General query syntax

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The Sitecore query syntax leverages the concept of a context item and uses the following symbols to reference related items:

Symbol	Description
/	The root of the content tree or a parent-child relationship.
text	Match by item name.
#	Escape text containing dashes (-) . For example: #meta-data#. It can also be used to escape special words, for example: #and#, #or#.
*	Wildcard, match items of any name.
..	The parent of the context item.
[ ]	Search criteria related to fields and XML element attributes.
@	A field defined in the item’s base template
@@	An XML element attribute, all Sitecore items are treated as “item” elements, which contain the following attributes: name - the item’s name. key - the item’s name in all lower-case characters. id - the item’s GUID. tid - the item’s base template’s GUID. mid - the branch template used to create the item, if any. sortorder - the item’s sort order. template - the item’s base template’s name. parentid - the item’s parent’s GUID.

Combining these symbols references specific items or groups of items. For example:

Sitecore query string	Result set
`/*`	The root of the content tree.
`/sitecore/content/home`	The Sitecore home item.
`/sitecore/content/home/*[startswith(@title,'P')]`	Immediate subitems under the home item that contain a Title field that starts with P.

Sitecore query string	Result set
`*[@ hidden='1']`	All hidden subitems underneath the context item.
`query: //content/#meta- data#/colors/[@show='1']`	A Source field that selects all subitems under the Color item that have the Show check box selected.
`./*[@@tid="{A87A00B1-E6DB-45AB-8B54-636FEC3B5523}"]`	Subitems under the context item based on the Folder template.

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