI_SELECTION_PATCH
 		items[i].id = i; /* for multiselect */
+		#elif JSON_PATCH
+		item->json = NULL;
+		item->out = 0;
 		#else
 		items[i].out = 0;
 		#endif // items[i].out = 0;
@@ -1066,17 +1109,29 @@ readstdin(void)
 		#endif // PANGO_PATCH
 		if (tmpmax > inputw) {
 			inputw = tmpmax;
+			#if JSON_PATCH
+			imax = items_ln - 1;
+			#else
 			imax = i;
+			#endif // JSON_PATCH
 		}
 	}
 	if (items)
+		#if JSON_PATCH
+		items[items_ln].text = NULL;
+		#else
 		items[i].text = NULL;
+		#endif // JSON_PATCH
 	#if PANGO_PATCH
 	inputw = items ? TEXTWM(items[imax].text) : 0;
 	#else
 	inputw = items ? TEXTW(items[imax].text) : 0;
 	#endif // PANGO_PATCH
+	#if JSON_PATCH
+	lines = MIN(lines, items_ln);
+	#else
 	lines = MIN(lines, i);
+	#endif // JSON_PATCH
 }
 #endif // NON_BLOCKING_STDIN_PATCH
 
@@ -1388,7 +1443,7 @@ usage(void)
 		#if INSTANT_PATCH
 		"n"
 		#endif // INSTANT_PATCH
-		#if PRINTINPUTTEXT_PATCH && !MULTI_SELECTION_PATCH
+		#if PRINTINPUTTEXT_PATCH
 		"t"
 		#endif // PRINTINPUTTEXT_PATCH
 		#if PREFIXCOMPLETION_PATCH
@@ -1412,9 +1467,12 @@ usage(void)
 		#endif // GRID_PATCH
 		"[-l lines] [-p prompt] [-fn font] [-m monitor]"
 		"\n             [-nb color] [-nf color] [-sb color] [-sf color] [-w windowid]"
-		#if ALPHA_PATCH || BORDER_PATCH || HIGHPRIORITY_PATCH || INITIALTEXT_PATCH || LINE_HEIGHT_PATCH || NAVHISTORY_PATCH || XYW_PATCH || DYNAMIC_OPTIONS_PATCH
+		#if ALPHA_PATCH || BORDER_PATCH || HIGHPRIORITY_PATCH || INITIALTEXT_PATCH || LINE_HEIGHT_PATCH || NAVHISTORY_PATCH || XYW_PATCH || DYNAMIC_OPTIONS_PATCH || JSON_PATCH
 		"\n            "
 		#endif
+		#if JSON_PATCH
+		" [ -j json-file]"
+		#endif // JSON_PATCH
 		#if DYNAMIC_OPTIONS_PATCH
 		" [ -dy command]"
 		#endif // DYNAMIC_OPTIONS_PATCH
@@ -1494,7 +1552,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		} else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "-n")) { /* instant select only match */
 			instant = !instant;
 		#endif // INSTANT_PATCH
-		#if PRINTINPUTTEXT_PATCH && !MULTI_SELECTION_PATCH
+		#if PRINTINPUTTEXT_PATCH
 		} else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "-t")) { /* favors text input over selection */
 			use_text_input = 1;
 		#endif // PRINTINPUTTEXT_PATCH
@@ -1528,6 +1586,10 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 				lines = 1;
 		}
 		#endif // GRID_PATCH
+		#if JSON_PATCH
+		else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "-j"))
+			readjson(argv[++i]);
+		#endif // JSON_PATCH
 		else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "-l"))   /* number of lines in vertical list */
 			lines = atoi(argv[++i]);
 		#if XYW_PATCH
@@ -1662,19 +1724,39 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	#else
 	if (fast && !isatty(0)) {
 		grabkeyboard();
+		#if JSON_PATCH
+		if (json)
+			listjson(json);
 		#if DYNAMIC_OPTIONS_PATCH
+		else if (!(dynamic && *dynamic))
+			readstdin();
+		#else
+		else
+			readstdin();
+		#endif // DYNAMIC_OPTIONS_PATCH
+		#elif DYNAMIC_OPTIONS_PATCH
 		if (!(dynamic && *dynamic))
 			readstdin();
 		#else
 		readstdin();
-		#endif // DYNAMIC_OPTIONS_PATCH
+		#endif // JSON_PATCH | DYNAMIC_OPTIONS_PATCH
 	} else {
+		#if JSON_PATCH
+		if (json)
+			listjson(json);
 		#if DYNAMIC_OPTIONS_PATCH
+		else if (!(dynamic && *dynamic))
+			readstdin();
+		#else
+		else
+			readstdin();
+		#endif // DYNAMIC_OPTIONS_PATCH
+		#elif DYNAMIC_OPTIONS_PATCH
 		if (!(dynamic && *dynamic))
 			readstdin();
 		#else
 		readstdin();
-		#endif // DYNAMIC_OPTIONS_PATCH
+		#endif // JSON_PATCH | DYNAMIC_OPTIONS_PATCH
 		grabkeyboard();
 	}
 	#endif // NON_BLOCKING_STDIN_PATCH
diff --git a/patch/include.c b/patch/include.c
index 80e477d..84f353b 100644
--- a/patch/include.c
+++ b/patch/include.c
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@
 #if MULTI_SELECTION_PATCH
 #include "multiselect.c"
 #endif
+#if JSON_PATCH
+#include "json.c"
+#endif
 #if MOUSE_SUPPORT_PATCH
 #include "mousesupport.c"
 #endif
diff --git a/patch/include.h b/patch/include.h
index 5928366..1aebc52 100644
--- a/patch/include.h
+++ b/patch/include.h
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 #if DYNAMIC_OPTIONS_PATCH
 #include "dynamicoptions.h"
 #endif
+#if JSON_PATCH
+#include "json.h"
+#endif
 #if NON_BLOCKING_STDIN_PATCH
 #include "nonblockingstdin.h"
 #endif
diff --git a/patches.def.h b/patches.def.h
index 7f590d3..e4b2712 100644
--- a/patches.def.h
+++ b/patches.def.h
@@ -84,6 +84,19 @@
  */
 #define INSTANT_PATCH 0
 
+/* This patch adds basic support for json files.
+ * This patch depends on the jansson library. Uncomment the relevant line in config.mk when
+ * enabling this patch.
+ *
+ * This patch is not compatible with the multi-selection, printinputtext, pipeout and
+ * non-blocking stdin patches.
+ * The multi-selection patch takes precedence over this patch.
+ * This patch takes precedence over non-blocking stdin, pipeout and printintputtext patches.
+ *
+ * https://tools.suckless.org/dmenu/patches/json/
+ */
+#define JSON_PATCH 0
+
 /* This patch adds a '-h' option which sets the minimum height of a dmenu line. This helps
  * integrate dmenu with other UI elements that require a particular vertical size.
  * http://tools.suckless.org/dmenu/patches/line-height/
@@ -116,7 +129,8 @@
  * deselect any selected item.
  * Also refer to the dmenu_run replacement on the below URL that supports multiple selections.
  *
- * This patch is not compatible with the printinputtext and pipeout patches.
+ * This patch is not compatible with, and takes precedence over, the json, printinputtext,
+ * pipeout and non-blocking stdin patches.
  *
  * https://tools.suckless.org/dmenu/patches/multi-selection/
  */
@@ -131,6 +145,10 @@
  * from stdin and from X. This means that you can continue feeding dmenu while you type.
  * This patch is meant to be used along with the incremental patch, so that you can use stdout
  * to feed stdin.
+ *
+ * This patch is not compatible with the json and multi-selection patches, both of which takes
+ * precedence over this patch.
+ *
  * https://tools.suckless.org/dmenu/patches/non_blocking_stdin/
  */
 #define NON_BLOCKING_STDIN_PATCH 0
@@ -173,7 +191,8 @@
  * want to display the output of a command on the screen.
  * Only text starting with the character '#' is piped out by default.
  *
- * This patch is not compatible with the multi-select patch.
+ * This patch is not compatible with the json and multi-select patches, both of which takes
+ * precedence over this one.
  *
  * https://tools.suckless.org/dmenu/patches/pipeout/
  */
@@ -193,7 +212,8 @@
 /* This patch adds a flag (-t) which makes Return key to ignore selection and print the input
  * text to stdout. The flag basically swaps the functions of Return and Shift+Return hotkeys.
  *
- * This patch is not compatible with the multi-select patch.
+ * This patch is not compatible with the multi-select and json patches, both of which takes
+ * precedence over this one.
  *
  * https://tools.suckless.org/dmenu/patches/printinputtext/
  */