---
title: Use the influx query command
description: Use the influx CLI to query InfluxDB data.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb/cloud/query-data/execute-queries/influx-query/
estimated_tokens: 660
product: InfluxDB Cloud (TSM)
version: cloud
---

# Use the influx query command

Use the [`influx query` command](/influxdb/cloud/reference/cli/influx/query) to query data in InfluxDB using Flux. Pass Flux queries to the command as either a file or via stdin.

###### Run a query from a file

```bash
influx query --file /path/to/query.flux
```

###### Pass raw Flux via stdin pipe

```bash
influx query - # Return to open the pipe

data = from(bucket: "example-bucket") |> range(start: -10m) # ...
# Linux & macOS: <ctrl-d> to close the pipe and submit the command
# Windows: <enter>, then <ctrl-d>, then <enter> to close the pipe and submit the command
```

#### Remove unnecessary columns in large datasets

When using the `influx query` command to query and download large datasets, drop columns such as `_start` and `_stop` to optimize the download file size.

```js
// ...
    |> drop(columns: ["_start", "_stop"])
```

#### Related

-   [influx query](/influxdb/cloud/reference/cli/influx/query/)

[query](/influxdb/cloud/tags/query/)