Find a row (HTTP)

For details about additional languages, see:

Finds a single row in a table using filter and sort clauses, including vector search.

For general information about working with tables and rows, see About tables with the Data API (HTTP).

Ready to write code? See the examples for this method to get started.

Result

Returns a dictionary representation of a row that matches the specified filter and sort clauses, or returns null if no row was found.

The columns included in the returned row depend on the subset of columns that were requested in the projection. If requested and applicable, the row will also include a $similarity key with a numeric similarity score that represents the closeness of the sort vector and the row’s vector. The response omits any columns with null values, regardless of the projection.

Example response:

{
  "data": {
    "document": {
      "_id": 101,
      "name": "John Doe",
      "$vector": [0.12, 0.52, 0.32]
    }
  }
}

Example null response:

{
  "data": {
    "document": null
  }
}

Parameters

Use the findOne command.

Command signature

curl -sS -L -X POST "API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/KEYSPACE_NAME/TABLE_NAME" \
--header "Token: APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
--header "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data '{
  "findOne": {
    "filter": FILTER,
    "sort": SORT,
    "projection": PROJECTION,
    "options": {
      "includeSimilarity": BOOLEAN
    }
  }
}'

For best performance, filter and sort on indexed columns, partition keys, and clustering keys.

Filtering on non-indexed columns is inefficient and resource-intensive, especially for large datasets. With the Data API clients, such operations can hit the client timeout limit before the underlying HTTP operation is complete. If you filter on non-indexed columns, the Data API will give a warning.

An empty filter or omitted filter may also result in an inefficient and long-running operation.

Additionally, the Data API can perform in-memory sorting, depending on the columns you sort on, the table’s partitioning structure, and whether the sorted columns are indexed. In-memory sorts can have performance implications.

Name Type Summary

Name	Type	Summary
`filter`	`object`	Optional. An object that defines filter criteria using the Data API filter syntax. The method only finds rows that match the filter criteria. Filters can improve performance by reducing the number of rows that the Data API processes. For a list of available filter operators and more examples, see Filter operators for tables (HTTP). To perform a vector search, use `sort` instead of `filter`. To avoid fetching unnecessary rows, which can contain tombstones, DataStax recommends that you use a filter that limits the number of rows scanned. For example, filter on partition key columns or indexed columns. Default: No filter For an example, see Use filters to find a row.
`sort`	`object`	Optional. Sorts rows by one or more columns, or performs a vector search. For more information, see Sort clauses for tables (HTTP). For examples, see Use sorting to find a row, Use vector search with a search vector to find a row, and Use vector search with a search string to find a row.
`projection`	`object`	Optional. Controls which columns are included or excluded in the returned rows. For more information, see Projections for tables (HTTP). DataStax recommends a projection to avoid unnecessarily returning large columns, such as `vector` columns with highly dimensional embeddings. Default: All columns For examples, see Include only specific columns in the response and Exclude specific columns from the response.
`options.includeSimilarity`	`boolean`	Optional. Whether to include a `$similarity` property in the response. The `$similarity` value represents the closeness of the sort vector and the row’s vector. This parameter only applies if you use a vector search. If you use a projection and you set the `includeSimilarity` parameter to `true` for a vector search, you must manually include `$similarity` in the type of the returned rows. Default: false For an example, see Include the similarity score with the result.

filter

object

Optional. An object that defines filter criteria using the Data API filter syntax. The method only finds rows that match the filter criteria. Filters can improve performance by reducing the number of rows that the Data API processes.

For a list of available filter operators and more examples, see Filter operators for tables (HTTP).

To perform a vector search, use sort instead of filter.

To avoid fetching unnecessary rows, which can contain tombstones, DataStax recommends that you use a filter that limits the number of rows scanned. For example, filter on partition key columns or indexed columns.

Default: No filter

For an example, see Use filters to find a row.

sort

object

Optional. Sorts rows by one or more columns, or performs a vector search.

For more information, see Sort clauses for tables (HTTP).

For examples, see Use sorting to find a row, Use vector search with a search vector to find a row, and Use vector search with a search string to find a row.

projection

object

Optional. Controls which columns are included or excluded in the returned rows.

For more information, see Projections for tables (HTTP).

DataStax recommends a projection to avoid unnecessarily returning large columns, such as vector columns with highly dimensional embeddings.

Default: All columns

For examples, see Include only specific columns in the response and Exclude specific columns from the response.

options.includeSimilarity

boolean

Optional. Whether to include a $similarity property in the response. The $similarity value represents the closeness of the sort vector and the row’s vector.

This parameter only applies if you use a vector search.

If you use a projection and you set the includeSimilarity parameter to true for a vector search, you must manually include $similarity in the type of the returned rows.

Default: false

For an example, see Include the similarity score with the result.

Examples

The following examples demonstrate how to find a row in a table.

Use filters to find a row

You can use a filter to find a row that matches specific criteria. For example, you can find a row with an is_checked_out value of false and a number_of_pages value less than 300.

For optimal performance, only filter on indexed columns. The Data API returns a warning if you filter on a non-indexed column.

For a list of available filter operators, see Filter operators for tables (HTTP).

curl -sS -L -X POST "API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/KEYSPACE_NAME/TABLE_NAME" \
  --header "Token: APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
  --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --data '{
  "findOne": {
    "filter": {"$and": [
      {"is_checked_out": false},
      {"number_of_pages": {"$lt": 300}}
    ]}
  }
}'

Use vector search with a search vector to find a row

Perform a vector search by providing a search vector in the sort clause. This returns the row whose vector column value is most similar to the provided search vector.

The vector column must be indexed.

If your table has multiple vector columns, you can only sort on one vector column at a time.

You can provide the search vector as an array of floats, or you can use $binary to provide the search vector as a Base64-encoded string. $binary can be more performant.

For more information about how to convert an array of floats to a Base64-encoded string, see BLOB type (HTTP).

Array of floats
$binary

curl -sS -L -X POST "API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/KEYSPACE_NAME/TABLE_NAME" \
  --header "Token: APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
  --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --data '{
  "findOne": {
    "sort": { "summary_genres_vector": [0.08, -0.62, 0.39] }
  }
}'

curl -sS -L -X POST "API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/KEYSPACE_NAME/TABLE_NAME" \
  --header "Token: APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
  --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --data '{
  "findOne": {
    "sort": { "summary_genres_vector": {"$binary": "PaPXCr8euFI+x64U"} }
  }
}'

Use vector search with a search string to find a row

Perform a vector search by providing a search string in the sort clause. The search string is converted to a search vector, and the row whose vector column value is most similar to the search vector is returned.

The vector column must have an embedding provider integration. You can configure embedding provider integrations when you create a table, add a vector column to an existing table, or alter an existing vector column. The vector column must be indexed.

If your table has multiple vector columns, you can only sort on one vector column at a time.

curl -sS -L -X POST "API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/KEYSPACE_NAME/TABLE_NAME" \
  --header "Token: APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
  --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --data '{
  "findOne": {
    "sort": { "summary_genres_vector": "Text to vectorize" }
  }
}'

Use lexicographical matching to find a row

Lexicographical matching is currently in public preview. Development is ongoing, and the features and functionality are subject to change. Astra DB Serverless, and the use of such, is subject to the DataStax Preview Terms.

There are two ways to use lexicographical matching to find rows with the Data API:

Sort to find rows with a text or ascii column value that is most relevant to a given string of space-separated keywords or terms.
Filter with the $match operator to find rows with a text or ascii column value that is a lexicographical match to the specified string of space-separated keywords or terms

You can use these strategies together or separately.

Lexicographical matching is only available for text or ascii columns that have a text index, not a regular index. For more information, see Create a text index (HTTP) and Indexes in tables (HTTP).

curl -sS -L -X POST "API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/KEYSPACE_NAME/TABLE_NAME" \
  --header "Token: APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
  --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --data '{
  "findOne": {
    "filter": {
      "summary": {"$match": "futuristic laboratory discovery"}
    },
    "sort": { 
      "summary": "futuristic laboratory"
    }
  }
}'

Use sorting to find a row

You can use a sort clause to sort rows by one or more columns.

For best performance, only sort on columns that are indexed or that are part of the primary key.

For more information, see Sort clauses for tables (HTTP).

curl -sS -L -X POST "API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/KEYSPACE_NAME/TABLE_NAME" \
  --header "Token: APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
  --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --data '{
  "findOne": {
    "filter": { "is_checked_out": false },
    "sort": {
      "rating": 1,
      "title": -1
    }
  }
}'

Include the similarity score with the result

If you use a vector search to find a row, you can also include a $similarity property in the result. The $similarity value represents the closeness of the sort vector and the value of the row’s vector column.

This parameter doesn’t work with vectorize; it only works if you provide the search vector for vector search directly.

curl -sS -L -X POST "API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/KEYSPACE_NAME/TABLE_NAME" \
  --header "Token: APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
  --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --data '{
  "findOne": {
    "sort": { "summary_genres_vector": [0.08, -0.62, 0.39] },
    "options": { "includeSimilarity": true }
  }
}'

Include only specific columns in the response

To specify which columns to include or exclude in the returned row, use a projection.

The following example demonstrates an inclusive projection.

curl -sS -L -X POST "API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/KEYSPACE_NAME/TABLE_NAME" \
  --header "Token: APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
  --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --data '{
  "findOne": {
    "filter": {"number_of_pages": {"$lt": 300}},
    "projection": {"is_checked_out": true, "title": true}
  }
}'

Exclude specific columns from the response

To specify which columns to include or exclude in the returned row, use a projection.

The following example demonstrates an exclusive projection.

curl -sS -L -X POST "API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/KEYSPACE_NAME/TABLE_NAME" \
  --header "Token: APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
  --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --data '{
  "findOne": {
    "filter": {"number_of_pages": {"$lt": 300}},
    "projection": {"is_checked_out": false, "title": false}
  }
}'

Use filter, sort, and projection together

curl -sS -L -X POST "API_ENDPOINT/api/json/v1/KEYSPACE_NAME/TABLE_NAME" \
  --header "Token: APPLICATION_TOKEN" \
  --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --data '{
  "findOne": {
    "filter": {"$and": [
      {"is_checked_out": false},
      {"number_of_pages": {"$lt": 300}}
    ]},
    "sort": {
      "rating": 1,
      "title": -1
    },
    "projection": {"is_checked_out": true, "title": true}
  }
}'

Find a row (HTTP)

Result

Parameters

Examples

Use filters to find a row

Use vector search with a search vector to find a row

Use vector search with a search string to find a row

Use lexicographical matching to find a row

Use sorting to find a row

Include the similarity score with the result

Include only specific columns in the response

Exclude specific columns from the response

Use filter, sort, and projection together

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