# Update ops: doc\_as\_upsert vs upsert properties **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [October 25, 2013, 8:14am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/update-ops-doc-as-upsert-vs-upsert-properties/14108 "2013-10-25T08:14:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TheDeveloper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@TheDeveloper](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/TheDeveloper)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 8:14am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/update-ops-doc-as-upsert-vs-upsert-properties/14108/1 "2013-10-25T08:14:14Z")
What's the difference between doc\_as\_upsert and upsert properties for updates? Documentation at [http://www.elasticsearch.org/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/docs-update.html](http://www.elasticsearch.org/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/docs-update.html) seems to describe the same behaviour in different ways: that they update the given properties in the document if it exists in the index, or are indexed as the document if not. 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:** [October 25, 2013, 11:50am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/update-ops-doc-as-upsert-vs-upsert-properties/14108/2 "2013-10-25T11:50:52Z")
upsert is usually used to pass an initial doc when you're using scripts to update. doc\_as\_upsert is used when you're updating using a partial doc. it saves you from passing the doc twice: one as `doc` and once as `upsert` clint On 25 October 2013 10:14, Geoff Wagstaff [geoff@gosquared.com](mailto:geoff@gosquared.com) wrote: > What's the difference between doc\_as\_upsert and upsert properties for > updates? > > Documentation at > [Elasticsearch Platform — Find real-time answers at scale | Elastic](http://www.elasticsearch.org/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/docs-update.htmlseems) to describe the same behaviour in different ways: that they update > the given properties in the document if it exists in the index, or are > indexed as the document if not. > > 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:** ![TheDeveloper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@TheDeveloper](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/TheDeveloper)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 12:41pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/update-ops-doc-as-upsert-vs-upsert-properties/14108/3 "2013-10-25T12:41:38Z")
Hey Clint, thanks for the response. So when updating, upsert can only be used in conjunction with a script? And for when you don't need a script you place your doc properties to upsert as doc and set doc\_as\_upsert: true? Geoff On Friday, October 25, 2013 12:50:52 PM UTC+1, Clinton Gormley wrote: > upsert is usually used to pass an initial doc when you're using scripts to > update. > > doc\_as\_upsert is used when you're updating using a partial doc. it saves > you from passing the doc twice: one as `doc` and once as `upsert` > > clint > > On 25 October 2013 10:14, Geoff Wagstaff \<[ge...@gosquared.com](mailto:ge...@gosquared.com)\ > > > wrote: > > > What's the difference between doc\_as\_upsert and upsert properties for > > updates? > > > > Documentation at > > [Elasticsearch Platform — Find real-time answers at scale | Elastic](http://www.elasticsearch.org/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/docs-update.htmlseems) to describe the same behaviour in different ways: that they update > > the given properties in the document if it exists in the index, or are > > indexed as the document if not. > > > > 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 [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, 2:10am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/update-ops-doc-as-upsert-vs-upsert-properties/14108/4 "2017-07-06T02:10:36Z")