# Special characters in field names **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [February 7, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/special-characters-in-field-names/10658 "2013-02-07T21:49:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ghoumard](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/ghoumard/32/44886_2.png) [@ghoumard](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ghoumard)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/special-characters-in-field-names/10658/1 "2013-02-07T21:49:44Z")
Is there any restriction in using some characters in field names ? Are these names valid ? - "field.name" -"#fieldname" - "@field.name" - "-field.name" Thanks ! -- 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). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/groups/opt\_out](https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out). ---
**Author:** ![Clinton\_Gormley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@Clinton\_Gormley](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Clinton_Gormley)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 10:10am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/special-characters-in-field-names/10658/2 "2013-02-08T10:10:59Z")
On Thu, 2013-02-07 at 13:49 -0800, Gildas Houmard wrote: > Is there any restriction in using some characters in field names ? > > Are these names valid ? > > - "field.name" > -"#fieldname" > - "@field.name" > - "-field.name" I would avoid using embedded '.' as that is used to step into objects, eg { foo: { bar: 1}} could access bar using 'foo.bar' Also, avoid starting a field name with \_ other than that, i think the other characters are legal clint > Thanks ! > > -- > 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). > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/groups/opt\_out](https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out). -- 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). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/groups/opt\_out](https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out). ---
**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 8, 2013, 10:39am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/special-characters-in-field-names/10658/3 "2013-02-08T10:39:09Z")
I add that I would avoid + and - as you can use it in query string query as a must or must not clause. -- David 😉 Twitter : @dadoonet / @elasticsearchfr / @scrutmydocs Le 8 févr. 2013 à 11:10, Clinton Gormley [clint@traveljury.com](mailto:clint@traveljury.com) a écrit : > On Thu, 2013-02-07 at 13:49 -0800, Gildas Houmard wrote: > > > Is there any restriction in using some characters in field names ? > > > > Are these names valid ? > > > > - "field.name" > > -"#fieldname" > > - "@field.name" > > - "-field.name" > > I would avoid using embedded '.' as that is used to step into objects, > eg { foo: { bar: 1}} could access bar using 'foo.bar' > > Also, avoid starting a field name with \_ > > other than that, i think the other characters are legal > > clint > > > Thanks ! > > > > -- > > 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). > > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/groups/opt\_out](https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out). > > -- > 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). > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/groups/opt\_out](https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out). -- 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). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/groups/opt\_out](https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out). ---
**Author:** ![ghoumard](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/ghoumard/32/44886_2.png) [@ghoumard](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ghoumard)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/special-characters-in-field-names/10658/4 "2013-02-08T18:28:30Z")
Make a lot of sense 😃 Thanks Clint and David ! On Friday, February 8, 2013 5:39:09 AM UTC-5, David Pilato wrote: > I add that I would avoid + and - as you can use it in query string query > as a must or must not clause. > > -- > David 😉 > Twitter : @dadoonet / @elasticsearchfr / @scrutmydocs > > Le 8 févr. 2013 à 11:10, Clinton Gormley \<[cl...@traveljury.com](mailto:cl...@traveljury.com)\\> > a écrit : > > > On Thu, 2013-02-07 at 13:49 -0800, Gildas Houmard wrote: > > > > > Is there any restriction in using some characters in field names ? > > > > > > Are these names valid ? > > > > > > - "field.name" > > > -"#fieldname" > > > - "@field.name" > > > - "-field.name" > > > > I would avoid using embedded '.' as that is used to step into objects, > > eg { foo: { bar: 1}} could access bar using 'foo.bar' > > > > Also, avoid starting a field name with \_ > > > > other than that, i think the other characters are legal > > > > clint > > > > > Thanks ! > > > > > > -- > > > 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 [elasticsearc...@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearc...@googlegroups.com) \. > > > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/groups/opt\_out](https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out). > > > > -- > > 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 [elasticsearc...@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearc...@googlegroups.com) \. > > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/groups/opt\_out](https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out). -- 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). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/groups/opt\_out](https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out). ---
**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, 2:52am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/special-characters-in-field-names/10658/5 "2017-07-06T02:52:20Z")