# Alias for Type

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/alias-for-type/12040>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [May 20, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/alias-for-type/12040 "2013-05-20T15:45:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 5

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**Author:** ![simonw\_2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/simonw_2/32/1130_2.png) [@simonw\_2](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/simonw_2)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 7:24am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/alias-for-type/12040/5 "2013-05-21T07:24:14Z")

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While I agree with the category Idea I think the main problem here is not  
implementing the functionality but rather testing it throughout the  
application. Something like this spreads everywhere and must be supported  
everywhere. Like we support type in the URL but also in some queries like  
`top_children` etc. as long as there is not usecase that you can't build  
easily in the app layer I'd rather stay away from adding this. aka. not  
worth the trouble?

simon

On Monday, May 20, 2013 11:51:53 PM UTC+2, InquiringMind wrote:

> Just a thought: Add a category field to each document and add one or more  
> categories to a query along with the subtypes.
> 
> On Monday, May 20, 2013 5:40:41 PM UTC-4, Benjamin Sanders wrote:
> 
> > Hi Simon,
> > 
> > The need is pretty similar to the need for aliases on indexes. I am  
> > building an API for looking up and searching products by company and  
> > category. I am using the company name as the index name, and the category  
> > name as the type name. This makes some sense as most of the products in any  
> > given category have very similar types of data. What I need is a way to  
> > have subcategories pre-defined as a subset of a given type, and/or cross  
> > category searching via a supercategory name, but always within a given  
> > company (index).
> > 
> > Also, how large of a task do you think it would be to add this  
> > functionality? I am familiar with Java and not averse to helping out with  
> > the project. I assume I should submit some bug-fixes first  
> > to acquaint myself with the codebase, but it is conceivable that I might  
> > contribute this type of functionality if it would be welcomed.
> > 
> > - Ben
> > 
> > On Monday, May 20, 2013 3:22:21 PM UTC-5, simonw wrote:
> > 
> > > There is nothing in the pipeline for this. Can you elaborate why you  
> > > want this a bit more. I am trying to understand the need for it more.
> > > 
> > > thanks,
> > > 
> > > simon  
> > > On Monday, May 20, 2013 5:45:23 PM UTC+2, Benjamin Sanders wrote:
> > > 
> > > > I have seen several requests for the ability to alias types as opposed  
> > > > to only aliasing the indexes. I too would love to see this feature. Is this  
> > > > a feature that is supported and I somehow missed it? Is it in the plans for  
> > > > a future version of elasticsearch?
> > > > 
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > 
> > > > - Ben

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