# Alternative to Source Fields

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/alternative-to-source-fields/96279>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [August 8, 2017, 1:39pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/alternative-to-source-fields/96279 "2017-08-08T13:39:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![imaravin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/imaravin/32/9213_2.png) [@imaravin](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/imaravin)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 1:39pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/alternative-to-source-fields/96279/1 "2017-08-08T13:39:31Z")

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Hi all,  
I have been thinking about a different approach for source field.  
Instead of single source field why can't we store each fields as stored field individually  
So that we can avoid JSON parsing time. As loading of single large field vs multiple small fields doesn't matter I think it will be faster

Am I missing anything

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**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 1:59pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/alternative-to-source-fields/96279/2 "2017-08-08T13:59:02Z")

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You can do that but as soon as you disable `_source` you won't be able to benefit from some features like the `_reindex` API.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![imaravin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/imaravin/32/9213_2.png) [@imaravin](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/imaravin)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 2:03pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/alternative-to-source-fields/96279/3 "2017-08-08T14:03:41Z")

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Thanks

If I write reindex based on stored fields in the documents similar to source, will it be better than \_source field?  
What is the performance gain of storing it as single source field?

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**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/alternative-to-source-fields/96279/4 "2017-08-08T15:03:41Z")

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> [@imaravin](#):
>
> What is the performance gain of storing it as single source field?

I don't know. You want to do this. So you have to test it.  
I'm unsure there is a performance gain TBH but share your findings if any.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/alternative-to-source-fields/96279/5 "2017-09-05T15:03:46Z")

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