diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e1edbf1..de2f6c9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ and [jiq](https://github.com/fiatjaf/jiq).
     - [Object Identifier-Index](https://jqlang.github.io/jq/manual/#object-identifier-index)
     - [Array Index](https://jqlang.github.io/jq/manual/#array-index)
 - Hint message to evaluate the filter
+- Result summary showing the current result's type and length
+  (e.g. `object · 3 keys`) in the status line
 
 ## Installation
 
diff --git a/src/guide.rs b/src/guide.rs
index f3f51eb..0f67153 100644
--- a/src/guide.rs
+++ b/src/guide.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ pub enum GuideMessage {
     NoSuggestionFound(String),
     JqReturnedNull(String),
     JqFailed(String),
+    /// Type/length summary of the current jq result (e.g. `object · 3 keys`).
+    ResultSummary(String),
 }
 
 /// Represent an action to be performed on the guide.
@@ -66,6 +68,9 @@ fn message_to_state(message: GuideMessage) -> status::State {
         GuideMessage::JqFailed(e) => {
             status::State::new(format!("jq failed: `{e}`"), Severity::Error)
         }
+        GuideMessage::ResultSummary(summary) => {
+            status::State::new(format!("result: {summary}"), Severity::Success)
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/json.rs b/src/json.rs
index f12a377..afdb585 100644
--- a/src/json.rs
+++ b/src/json.rs
@@ -70,3 +70,75 @@ pub fn run_jaq(
 
     Ok(ret)
 }
+
+/// Summarize a jq result stream as a short `type · length` string, mirroring
+/// what `| type` and `| length` would report. Used for a status-line hint so
+/// users don't have to append those filters manually.
+///
+/// A single value is described by its type and (where meaningful) its length;
+/// a multi-value stream is reported as a count.
+pub fn summarize(values: &[serde_json::Value]) -> String {
+    match values {
+        [] => "empty (0 results)".to_string(),
+        [value] => summarize_value(value),
+        many => format!("stream · {} values", many.len()),
+    }
+}
+
+fn summarize_value(value: &serde_json::Value) -> String {
+    match value {
+        Value::Object(map) => format!("object · {} {}", map.len(), pluralize(map.len(), "key")),
+        Value::Array(items) => {
+            format!("array · {} {}", items.len(), pluralize(items.len(), "item"))
+        }
+        Value::String(s) => {
+            let count = s.chars().count();
+            format!("string · {} {}", count, pluralize(count, "char"))
+        }
+        Value::Number(_) => "number".to_string(),
+        Value::Bool(_) => "boolean".to_string(),
+        Value::Null => "null".to_string(),
+    }
+}
+
+fn pluralize(count: usize, noun: &str) -> String {
+    if count == 1 {
+        noun.to_string()
+    } else {
+        format!("{noun}s")
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use promkit_widgets::serde_json::json;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn summarize_object_array_string() {
+        assert_eq!(summarize(&[json!({"a": 1, "b": 2})]), "object · 2 keys");
+        assert_eq!(summarize(&[json!({"a": 1})]), "object · 1 key");
+        assert_eq!(summarize(&[json!([1, 2, 3])]), "array · 3 items");
+        assert_eq!(summarize(&[json!([1])]), "array · 1 item");
+        assert_eq!(summarize(&[json!("hello")]), "string · 5 chars");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn summarize_scalars() {
+        assert_eq!(summarize(&[json!(42)]), "number");
+        assert_eq!(summarize(&[json!(true)]), "boolean");
+        assert_eq!(summarize(&[json!(null)]), "null");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn summarize_stream_and_empty() {
+        assert_eq!(summarize(&[json!(1), json!(2)]), "stream · 2 values");
+        assert_eq!(summarize(&[]), "empty (0 results)");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn summarize_string_counts_unicode_scalar_values() {
+        // "café" is 4 chars even though 'é' is multi-byte.
+        assert_eq!(summarize(&[json!("café")]), "string · 4 chars");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/json_viewer.rs b/src/json_viewer.rs
index be1fcf5..9d20d84 100644
--- a/src/json_viewer.rs
+++ b/src/json_viewer.rs
@@ -91,14 +91,15 @@ impl JsonViewer {
     ) -> (Option<GuideMessage>, Option<StyledGraphemes>) {
         match json::run_jaq(&input, &self.json) {
             Ok(ret) => {
-                let mut guide = None;
-                if ret.iter().all(|val| *val == Value::Null) {
-                    guide = Some(GuideMessage::JqReturnedNull(input));
-
+                // `all` is vacuously true for an empty result, so this also
+                // covers the "filter produced nothing" case.
+                let guide = if ret.iter().all(|val| *val == Value::Null) {
                     self.state.stream = JsonStream::new(self.json.iter());
+                    Some(GuideMessage::JqReturnedNull(input))
                 } else {
                     self.state.stream = JsonStream::new(ret.iter());
-                }
+                    Some(GuideMessage::ResultSummary(json::summarize(&ret)))
+                };
 
                 (guide, Some(self.state.create_graphemes(area.0, area.1)))
             }