# Custom query

**URL:** <https://community.silverbullet.md/t/custom-query/3806>\
**Category:** Tricks & Techniques\
**Created:** [January 28, 2026, 12:00am UTC](https://community.silverbullet.md/t/custom-query/3806 "2026-01-28T00:00:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bau](https://community.silverbullet.md/user_avatar/community.silverbullet.md/bau/32/2597_2.png) [@bau](https://community.silverbullet.md/u/bau)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 12:00am UTC](https://community.silverbullet.md/t/custom-query/3806/1 "2026-01-28T00:00:37Z")

</div>

Rather than using the usual syntax to execute a query, it’s possible to **directly call** the `index.queryLuaObjects` function associated with `lua.parseExpression`. This will allow you to **program the where clause** and, if necessary, pass **variables** as parameters. The result can then be processed with `js.tolua`.

> **Syntax and structure**
>
> The syntax for queryLuaObjects function is:
> 
> ```
> function queryLuaObjects(
> tag: string,
> query: LuaCollectionQuery,
> scopedVariables?: Record<string, any>,
> ttlSecs?: number,
> )
> 
> ```
> 
> > **note** `scopedVariables`: variables to inject into the Lua environment  
> > Variables injected via `scopeVariables` are available throughout the LIQ expression. This approach works for any collection, not just the index. Variables can be of any supported JavaScript/Lua type
> 
> The structure of a `LuaCollectionQuery` is:
> 
> ```
> LuaCollectionQuery = {
> objectVariable?: string; // Variable name for each element (default is: _)
> where?: LuaExpression; // Filter condition
> orderBy?: LuaOrderBy[]; // Sorting criteria (array of LuaOrderBy objects)
> select?: LuaExpression; // Projection of results
> limit?: number; // Maximum number of results
> offset?: number; // Offset for paging
> distinct?: boolean; // Eliminate duplicates
> };
> 
> ```
> 
> These fields accept `LuaExpression` which can be created with `lua.parseExpression`. The function parses a character string containing a Lua expression and returns its AST (Abstract Syntax Tree).
> 
> > **note** The `LuaExpression` type can represent any valid Lua expression  
> > Expressions have access to injected variables via `scopedVariables` (see: queryLuaObjects()).

> **Complete example**
>
> local results = index.queryLuaObjects(“page”, {  
> objectVariable = “p”,  
> where = lua.parseExpression(“p.lastModified \> minDate and string.contains(p.name, searchTerm)”),  
> orderBy = {  
> { expr = lua.parseExpression(“p.lastModified”), desc = true },  
> { expr = lua.parseExpression(“p.name”), desc = false }  
> },  
> select = lua.parseExpression(“{ name = p.name, modified = p.lastModified }”),  
> limit = 10,  
> distinct = true  
> }, {  
> minDate = “2025-01-01”,  
> searchTerm = “project”  
> })

Then, `js.tolua` converts the JavaScript value to its Lua equivalent (the same as with query).

This technique is used in **Task Explorer** ’s built-in queryer.  
To see a list of examples and test how it works on tasks, you can take a look here:

> [@Task Explorer revisited!](https://community.silverbullet.md/t/task-explorer-revisited/3805):
>
> The revisited tool benefits from an optimized interface and advanced querying functionalities. Some illustrations: [05] Main features :sparkles:List view displays the list of tasks every task is displayed on several lines: applies the css rules used in markdown pages show a tooltip with the original text of the task and the itags open the original task page in the main editor OR in a separate window :sparkles:Task update :sparkles:List mani…