---
title: Perform a basic SQL query
seotitle: Perform a basic SQL query in InfluxDB Cloud
description: >
  A basic SQL query that queries data from InfluxDB most commonly includes
  `SELECT`, `FROM`, and `WHERE` clauses.
menu:
  influxdb3_cloud_serverless:
    name: Basic query
    parent: Query with SQL
    identifier: query-sql-basic
weight: 202
influxdb3/cloud-serverless/tags: [query, sql]
list_code_example: |
  ```sql
  SELECT temp, room FROM home WHERE time >= now() - INTERVAL '1 day'
  ```
---

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:

{{< req type="key" >}}

- {{< req "\*">}} `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.
- {{< req "\*">}} `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.

{{% influxdb/custom-timestamps %}}
```sql
SELECT
  temp,
  hum,
  room
FROM home
WHERE
  time >= '2022-01-01T08:00:00Z'
  AND time <= '2022-01-01T20:00:00Z'
```
{{% /influxdb/custom-timestamps %}}

## Result set

If at least one row satisfies the query, {{% product-name %}} 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)

> [!Note]
> #### 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.

{{% influxdb/custom-timestamps %}}
```sql
SELECT *
FROM home
WHERE
  time >= '2022-01-01T08:00:00Z'
  AND time <= '2022-01-01T12:00:00Z'
```
{{% /influxdb/custom-timestamps %}}

Query time boundaries can be relative or absolute.

{{< expand-wrapper >}}
{{% expand "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'
```
{{% /expand %}}

{{% expand "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.

{{% influxdb/custom-timestamps %}}
```sql
SELECT
  *
FROM
  home
WHERE
  time >= '2022-01-01T08:00:00Z'
  AND time <= '2022-01-01T20:00:00Z'
```
{{% /influxdb/custom-timestamps %}}

{{% /expand %}}

{{% expand "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.

> [!Note]
> 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.

{{% influxdb/custom-timestamps %}}
```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'
```
{{% /influxdb/custom-timestamps %}}
{{% /expand %}}
{{< /expand-wrapper >}}

### Query data without time boundaries

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

> [!Warning]
> 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
```