> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.continuouslabs.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Output formats

> Choose how the CLI renders responses and filter them with jq.

Responses print to stdout. Errors print to stderr and the CLI exits with code 1.

## Formats

Set `--output-format` (`-o`), or a default with `CONTINUOUS_OUTPUT_FORMAT` or `output_format` in `~/.config/continuous/config.yaml`. The flag, the variable, and the file resolve in the order given in [Authentication](/cli/authentication).

| Format   | Use it for                                                                                                                                                   |
| -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `pretty` | Reading in a terminal. Default outside [agent mode](/cli/scripting#agent-mode).                                                                              |
| `json`   | Scripts. The CLI prints the response body as the API returned it.                                                                                            |
| `yaml`   | Reading nested objects. See [Known issues](/cli/scripting#known-issues) before you parse it in a script.                                                     |
| `table`  | One object at a time. Scalar fields become rows; nested objects, timestamps, and lists of objects are left out, so a list response shows only `next_cursor`. |
| `toon`   | TOON (Token-Oriented Object Notation), a compact text format for coding agents. Default in agent mode.                                                       |

```bash theme={null}
continuous simulators list --output-format json
```

## Filter with jq

`--jq` (`-q`) runs a jq expression on the response and prints each result as JSON. It overrides `--output-format`.

```bash theme={null}
continuous simulators list --status ready --jq '.simulators[] | {id, name}'
```

## Include response headers

`--include-headers` adds the HTTP response headers to the output. In `json`, `yaml`, `toon`, and `--jq` modes they appear under a `_response_headers` key. In `pretty` mode they print after the body.

## Color

`--color auto` (default) colors output only when stdout is a terminal; under `auto`, `NO_COLOR` turns color off and `FORCE_COLOR` turns it on. `--color always` and `--color never` override both. Agent mode never colors output.