**Source URL:** https://general.veevavault.dev/vql/clauses/find.md # FIND Use `FIND` to search documents and Vault objects. When using `FIND` on documents, Vault searches all queryable document fields. You can configure object references to search additional object fields by configuring Searchable Object Fields. Learn more in [Vault Help](https://platform.veevavault.help/en/lr/29926). * `FIND` for documents is available in Vault API v8.0+ * `FIND` for standard volume Vault objects is available in Vault API v14.0+ * `FIND` is not supported on raw Vault objects or in attachment subqueries * `FIND` is supported in `SELECT` statements. In 25.3+, you can also use `FIND` in all subqueries except attachment subequeries. You can [scope](/vql/functions-options/find-scopes-distance) your search to specific fields, document content, or both. When using `FIND` without `SCOPE`, VQL uses [SCOPE PROPERTIES](/vql/functions-options/find-scopes-distance/scope-properties) by default. VQL automatically adds wildcards to most search terms. Learn more about wildcarding, search tokenization, stemming, order of evaluation, and other topics in [Searching & Filtering](/vql/references/search-specifications). ## Syntax {#Syntax} ``` SELECT {fields} FROM {query target} FIND ('{search phrase}') ``` The `FIND` search phrase must be enclosed in single quotation marks. The entire `FIND` statement (search phrase and scopes) must be enclosed in parentheses. The maximum search term length is 250 characters. The minimum search term length is 1 character. The search phrase is not case sensitive. ## Functions & Options {#Functions_Options} You can use the following functions and query target options in the `FIND` clause. For full technical details, see the [VQL Functions & Options](/vql/functions-options) reference. ### Refining Search Scope {#Refining_Search_Scope} These options control which fields or content are searched. | Name | Goal | API Version | | --- | --- | --- | | [`SCOPE ALL`](/vql/functions-options/find-scopes-distance/scope-all) | Search all fields and document content. | v8.0+ | | [`SCOPE CONTENT`](/vql/functions-options/find-scopes-distance/scope-content) | Search document content only. | v8.0+ | | [`SCOPE {fields}`](/vql/functions-options/find-scopes-distance/scope-fields) | Search one specific document field or up to 25 object fields. | v15.0+ | | [`SCOPE PROPERTIES`](/vql/functions-options/find-scopes-distance/scope-properties) | Search all picklists and text-based fields (default scope). | v8.0+ | ### Advanced Matching {#Advanced_Matching} These functions and options provide more granular control over search results. | Name | Goal | API Version | | --- | --- | --- | | [`DISTANCE`](/vql/functions-options/find-scopes-distance/distance) | Enable fuzzy search with an edit distance of up to 2. | v26.1+ | | [`FILENAME()`](/vql/functions-options/attachment-field-functions) | Search by Attachment file name instead of file handle. | v24.3+ | ## Operators {#Operators} You can use the following [logical operators](/vql/operators/logical-operators) in the `FIND` clause: | Name | Syntax | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | [`AND`](/vql/operators/logical-operators#AND) | `FIND ('{v1} AND {v2}')` | All terms in the search string must match. | | [`NOT`](/vql/operators/logical-operators#NOT) | `FIND (NOT '{phrase}')` | Results must not match the specified search string. | | [`OR`](/vql/operators/logical-operators#OR) | `FIND ('{v1} OR {v2}')` | At least one term in the search string must match. | ## Query Examples {#Query_Examples} The following are examples of queries using `FIND`. ### Query: Find Documents with a Search Term Match {#Query_Find_Documents_with_a_Search_Term_Match} The following query returns the latest version of all documents that contain the search term *insulin* (case insensitive): ``` SELECT id, name__v FROM documents FIND ('insulin') ``` ### Response {#Response} ``` { "responseStatus": "SUCCESS", "responseDetails": { "find": "('insulin')", "pagesize": 1000, "pageoffset": 0, "size": 3, "total": 3 }, "data": [ { "id": 200, "name__v": "Test Doc Nyaxa Insulin" }, { "id": 198, "name__v": "Test Doc Diabetes Insulin" }, { "id": 197, "name__v": "Test Doc Nyaxa Diabetes Insulin" } ] } ``` ### Query: Find Objects with a Search Term Match {#Query_Find_Objects_with_a_Search_Term_Match} The following query returns the ID, compound ID, and abbreviation of all *Product* records that contain the search term *cc* in one or more fields (case insensitive): ``` SELECT id, compound_id__c, abbreviation__c FROM product__v FIND ('cc') ``` ### Response {#Response} ``` { "responseStatus": "SUCCESS", "responseDetails": { "find": "('cc')", "pagesize": 1000, "pageoffset": 0, "size": 2, "total": 2 }, "data": [ { "id": "00P000000000302", "compound_id__c": "CC-123", "abbreviation__c": "CC" }, { "id": "00P000000000301", "compound_id__c": "CC-127", "abbreviation__c": null } ] } ``` ### Query: Find Documents with Any Search Term {#Query_Find_Documents_with_Any_Search_Term} To search document fields containing any of the provided search terms, use the `OR` operator between them. ``` SELECT id, name__v FROM documents FIND ('insulin OR diabetes') ``` ### Query: Find Documents with All Search Terms {#Query_Find_Documents_with_All_Search_Terms} To search document fields containing all search terms, use the `AND` operator between each search term. ``` SELECT id, name__v FROM documents FIND ('insulin AND diabetes AND Nyaxa') ``` ### Query: Find Documents with an Exact Search Term Match {#Query_Find_Documents_with_an_Exact_Search_Term_Match} To search for an exact match, enclose the string in double quotes within the single quotes. ``` SELECT id, name__v FROM documents FIND ('"blood sugar"') ``` ### Query: Find Documents Using Strict Matching {#Query_Find_Documents_Using_Strict_Matching} A `FIND` search phrase without operators uses [strict matching](/vql/references/search-specifications/search-operators-evaluation#Strict_Matching_Using_Operators_with_FIND). ``` SELECT id, name__v FROM documents FIND ('insulin diabetes gludacta') ``` ### Query: Find Documents with a Partial Search Term Match {#Query_Find_Documents_with_a_Partial_Search_Term_Match} The following query uses the wildcard character (`*`) to retrieve partial matches. ``` SELECT id, name__v FROM documents FIND ('ins* dia* glu*') ``` ### Query: Find Documents Without a Search Term Match {#Query_Find_Documents_Without_a_Search_Term_Match} Use `NOT` with `FIND` to exclude results from a query. ``` SELECT id, name__v FROM documents FIND (NOT 'insulin') ``` ### Query: Search Only Document Content {#Query_Search_Only_Document_Content} The following example uses the [`SCOPE CONTENT`](/vql/functions-options/find-scopes-distance/scope-content) option. ``` SELECT id, name__v FROM documents FIND ('insulin' SCOPE CONTENT) ``` ### Query: Filter Search Results with WHERE {#Query_Filter_Search_Results_with_WHERE} `WHERE` must be placed after the `FIND` clause. ``` SELECT id, name__v FROM product__v FIND ('phosphate' SCOPE generic_name__vs) WHERE therapeutic_area__vs = 'cardiology__vs' ``` ### Query: FIND with Inner Join Subqueries {#Query_FIND_with_Inner_Join_Subqueries} ``` SELECT id, name__v FROM product__v WHERE id IN (SELECT id FROM dosages__vr FIND ('standard' SCOPE name__v)) ``` ### Query: FIND with Outer Join Subquery {#Query_FIND_with_Outer_Join_Subquery} ``` SELECT id, (SELECT id, name__v FROM dosages__vr FIND ('standard' SCOPE name__v)) FROM product__v ``` --- **Previous:** [WHERE](/vql/clauses/where) **Next:** [ORDER BY](/vql/clauses/order-by)