---
title: Perform a basic InfluxQL query
description: A basic InfluxQL query that queries data from InfluxDB most commonly includes SELECT, FROM, and WHERE clauses.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/clustered/query-data/influxql/basic-query/
estimated_tokens: 1812
publisher: InfluxData
canonical: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/clustered/query-data/influxql/basic-query/
date: '2025-03-13T17:02:04-06:00'
lastmod: '2025-03-13T17:02:04-06:00'
---

InfluxQL (Influx Query Language) is an SQL-like query language used to interact
with InfluxDB and work with times series data.

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

\* Required

* \* `SELECT`: Specify fields, tags, and calculations to return
  from a [table](/influxdb3/clustered/reference/glossary/#table) or use the
  wildcard alias (`*`) to select all fields and tags from a table. It requires
  at least one[field key](/influxdb3/clustered/reference/glossary/#field-key) or the
  wildcard alias (`*`). For more information, see[Notable SELECT statement behaviors](/influxdb3/clustered/reference/influxql/select/#notable-select-statement-behaviors).
* \* `FROM`: Specify the[table](/influxdb3/clustered/reference/glossary/#table) to query from.
  It requires one or more comma-delimited[measurement expressions](/influxdb3/clustered/reference/influxql/select/#measurement_expression).
* `WHERE`: Filter data based on[field values](/influxdb3/clustered/reference/glossary/#field),[tag values](/influxdb3/clustered/reference/glossary/#tag), or[timestamps](/influxdb3/clustered/reference/glossary/#timestamp). 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 Clustered returns row data
in the query result set.
If a query uses a `GROUP BY` clause, the result set
includes the following:

* Columns listed in the query’s `SELECT` clause
* A `time` column that contains the timestamp for the record or the group
* An `iox::measurement` column that contains the record’s[table](/influxdb3/clustered/reference/glossary/#table) name
* Columns listed in the query’s `GROUP BY` clause; each row in the result set
  contains the values used for grouping

### GROUP BY result columns

If a query uses `GROUP BY` and the `WHERE` clause doesn’t filter by time, then
groups are based on the[default time range](/influxdb3/clustered/reference/influxql/group-by/#default-time-range).

## 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[Get started home sensor data](/influxdb3/clustered/reference/sample-data/#get-started-home-sensor-data).
To run the example queries and return results,[write the sample data](/influxdb3/clustered/reference/sample-data/#write-the-home-sensor-data-to-influxdb)to your InfluxDB Clustered database before running the example queries.

### Query data within time boundaries

* Use the `SELECT` clause to specify what tags and fields to return.
  Specify at least one field key.
  To return all tags and fields, use the wildcard alias (`*`).
* Specify the [table](/influxdb3/clustered/reference/glossary/#table) to
  query in the `FROM` clause.
* Specify time boundaries in the `WHERE` clause. 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() - 30d
```

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

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

[](#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 without time boundaries

To query data without time boundaries, do not include any time-based predicates
in your `WHERE` clause.
If a time range is not defined in the `WHERE` clause,
the default time range is the Unix epoch (`1970-01-01T00:00:00Z`) to *now*.

> [!Warning]
> Querying data *without time bounds* can return an unexpected amount of data.
> The query may take a long time to complete and results may be truncated.

```sql
SELECT * FROM home
```

### Query specific fields and tags

To query specific fields, include them in the `SELECT` clause.
If querying multiple fields or tags, comma-delimit each.
If a field or tag key includes special characters or spaces or is
case-sensitive, wrap the key in *double-quotes*.

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

### Query fields based on tag values

* In the `SELECT` clause, include fields you want to query and tags you want to
  base conditions on.
* In the `WHERE` clause, include predicates that compare the tag identifier to a
  string literal. Use[logical operators](/influxdb3/clustered/reference/influxql/where/#logical-operators)to chain multiple predicates together and apply multiple conditions.

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

### Query points based on field values

* In the `SELECT` clause, include fields you want to query.
* In the `WHERE` clause, include predicates that compare the field identifier to
  a value or expression.
  Use[logical operators](/influxdb3/clustered/reference/influxql/where/#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, use the `AS` clause.
After the tag, field, or expression you want to alias, pass `AS` followed by the
alias name as an identifier (wrap in double quotes (`"`) if the alias includes
spaces or special characters)–for example:

```sql
SELECT temp AS temperature, hum AS "humidity (%)" FROM home
```

> [!Note]
> When aliasing columns in **InfluxQL**, use the `AS` clause and an[identifier](/influxdb3/clustered/reference/influxql/#identifiers). When[aliasing columns in **SQL**](/influxdb3/clustered/query-data/sql/basic-query/#alias-queried-fields-and-tags),
> you can use the `AS` clause to define the alias, but it isn’t necessary.

[query](/influxdb3/clustered/tags/query/)[influxql](/influxdb3/clustered/tags/influxql/)