# Query missing nested objects along with other filter criteria **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [November 22, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/query-missing-nested-objects-along-with-other-filter-criteria/108801 "2017-11-22T22:02:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Vijay\_arora1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/vijay_arora1/32/13789_2.png) [@Vijay\_arora1](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Vijay_arora1)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/query-missing-nested-objects-along-with-other-filter-criteria/108801/1 "2017-11-22T22:02:18Z")
I have been working on migrating from elastic search 2.2 to 5.x and re-writing the queries. There is one place where I have hit a road block and would really appreciate help. Here is the scenario: We have an index which contains people information like name, gender etc. It contains nested objects like addresses, as 1 person can have multiple address or none at all. The query I am trying to create is to get all the people who have an address.state along with those who do not have an address at all. I am able to get separately everyone who does not have the nested address by using “must\_not” and exists: { "query": { "bool":{ "must\_not" :{"exists":{"field":"address.state"}} } } } And get people who have an address.State = WA or CA by a nested filter query { "query": { "bool": { "filter":[ {"nested":{ "path":" address ", "query":{ "bool": { "filter":[ {"terms":{" address.state ":["WA","CA"]}} ``` ] } } } } ] } ``` } } But not able to join both into 1 query, to get all who do not have the nested address or have an address in WA/CA { "query": { ``` "bool":{ "filter":[ {"nested":{"path":"test-degree", "query":{ "bool": {"filter":[ {"terms":{" address.state ":["WA","CA"]}}, ] , "must_not" :{"exists":{"field":" address.state"}} } } } } ] } } ``` } ---
**Author:** ![abdon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/abdon/32/9195_2.png) [@abdon](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/abdon)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/query-missing-nested-objects-along-with-other-filter-criteria/108801/2 "2017-11-23T19:01:06Z")
There are several things going on here: - That first `exists` query is not a nested query. I'm sure it needs to be, if you want to query for `address.state` - Your `bool` query uses a `filter`. You can think of a filter like an "AND": all clauses inside the filter clause must match for a document to be returned as a hit. I think what you're trying to do is more like an "OR". In that case, use `should` instead of `filter`. - The queries in your `bool` query are not the same as your first two queries. - I think the nested path `test-degree` needs to be `address` So, let's simplify. If your first query is: ``` { "query": { "nested": { "path": "address", "query": { "bool": { "must_not": { "exists": { "field": "address.state" } } } } } } } ``` And the second (no need to wrap it in a filter): ``` { "query": { "nested": { "path": "address", "query": { "bool": { "filter": [ { "terms": { "address.state": [ "WA", "CA" ] } } ] } } } } } ``` Then you can combine them in a bool like this: ``` { "query": { "bool": { "should": [ { "nested": { "path": "address", "query": { "bool": { "must_not": { "exists": { "field": "address.state" } } } } } }, { "nested": { "path": "address", "query": { "bool": { "filter": [ { "terms": { "address.state": [ "WA", "CA" ] } } ] } } } } ] } } } ``` ---
**Author:** ![Vijay\_arora1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/vijay_arora1/32/13789_2.png) [@Vijay\_arora1](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Vijay_arora1)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/query-missing-nested-objects-along-with-other-filter-criteria/108801/3 "2017-11-27T22:44:37Z")
Thanks for clarifying some of the issues. However if I change the first query to be a nested query with path. It returns zero results. May be because the nested object itself is missing on the parent document. If i execute your final query, it still gives me only documents where address.state in WA or CA and does not returns the records where address is not present. ---
**Author:** ![abdon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/abdon/32/9195_2.png) [@abdon](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/abdon)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 1:42pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/query-missing-nested-objects-along-with-other-filter-criteria/108801/4 "2017-12-01T13:42:05Z")
Aha, I misunderstood and did not realize that your nested objects could be completely missing (I thought you wanted to check for a missing `address.state`). Add a clause to your query that checks for a missing `address` explicitly: ``` { "query": { "bool": { "should": [ { "bool": { "must_not": [ { "nested": { "path": "address", "query": { "exists": { "field": "address" } } } } ] } }, { "nested": { "path": "address", "query": { "bool": { "must_not": [ { "exists": { "field": "address.state" } } ] } } } }, { "nested": { "path": "address", "query": { "bool": { "filter": [ { "terms": { "address.state": [ "WA", "CA" ] } } ] } } } } ] } } } ``` ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 1:42pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/query-missing-nested-objects-along-with-other-filter-criteria/108801/5 "2017-12-29T13:42:16Z")
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