> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.fluentd.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.fluentd.org/formatter/stdout.md).

# stdout

The `stdout` formatter plugin converts an event to the stdout format.

This plugin is only for [`stdout` Output Plugin](/output/stdout.md) and [`stdout` Filter Plugin](/filter/stdout.md).

```
2015-05-02 12:12:17 +0900 tag: {"field1":"value1","field2":"value2"}
```

## Parameters

* [Common Parameters](/configuration/plugin-common-parameters.md)
* [Format section configurations](/configuration/format-section.md)

### `output_type` (string) (optional)

| type   | default | version |
| ------ | ------- | ------- |
| string | `json`  | 0.14.0  |

Sets the sub-formatter type. Any formatter plugins can be specified.

## Example

```
<format>
  @type stdout
  output_type json
</format>
```

with this configuration:

```
tag:    app.event
time:   1511156652
record: {"host":"192.168.0.1","size":777,"method":"PUT"}
```

This incoming event is formatted to:

```
2017-11-20 14:44:12 +0900 app.event: {"host":"192.168.0.1","size":777,"method":"PUT"}
```

If this article is incorrect or outdated, or omits critical information, please [let us know](https://github.com/fluent/fluentd-docs-gitbook/issues?state=open). [Fluentd](http://www.fluentd.org/) is an open-source project under [Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF)](https://cncf.io/). All components are available under the Apache 2 License.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.fluentd.org/formatter/stdout.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.