geode-docs/developing/query_index/query_index_hints.html.md.erb

---
title:  Using Query Index Hints
---

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You can use the hint keyword to allow <%=vars.product_name%>'s query engine to prefer certain indexes.

In cases where one index is hinted in a query, the query engine filters off the hinted index (if possible) and then iterates and filters from the resulting values.

**Example:**

``` pre
<HINT 'IDIndex'> SELECT * FROM /Portfolios p WHERE p.ID > 10 AND p.owner = 'XYZ'
```

If multiple indexes are added as hints, then the query engine will try to use as many indexes as possible while giving a preference for the hinted indexes.

**Example:**

``` pre
<HINT 'IDIndex', 'OwnerIndex'> SELECT * FROM /Portfolios p WHERE p.ID > 10 AND p.owner = 'XYZ' AND p.value < 100
```