# Field null\_value doesn't seem to have any effect? **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [February 6, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/field-null-value-doesnt-seem-to-have-any-effect/22015 "2015-02-06T15:32:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AS\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/46a35a/32.png) [@AS\_2](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/AS_2)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/field-null-value-doesnt-seem-to-have-any-effect/22015/1 "2015-02-06T15:32:14Z")
Hello, I've configured the null\_value of a field, as below. But when I do a query, the documents that lack a barfield, don't return the value "0" for the 'barfield' as expected. What could be the reason? ``` "foo": { "properties": { "barfield": { "type": "long", "store" : true, "null_value" : 0 }, } ``` Regards, AS. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). To view this discussion on the web visit [https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/509da3e8-0f77-473d-b8e7-becd835f5221%40googlegroups.com](https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/509da3e8-0f77-473d-b8e7-becd835f5221%40googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Gallego](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/michael_gallego/32/933_2.png) [@Michael\_Gallego](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Michael_Gallego)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 3:41pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/field-null-value-doesnt-seem-to-have-any-effect/22015/2 "2015-02-06T15:41:01Z")
The null\_value is not used as a "default value", but as a value to used when doing searching or aggregations. For instance, in your mapping, your document will match if you have a filter like this: ['term' =\> ['barfield' =\> 0]], however it won't return the barfield property if it is null. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). To view this discussion on the web visit [https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/8a652e81-2b87-4857-a06c-c522c0fa7bc4%40googlegroups.com](https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/8a652e81-2b87-4857-a06c-c522c0fa7bc4%40googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). ---
**Author:** ![AS\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/46a35a/32.png) [@AS\_2](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/AS_2)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 3:48pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/field-null-value-doesnt-seem-to-have-any-effect/22015/3 "2015-02-06T15:48:23Z")
Ah, that explains it. Thx. How can I configure / simulate a default\_value for this field? /AS On Friday, February 6, 2015 at 4:41:01 PM UTC+1, Michaël Gallego wrote: > The null\_value is not used as a "default value", but as a value to used > when doing searching or aggregations. > > For instance, in your mapping, your document will match if you have a > filter like this: ['term' =\> ['barfield' =\> 0]], however it won't return > the barfield property if it is null. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). To view this discussion on the web visit [https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/3b7d8f0b-f8c6-471f-a8bf-c94346603fad%40googlegroups.com](https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/3b7d8f0b-f8c6-471f-a8bf-c94346603fad%40googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). ---
**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:** [February 6, 2015, 4:06pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/field-null-value-doesnt-seem-to-have-any-effect/22015/4 "2015-02-06T16:06:56Z")
Just adding to the previous answer that elasticsearch does not modify the \_source doc. -- David 😉 Twitter : @dadoonet / @elasticsearchfr / @scrutmydocs > Le 6 févr. 2015 à 16:32, AS \*@equanimity.nl a écrit : > > Hello, > > I've configured the null\_value of a field, as below. But when I do a query, the documents that lack a barfield, don't return the value "0" for the 'barfield' as expected. What could be the reason? > > ``` > "foo": { > "properties": { > "barfield": { > "type": "long", > "store" : true, > "null_value" : 0 > }, > } > > ``` > > Regards, > > AS. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). > To view this discussion on the web visit [https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/509da3e8-0f77-473d-b8e7-becd835f5221%40googlegroups.com](https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/509da3e8-0f77-473d-b8e7-becd835f5221%40googlegroups.com). > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). To view this discussion on the web visit [https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/F4EFA1AC-EAE4-4124-944F-3A81E08465B6%40pilato.fr](https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/F4EFA1AC-EAE4-4124-944F-3A81E08465B6%40pilato.fr). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 12:34am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/field-null-value-doesnt-seem-to-have-any-effect/22015/5 "2017-07-06T00:34:26Z")