However, if you wanted to see all issues that meet all the above criteria or any bug whose title includes the word ‘Critical’ – the basic search won’t be of immediate help. As seen below, a Jira jql query can be broken down into small elements – fields, operators, values, keywords, functions & more. It goes beyond the basic search & lets you dig deeper into the data with advanced features such as operators, functions, customizations & more.
The most simple search feature in Jira is the search box at the top right of your screen. Remember, the best way to learn JQL is by trying it out yourself. So, don’t be afraid to experiment with different queries and see what results you get. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll become with JQL. 4) Function – Retrieves only the true results specified within the function and clause.
Consistent Filter Naming
To view a detailed information about functions and how to use them for advanced searching, check out Functions reference page. To view a detailed information about keywords and how to use them for advanced searching, check out Keywords reference page. To view a detailed information about operators and how to use them for advanced searching, check out Operators reference page.
So more often than not, you will work with your colleagues in there. That’s where the workload of creating various JQL queries can be distributed amongst the team. This makes it easy to find the exact issues you are looking for, no matter how complex your search criteria may be. For a complete reference, check out our help docs on advanced searching. I recommend bookmarking this link – I find myself returning to it often to look up obscure queries. The docs page has a lot of content, so it’s helpful to do a “Ctrl/Cmd + F” so you can jump directly to a specific topic or keyword of interest.
Switch between basic and advanced search
To view a detailed information about fields and how to use them for advanced searching, check out Fields reference page. This query will return all resolved issues from the Teams in Space project (clauses grouped by AND), and also all existing issues assigned to captainjoe. This query will find all issues in the TEST project where the assignee is the currently logged in user. It uses the project field, the EQUALS operator, the value TEST,the AND keyword and the currentUser() function. The “IN” operator is used to search for issues where the value of the specified field is one of multiple specified values. The values are specified as a comma-delimited list, surrounded by parentheses.
If you used parentheses like in the following example, they wouldn’t have any effect, because the clauses enclosed in parentheses were already connected by AND. This query would return the same results with or without the parentheses. You can set precedence in your JQL queries by using parentheses.
A JQL Tutorial: Putting it All Together
We also discussed the advantages of advanced search over basic search, highlighting its precision and flexibility. The advanced search allows you to build structured queries using the Jira Query Language (JQL) to search for issues. You can specify criteria that cannot be defined in the quick or basic searches. For example, you can use the ORDER BY clause to sort Jira issues either in descending or ascending order or narrow down your search results for the desired date range.
These words need to be surrounded by quotation marks (single or double) if you wish to use them in queries. Once you end up with several filters, it’s important to use a consistent naming nomenclature. However, there are many more features that will save you even more time and hassle.
Practical Examples of Advanced JQL Queries
Whether you are a project manager trying to track the progress of your team, or a developer looking for issues to work on, JQL can help you find the information that you need. If you find yourself needing to search the same query on a regular basis, you can save it for later use. On the other hand, JQL sorting will allow you to order the list of returned issues in a specific manner using the keyword “ORDER BY”. A function is a pre-made command that users can plug into their query to return certain values.
A number of JQL fields are particularly useful for project tracking. Jira JQL functions are especially powerful when combined with the other elements of JQL. Then you will get all resolved items from the Planning project as well as all resolved items assigned to Francis. You can then click on one of the suggested operators to continue building your JQL query. Each keyword has a specific meaning that further narrows the search, like “AND” and “OR”.
Developers: it’s time to REST
Again, we can set up multiple conditions joined by the AND keyword. Effective project management requires specific metrics from the issue tracker relevant to your project. In general, a query created using basic search will be able to be translated to advanced search, and back again. However, sometimes a query created using an advanced search may not be able to be translated into a basic search. The “WAS NOT IN” operator is used to search for issues where the value of the specified field has never been one of multiple specified values.
- That is, it is used to search for issues where the specified field has no value.
- This query would return resolved issues that either belong to the Teams in Space project or are assigned to captainjoe.
- As we have seen above, JQL is a powerful tool with a vast array of functions, operators, and keywords.
- JQL is also getting better, especially ever after the Jira 8.0 release.
Explore the realm of the project management course offered by Skillcubator. With our expert-led instructions, you can master project management using Jira software. However, as the number of projects and boards grows, it becomes jira query language increasingly challenging to navigate through the vast sea of issues. With Jira, the go-to project management tool trusted by countless organizations worldwide, you can streamline workflows and improve productivity.
How Does Jira Help in Project Management?
Advanced JQL usage often involves combining multiple conditions within a single query. You can do this using logical operators such as ‘AND’, ‘OR’, and ‘NOT’. Operators are the link between fields and values in a JQL query. The fields you can use in your JQL queries will depend on your Jira configuration and the specific fields available in your instance. Mastering JQL is the key that unlocks the hidden vaults of productivity and efficiency within Jira, propelling your project management endeavors to unprecedented heights. JQL empowers you to cut through the noise in a landscape brimming with countless boards and issues, swiftly extracting the precise information you seek.
