Common Query Language

Common Query Language or contextual query language (CQL) is a formal language for representing queries to information retrieval systems such as search engines, bibliographic catalogs and museum collection information. Based on the semantics of Z39.50, its design objective is that queries be human readable and writable, and that the language be intuitive while maintaining the expressiveness of more complex query languages. It is being developed and maintained by the Z39.50 Maintenance Agency, part of the Library of Congress.

Examples of query syntax

Simple queries:

dinosaur "complete dinosaur" title = "complete dinosaur" title exact "the complete dinosaur"

Queries using Boolean logic:

dinosaur or bird dinosaur and "ice age" dinosaur not reptile dinosaur and bird or dinobird (bird or dinosaur) and (feathers or scales) "feathered dinosaur" and (yixian or jehol)

Queries accessing publication indexes:

publicationYear < 1980 lengthOfFemur > 2.4 bioMass >= 100

Queries based on the proximity of words to each other in a document:

ribs prox/distance<=5 chevrons ribs prox/unit=sentence chevrons ribs prox/distance>0/unit=paragraph chevrons

Queries across multiple dimensions:

date within "2002 2005" dateRange encloses 2003

Queries based on relevance:

subject any/relevant "fish frog" subject any/rel.lr "fish frog"

The latter example specifies using a specific algorithm for linear regression.

External links

* [http://www.loc.gov/standards/sru/specs/cql.html CQL home page]
* [http://www.loc.gov/z3950/agency/ Z39.50 Maintenance Agency]
* [http://zing.z3950.org/cql/intro.html A Gentle Introduction to CQL]