A query expression allows you to search for specific zettel and to perform some actions on them.
You may select zettel based on a list of [[zettel identifier|00001006050000]], based on a query directive, based on a full-text search, based on specific metadata values, or some or all of them.

A query expression consists of an optional __[[zettel identifier list|00001007710000]]__, zero or more __[[query directives|00001007720000]]__, an optional __[[search expression|00001007701000]]__, and an optional __[[action list|00001007770000]]__.
The latter two are separated by a vertical bar character (""''|''"", U+007C).

A query expression follows a [[formal syntax|00001007780000]].
* [[List of zettel identifier|00001007710000]]
* [[Query directives|00001007720000]]
** [[Context directive|00001007720300]]
** [[Ident directive|00001007720600]]
** [[Items directive|00001007720900]]
** [[Unlinked directive|00001007721200]]
* [[Search expression|00001007701000]]
** [[Search term|00001007702000]]
** [[Search operator|00001007705000]]
** [[Search value|00001007706000]]
* [[Action list|00001007770000]]
Here are [[some examples|00001007790000]], which can be used to manage a Zettelstore:
|=Query Expression|=Meaning
|[[role:configuration|query:role:configuration]]|Zettel that contains some configuration data for the Zettelstore
|[[ORDER REVERSE created LIMIT 40|query:ORDER REVERSE created LIMIT 40]]|40 recently created zettel
|[[ORDER REVERSE published LIMIT 40|query:ORDER REVERSE published LIMIT 40]]|40 recently updated zettel
|[[PICK 40|query:PICK 40]]|40 random zettel, ordered by zettel identifier
|[[dead?|query:dead?]]|Zettel with invalid / dead links
|[[backward!? precursor!?|query:backward!? precursor!?]]|Zettel that are not referenced by other zettel
|[[tags!?|query:tags!?]]|Zettel without tags
|[[expire? ORDER expire|query:expire? ORDER expire]]|Zettel with an expire date, ordered from the nearest to the latest
|[[00001007700000 CONTEXT|query:00001007700000 CONTEXT]]|Zettel within the context of the [[given zettel|00001007700000]]
|[[PICK 1 | REDIRECT|query:PICK 1 | REDIRECT]]|Redirect to a random zettel