How to remove child members of a JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) value using the JSON_REMOVE() function?

JSON_REMOVE(json, path1, path2, ...) is a MySQL built-in function that removes child members of a JSON value at given locations, which are specified by path arguments in the "$.key" or "$[i]" format. For example:

SET @j = '["a", {"b": [1, 2]}, [3, 4]]';

SELECT JSON_REMOVE(@j, '$[1]'), JSON_REMOVE(@j, '$[1].b');
  -- +-------------------------+---------------------------+
  -- | JSON_REMOVE(@j, '$[1]') | JSON_REMOVE(@j, '$[1].b') |
  -- +-------------------------+---------------------------+
  -- | ["a", [3, 4]]           | ["a", {}, [3, 4]]         |
  -- +-------------------------+---------------------------+

SELECT JSON_REMOVE(@j, '$');
ERROR 3153 (42000): The path expression '$' is not allowed in this context.

Reference information of the JSON_REMOVE() function:

JSON_REMOVE(json, path1, path2, ...): modjson
  Removes child members of a JSON value at given locations, which
  are specified by path arguments in the "$.key" or "$[i]" format.

Arguments, return value and availability:
  json: Required. The JSON value to be updated.
  path1, path2, ...: One or more JSON path locations of members to be removed.
  modjson: Return value. The updated JSON value.
  Available since MySQL 5.7.

Related MySQL functions:

• JSON_INSERT() - Inserting Members to JSON Value
• JSON_REMOVE() - Removing JSON Child Members
• JSON_REPLACE() - Replacing JSON Child Members
• JSON_SET() - Inserting/updating JSON Child Members

⇒ JSON_REPLACE() - Replacing JSON Child Members

⇐ JSON_QUOTE() - Quoting JSON String

⇑ MySQL Functions on JSON Values

⇑⇑ MySQL Function References