The Ansible ``ansible.utils`` collection includes a variety of plugins that aid in the management, manipulation and visibility of data for the Ansible playbook developer.
[ansible.utils.cidr_merge](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.cidr_merge_filter.rst)|This filter can be used to merge subnets or individual addresses.
[ansible.utils.consolidate](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.consolidate_filter.rst)|Consolidate facts together on common attributes.
[ansible.utils.from_xml](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.from_xml_filter.rst)|Convert given XML string to native python dictionary.
[ansible.utils.get_path](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.get_path_filter.rst)|Retrieve the value in a variable using a path
[ansible.utils.hwaddr](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.hwaddr_filter.rst)|HWaddr / MAC address filters
[ansible.utils.index_of](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.index_of_filter.rst)|Find the indices of items in a list matching some criteria
[ansible.utils.ip4_hex](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ip4_hex_filter.rst)|This filter is designed to convert IPv4 address to Hexadecimal notation with optional delimiter.
[ansible.utils.ipaddr](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ipaddr_filter.rst)|This filter is designed to return the input value if a query is True, else False.
[ansible.utils.ipmath](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ipmath_filter.rst)|This filter is designed to do simple IP math/arithmetic.
[ansible.utils.ipsubnet](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ipsubnet_filter.rst)|This filter can be used to manipulate network subnets in several ways.
[ansible.utils.ipv4](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ipv4_filter.rst)|To filter only Ipv4 addresses Ipv4 filter is used.
[ansible.utils.ipv6](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ipv6_filter.rst)|To filter only Ipv6 addresses Ipv6 filter is used.
[ansible.utils.ipwrap](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ipwrap_filter.rst)|This filter is designed to Wrap IPv6 addresses in [ ] brackets.
[ansible.utils.keep_keys](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.keep_keys_filter.rst)|Keep specific keys from a data recursively.
[ansible.utils.macaddr](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.macaddr_filter.rst)|macaddr / MAC address filters
[ansible.utils.network_in_network](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.network_in_network_filter.rst)|This filter returns whether an address or a network passed as argument is in a network.
[ansible.utils.network_in_usable](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.network_in_usable_filter.rst)|The network_in_usable filter returns whether an address passed as an argument is usable in a network.
[ansible.utils.next_nth_usable](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.next_nth_usable_filter.rst)|This filter returns the next nth usable ip within a network described by value.
[ansible.utils.nthhost](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.nthhost_filter.rst)|This filter returns the nth host within a network described by value.
[ansible.utils.param_list_compare](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.param_list_compare_filter.rst)|Generate the final param list combining/comparing base and provided parameters.
[ansible.utils.previous_nth_usable](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.previous_nth_usable_filter.rst)|This filter returns the previous nth usable ip within a network described by value.
[ansible.utils.reduce_on_network](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.reduce_on_network_filter.rst)|This filter reduces a list of addresses to only the addresses that match a given network.
[ansible.utils.remove_keys](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.remove_keys_filter.rst)|Remove specific keys from a data recursively.
[ansible.utils.replace_keys](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.replace_keys_filter.rst)|Replaces specific keys with their after value from a data recursively.
[ansible.utils.slaac](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.slaac_filter.rst)|This filter returns the SLAAC address within a network for a given HW/MAC address.
[ansible.utils.to_paths](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.to_paths_filter.rst)|Flatten a complex object into a dictionary of paths and values
[ansible.utils.to_xml](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.to_xml_filter.rst)|Convert given JSON string to XML
[ansible.utils.usable_range](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.usable_range_filter.rst)|Expand the usable IP addresses
[ansible.utils.validate](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.validate_filter.rst)|Validate data with provided criteria
[ansible.utils.get_path](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.get_path_lookup.rst)|Retrieve the value in a variable using a path
[ansible.utils.index_of](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.index_of_lookup.rst)|Find the indices of items in a list matching some criteria
[ansible.utils.to_paths](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.to_paths_lookup.rst)|Flatten a complex object into a dictionary of paths and values
[ansible.utils.validate](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.validate_lookup.rst)|Validate data with provided criteria
[ansible.utils.cli_parse](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.cli_parse_module.rst)|Parse cli output or text using a variety of parsers
[ansible.utils.fact_diff](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.fact_diff_module.rst)|Find the difference between currently set facts
[ansible.utils.update_fact](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.update_fact_module.rst)|Update currently set facts
[ansible.utils.validate](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.validate_module.rst)|Validate data with provided criteria
[ansible.utils.in_any_network](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.in_any_network_test.rst)|Test if an IP or network falls in any network
[ansible.utils.in_network](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.in_network_test.rst)|Test if IP address falls in the network
[ansible.utils.in_one_network](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.in_one_network_test.rst)|Test if IP address belongs in any one of the networks in the list
[ansible.utils.ip](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ip_test.rst)|Test if something in an IP address or network
[ansible.utils.ip_address](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ip_address_test.rst)|Test if something in an IP address
[ansible.utils.ipv4](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ipv4_test.rst)|Test if something is an IPv4 address or network
[ansible.utils.ipv4_address](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ipv4_address_test.rst)|Test if something is an IPv4 address
[ansible.utils.ipv4_hostmask](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ipv4_hostmask_test.rst)|Test if an address is a valid hostmask
[ansible.utils.ipv4_netmask](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ipv4_netmask_test.rst)|Test if an address is a valid netmask
[ansible.utils.ipv6](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ipv6_test.rst)|Test if something is an IPv6 address or network
[ansible.utils.ipv6_address](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ipv6_address_test.rst)|Test if something is an IPv6 address
[ansible.utils.ipv6_ipv4_mapped](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ipv6_ipv4_mapped_test.rst)|Test if something appears to be a mapped IPv6 to IPv4 mapped address
[ansible.utils.ipv6_sixtofour](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ipv6_sixtofour_test.rst)|Test if something appears to be a 6to4 address
[ansible.utils.ipv6_teredo](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.ipv6_teredo_test.rst)|Test if something appears to be an IPv6 teredo address
[ansible.utils.loopback](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.loopback_test.rst)|Test if an IP address is a loopback
[ansible.utils.mac](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.mac_test.rst)|Test if something appears to be a valid MAC address
[ansible.utils.multicast](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.multicast_test.rst)|Test for a multicast IP address
[ansible.utils.private](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.private_test.rst)|Test if an IP address is private
[ansible.utils.public](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.public_test.rst)|Test if an IP address is public
[ansible.utils.reserved](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.reserved_test.rst)|Test for a reserved IP address
[ansible.utils.resolvable](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.resolvable_test.rst)|Test if an IP or name can be resolved via /etc/hosts or DNS
[ansible.utils.subnet_of](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.subnet_of_test.rst)|Test if a network is a subnet of another network
[ansible.utils.supernet_of](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.supernet_of_test.rst)|Test if a network is a supernet of another network
[ansible.utils.unspecified](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.unspecified_test.rst)|Test for an unspecified IP address
[ansible.utils.validate](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/docs/ansible.utils.validate_test.rst)|Validate data with provided criteria
The most common use case for this collection is when you want to work with the complex data structures present in an Ansible playbook, inventory, or returned from modules. See each plugin documentation page for detailed examples for how these utilities can be used in tasks.
**NOTE**: For Ansible 2.9, you may not see deprecation warnings when you run your playbooks with this collection. Use this documentation to track when a module is deprecated.
This collection is intended for plugins that are not platform or discipline specific. Simple plugin examples should be generic in nature. More complex examples can include real world platform modules to demonstrate the utility of the plugin in a playbook.
We welcome community contributions to this collection. If you find problems, please open an issue or create a PR against the [ansible.utils collection repository](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils). See [Contributing to Ansible-maintained collections](https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/devel/community/contributing_maintained_collections.html#contributing-maintained-collections) for complete details.
- 100% code coverage is the goal, although it's not always possible. Please include unit and integration tests with all PRs. PRs should not cause a decrease in code coverage.
- Filter plugins should be 1 per file, with an included DOCUMENTATION string, or reference a lookup plugin with the same name.
- Action, filter, and lookup plugins should use argspec validation. See [AnsibleArgSpecValidator](https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.utils/blob/main/plugins/module_utils/common/argspec_validate.py).
<!-- Optional. Include the roadmap for this collection, and the proposed release/versioning strategy so users can anticipate the upgrade/update cycle. -->
