---
title: Perform a basic SQL query
description: A basic SQL query that queries data from InfluxDB most commonly includes SELECT, FROM, and WHERE clauses.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/cloud-serverless/query-data/sql/basic-query/
estimated_tokens: 4092
product: InfluxDB Cloud Serverless
version: cloud-serverless
---

# Perform a basic SQL query

The InfluxDB SQL implementation is powered by the [Apache Arrow DataFusion](https://arrow.apache.org/datafusion/) query engine which provides a SQL syntax similar to other relational query languages.

A basic SQL query that queries data from InfluxDB most commonly includes the following clauses:

\* Required

-   \* `SELECT`: Specify fields, tags, and calculations to output from a measurement or use the wildcard alias (`*`) to select all fields and tags from a measurement.
-   \* `FROM`: Specify the measurement to query data from.
-   `WHERE`: Only return data that meets the specified conditions–for example, falls within a time range, contains specific tag values, or contains a field value outside a specified range.

\`\`\`sql SELECT temp, hum, room FROM home WHERE time >= '2022-01-01T08:00:00Z' AND time <= '2022-01-01T20:00:00Z' \`\`\`

## Result set

If at least one row satisfies the query, InfluxDB Cloud Serverless returns row data in the query result set. An SQL query result set includes columns listed in the query’s `SELECT` statement.

## Basic query examples

-   [Query data within time boundaries](#query-data-within-time-boundaries)
-   [Query data without time boundaries](#query-data-without-time-boundaries)
-   [Query specific fields and tags](#query-specific-fields-and-tags)
-   [Query fields based on tag values](#query-fields-based-on-tag-values)
-   [Query points based on field values](#query-points-based-on-field-values)
-   [Alias queried fields and tags](#alias-queried-fields-and-tags)

#### Sample data

The following examples use the sample data written in the [Get started writing data guide](/influxdb3/cloud-serverless/get-started/write/). To run the example queries and return results, [write the sample data](/influxdb3/cloud-serverless/get-started/write/#write-line-protocol-to-influxdb) to your InfluxDB Cloud Serverless bucket before running the example queries.

### Query data within time boundaries

-   Use the `SELECT` clause to specify what columns (tags and fields) to return. To return all tags and fields, use the wildcard alias (`*`).
-   In the `FROM` clause, specify the table (measurement) to query.
-   In the `WHERE` clause, specify time boundaries and other conditions for filtering. Include time-based predicates that compare the value of the `time` column to a timestamp. Use the `AND` logical operator to chain multiple predicates together.

\`\`\`sql SELECT \* FROM home WHERE time >= '2022-01-01T08:00:00Z' AND time <= '2022-01-01T12:00:00Z' \`\`\`

Query time boundaries can be relative or absolute.

[](#query-with-relative-time-boundaries)

Query with relative time boundaries

To query data from relative time boundaries, compare the value of the `time` column to a timestamp calculated by subtracting an interval from a timestamp. Use `now()` to return the timestamp for the current time (UTC).

##### Query all data from the last month

```sql
SELECT * FROM home WHERE time >= now() - INTERVAL '1 month'
```

##### Query one day of data data from a week ago

```sql
SELECT *
FROM home
WHERE
  time >= now() - INTERVAL '7 days'
  AND time <= now() - INTERVAL '6 days'
```

[](#query-with-absolute-time-boundaries)

Query with absolute time boundaries

To query data from absolute time boundaries, compare the value of the `time` column to a timestamp literal. Use the `AND` logical operator to chain together multiple predicates and define both start and stop boundaries for the query.

```sql
SELECT
  *
FROM
  home
WHERE
  time >= '2022-01-01T08:00:00Z'
  AND time <= '2022-01-01T20:00:00Z'
```

[](#query-data-using-a-time-zone-offset)

Query data using a time zone offset

To query data using a time zone offset, use the [`AT TIME ZONE` operator](/influxdb3/cloud-serverless/reference/sql/operators/other/#at-time-zone) to apply a time zone offset to timestamps in the `WHERE` clause.

Timestamp types in InfluxDB always represent a UTC time. `AT TIME ZONE` returns a UTC timestamp adjusted for the offset of the specified time zone. Timestamps in the `time` column are not updated. If you need to display the timestamps in your current timezone, this should be handled client-side.

```sql
SELECT
  *
FROM
  home
WHERE
  time >= '2022-01-01 00:00:00'::TIMESTAMP AT TIME ZONE 'America/Los_Angeles'
  AND time <= '2022-01-01 12:00:00'::TIMESTAMP AT TIME ZONE 'America/Los_Angeles'
```

### Query data without time boundaries

To query data without time boundaries, don’t include any time-based predicates in your `WHERE` clause.

Querying data *without time bounds* can return a large number of rows. The query may take a long time to complete and results may be truncated.

```sql
SELECT * FROM home
```

### Query specific fields and tags

To specify columns (fields, tags, or calculations) you want to retrieve, list them in the `SELECT` clause. Use a comma to separate column names. If the field or tag keys include special characters or spaces or are case-sensitive, wrap the key in *double-quotes*.

```sql
SELECT time, room, temp, hum FROM home
```

### Query fields based on tag values

-   Include the fields you want to query and the tags you want to base conditions on in the `SELECT` clause.
-   Include predicates in the `WHERE` clause that compare the tag identifier to a string literal. Use [logical operators](#) to chain multiple predicates together and apply multiple conditions.

```sql
SELECT * FROM home WHERE room = 'Kitchen'
```

### Query points based on field values

-   Include the fields you want to query in the `SELECT` clause.
-   Include predicates in the `WHERE` clause that compare the field identifier to another value. Use [logical operators](#) (`AND`, `OR`) to chain multiple predicates together and apply multiple conditions.

```sql
SELECT co, time FROM home WHERE co >= 10 OR co <= -10
```

### Alias queried fields and tags

To alias or rename fields and tags that you query, pass a string literal after the field or tag identifier in the `SELECT` clause. You can use the `AS` clause to define the alias, but it isn’t necessary. The following queries are functionally the same:

```sql
SELECT temp 'temperature', hum 'humidity' FROM home

SELECT temp AS 'temperature', hum AS 'humidity' FROM home
```

#### Related

-   [SQL reference documentation](/influxdb3/cloud-serverless/reference/sql/)