Every [record](/guides/core-concepts-key-terms#record) in an index must contain an ID and a dense or sparse vector. In addition, you can include [metadata key-value pairs](/guides/index-data-indexing-overview#metadata) to store related information or context. When you search the index, you can then include a metadata filter to limit the search to records matching the filter expression. Metadata filtering works the same way on [indexes with a document schema](/guides/index-data-data-modeling#documents), which also support [text-match filters](#text-match-filters) on full-text fields.

## Search with a metadata filter

The following code searches for the 3 records that are most semantically similar to a query and that have a `category` metadata field with the value `digestive system`.

:::::tabs
::::tab{title="Search with text"}
:::callout{intent="note"}
Searching with text is supported only for [indexes with integrated embedding](/guides/index-data-indexing-overview#integrated-embedding).
:::

:::code-group
```python Python theme={null}
from pinecone import Pinecone

pc = Pinecone(api_key="YOUR_API_KEY")

# To get the unique host for an index, 
# see https://docs.pinecone.io/guides/manage-data/target-an-index
index = pc.Index(host="INDEX_HOST")

filtered_results = index.search(
    namespace="example-namespace", 
    query={
        "inputs": {"text": "Disease prevention"}, 
        "top_k": 3,
        "filter": {"category": "digestive system"},
    },
    fields=["category", "chunk_text"]
)

print(filtered_results)
```

```javascript JavaScript theme={null}
import { Pinecone } from '@pinecone-database/pinecone'

const pc = new Pinecone({ apiKey: "YOUR_API_KEY" })

// To get the unique host for an index, 
// see https://docs.pinecone.io/guides/manage-data/target-an-index
const namespace = pc.index("INDEX_NAME", "INDEX_HOST").namespace("example-namespace");

const response = await namespace.searchRecords({
  query: {
    topK: 3,
    inputs: { text: "Disease prevention" },
    filter: { category: "digestive system" }
  },
  fields: ['chunk_text', 'category']
});

console.log(response);
```

```java Java theme={null}
import io.pinecone.clients.Index;
import io.pinecone.configs.PineconeConfig;
import io.pinecone.configs.PineconeConnection;
import org.openapitools.db_data.client.ApiException;
import org.openapitools.db_data.client.model.SearchRecordsResponse;

import java.util.*;

public class SearchText {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws ApiException {
        PineconeConfig config = new PineconeConfig("YOUR_API_KEY");
        // To get the unique host for an index, 
        // see https://docs.pinecone.io/guides/manage-data/target-an-index
        config.setHost("INDEX_HOST");
        PineconeConnection connection = new PineconeConnection(config);

        Index index = new Index(config, connection, "integrated-dense-java");

        String query = "Disease prevention";
        List<String> fields = new ArrayList<>();
        fields.add("category");
        fields.add("chunk_text");

        Map<String, Object> filter = new HashMap<>();
        filter.put("category", "digestive system");

        // Search the index
        SearchRecordsResponse recordsResponse = index.searchRecordsByText(query,  "example-namespace", fields, 3, filter, null);

        // Print the results
        System.out.println(recordsResponse);
    }
}
```

```go Go theme={null}
package main

import (
    "context"
    "encoding/json"
    "fmt"
    "log"

    "github.com/pinecone-io/go-pinecone/v4/pinecone"
)

func prettifyStruct(obj interface{}) string {
  	bytes, _ := json.MarshalIndent(obj, "", "  ")
    return string(bytes)
}

func main() {
    ctx := context.Background()

    pc, err := pinecone.NewClient(pinecone.NewClientParams{
        ApiKey: "YOUR_API_KEY",
    })
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatalf("Failed to create Client: %v", err)
    }

    // To get the unique host for an index, 
    // see https://docs.pinecone.io/guides/manage-data/target-an-index
    idxConnection, err := pc.Index(pinecone.NewIndexConnParams{Host: "INDEX_HOST", Namespace: "example-namespace"})
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatalf("Failed to create IndexConnection for Host: %v", err)
    } 

    metadataMap := map[string]interface{}{
        "category": map[string]interface{}{
            "$eq": "digestive system",
        },
    }
    res, err := idxConnection.SearchRecords(ctx, &pinecone.SearchRecordsRequest{
        Query: pinecone.SearchRecordsQuery{
            TopK: 3,
            Inputs: &map[string]interface{}{
                "text": "Disease prevention",
            },
            Filter: &metadataMap,
        },
        Fields: &[]string{"chunk_text", "category"},
    })
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatalf("Failed to search records: %v", err)
    }
    fmt.Printf(prettifyStruct(res))
}
```

```shell curl theme={null}
INDEX_HOST="INDEX_HOST"
NAMESPACE="YOUR_NAMESPACE"
PINECONE_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"

curl "https://$INDEX_HOST/records/namespaces/$NAMESPACE/search" \
  -H "Accept: application/json" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Api-Key: $PINECONE_API_KEY" \
  -H "X-Pinecone-Api-Version: 2026-07" \
  -d '{
        "query": {
            "inputs": {"text": "Disease prevention"},
            "top_k": 3,
            "filter": {"category": "digestive system"}
        },
        "fields": ["category", "chunk_text"]
     }'
```
:::
::::

::::tab{title="Search with a vector"}
:::code-group
```Python Python theme={null}
from pinecone.grpc import PineconeGRPC as Pinecone

pc = Pinecone(api_key="YOUR_API_KEY")

# To get the unique host for an index, 
# see https://docs.pinecone.io/guides/manage-data/target-an-index
index = pc.Index(host="INDEX_HOST")

index.query(
    namespace="example-namespace",
    vector=[0.0236663818359375,-0.032989501953125, ..., -0.01041412353515625,0.0086669921875], 
    top_k=3,
    filter={
        "category": {"$eq": "digestive system"}
    },
    include_metadata=True,
    include_values=False
)
```

```JavaScript JavaScript theme={null}
import { Pinecone } from '@pinecone-database/pinecone'

const pc = new Pinecone({ apiKey: "YOUR_API_KEY" })

// To get the unique host for an index, 
// see https://docs.pinecone.io/guides/manage-data/target-an-index
const index = pc.index("INDEX_NAME", "INDEX_HOST")

const queryResponse = await index.namespace('example-namespace').query({
    vector: [0.0236663818359375,-0.032989501953125,...,-0.01041412353515625,0.0086669921875],
    topK: 3,
    filter: {
        "category": { "$eq": "digestive system" }
    },
    includeValues: false,
    includeMetadata: true,
});
```

```java Java theme={null}
import com.google.protobuf.Struct;
import com.google.protobuf.Value;
import io.pinecone.clients.Index;
import io.pinecone.configs.PineconeConfig;
import io.pinecone.configs.PineconeConnection;
import io.pinecone.unsigned_indices_model.QueryResponseWithUnsignedIndices;

import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.List;

public class QueryExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        PineconeConfig config = new PineconeConfig("YOUR_API_KEY");
        // To get the unique host for an index, 
        // see https://docs.pinecone.io/guides/manage-data/target-an-index
        config.setHost("INDEX_HOST");
        PineconeConnection connection = new PineconeConnection(config);
        Index index = new Index(connection, "INDEX_NAME");
        List<Float> query = Arrays.asList(0.0236663818359375f, -0.032989501953125f, ..., -0.01041412353515625f, 0.0086669921875f);
        Struct filter = Struct.newBuilder()
                .putFields("category", Value.newBuilder()
                        .setStructValue(Struct.newBuilder()
                                .putFields("$eq", Value.newBuilder()
                                        .setStringValue("digestive system")
                                        .build()))
                        .build())
                .build();

        QueryResponseWithUnsignedIndices queryResponse = index.query(1, query, null, null, null, "example-namespace", filter, false, true);
        System.out.println(queryResponse);
    }
}
```

```go Go theme={null}
package main

import (
    "context"
    "encoding/json"
    "fmt"
    "log"

    "github.com/pinecone-io/go-pinecone/v4/pinecone"
)

func prettifyStruct(obj interface{}) string {
	bytes, _ := json.MarshalIndent(obj, "", "  ")
	return string(bytes)
}

func main() {
    ctx := context.Background()

    pc, err := pinecone.NewClient(pinecone.NewClientParams{
        ApiKey: "YOUR_API_KEY",
    })
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatalf("Failed to create Client: %v", err)
    }

    // To get the unique host for an index, 
    // see https://docs.pinecone.io/guides/manage-data/target-an-index
    idxConnection, err := pc.Index(pinecone.NewIndexConnParams{Host: "INDEX_HOST", Namespace: "example-namespace"})
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatalf("Failed to create IndexConnection for Host: %v", err)
  	}

    queryVector := []float32{0.0236663818359375,-0.032989501953125,...,-0.01041412353515625,0.0086669921875}

    metadataMap := map[string]interface{}{
        "category": map[string]interface{}{
            "$eq": "digestive system",
        },
    }

    metadataFilter, err := structpb.NewStruct(metadataMap)
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatalf("Failed to create metadata map: %v", err)
    }

    res, err := idxConnection.QueryByVectorValues(ctx, &pinecone.QueryByVectorValuesRequest{
        Vector:          queryVector,
        TopK:            3,
        MetadataFilter: metadataFilter,
        IncludeValues:   false,
        IncludeMetadata: true,
    })
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatalf("Error encountered when querying by vector: %v", err)
    } else {
        fmt.Printf(prettifyStruct(res))
    }
}
```

```bash curl theme={null}
# To get the unique host for an index,
# see https://docs.pinecone.io/guides/manage-data/target-an-index
PINECONE_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"
INDEX_HOST="INDEX_HOST"

curl "https://$INDEX_HOST/query" \
  -H "Api-Key: $PINECONE_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -H "X-Pinecone-Api-Version: 2026-07" \
  -d '{
        "vector": [0.0236663818359375,-0.032989501953125,...,-0.01041412353515625,0.0086669921875],
        "namespace": "example-namespace",
        "topK": 3,
        "filter": {"category": {"$eq": "digestive system"}},
        "includeMetadata": true,
        "includeValues": false
    }'
```
:::
::::
:::::

## Metadata filter expressions

Pinecone's filtering language supports the following operators:

| Operator  | Function                                                                                                                         | Supported types         |
| :-------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :---------------------- |
| `$eq`     | Matches vectors with metadata values that are equal to a specified value. Example: `{"genre": {"$eq": "documentary"}}`           | Number, string, boolean |
| `$ne`     | Matches vectors with metadata values that aren't equal to a specified value. Example: `{"genre": {"$ne": "drama"}}`              | Number, string, boolean |
| `$gt`     | Matches vectors with metadata values that are greater than a specified value. Example: `{"year": {"$gt": 2019}}`                 | Number                  |
| `$gte`    | Matches vectors with metadata values that are greater than or equal to a specified value. Example:`{"year": {"$gte": 2020}}`     | Number                  |
| `$lt`     | Matches vectors with metadata values that are less than a specified value. Example: `{"year": {"$lt": 2020}}`                    | Number                  |
| `$lte`    | Matches vectors with metadata values that are less than or equal to a specified value. Example: `{"year": {"$lte": 2020}}`       | Number                  |
| `$in`     | Matches vectors with metadata values that are in a specified array. Example: `{"genre": {"$in": ["comedy", "documentary"]}}`     | String, number          |
| `$nin`    | Matches vectors with metadata values that aren't in a specified array. Example: `{"genre": {"$nin": ["comedy", "documentary"]}}` | String, number          |
| `$exists` | Matches vectors with the specified metadata field. Example: `{"genre": {"$exists": true}}`                                       | Number, string, boolean |
| `$and`    | Joins query clauses with a logical `AND`. Example: `{"$and": [{"genre": {"$eq": "drama"}}, {"year": {"$gte": 2020}}]}`           | -                       |
| `$or`     | Joins query clauses with a logical `OR`. Example: `{"$or": [{"genre": {"$eq": "drama"}}, {"year": {"$gte": 2020}}]}`             | -                       |
| `$not`    | Matches vectors that don't match the wrapped clause. Example: `{"genre": {"$not": {"$eq": "drama"}}}`                            | -                       |

:::callout{intent="note"}
At the top level, list one or more fields (combined with implicit AND) or combine clauses with the logical operators `$and` and `$or`. Use `$not` to negate a clause, as shown in the table. A bare comparison operator (like `$gt`) can't appear at the top level; nest it under a field.
:::

:::callout{intent="note"}
Each `$in` or `$nin` operator accepts a maximum of 10,000 values. Exceeding this limit will cause the request to fail. For more information, see [Metadata filter limits](/guides/apis-database-limits-operation-limits#metadata-filter-limits).
:::

For example, the following has a `"genre"` metadata field with a list of strings:

```JSON JSON theme={null}
{ "genre": ["comedy", "documentary"] }
```

This means `"genre"` takes on both values, and requests with the following filters will match:

```JSON JSON theme={null}
{"genre":"comedy"}

{"genre": {"$in":["documentary","action"]}}

{"$and": [{"genre": "comedy"}, {"genre":"documentary"}]}
```

However, requests with the following filter will **not** match:

```JSON JSON theme={null}
{ "$and": [{ "genre": "comedy" }, { "genre": "drama" }] }
```

Additionally, requests with the following filters will **not** match because they're invalid. They will result in a compilation error:

```json JSON theme={null}
# INVALID QUERY:
{"genre": ["comedy", "documentary"]}
```

```json JSON theme={null}
# INVALID QUERY:
{"genre": {"$eq": ["comedy", "documentary"]}}
```

## Text-match filters

On [indexes with a document schema](/guides/index-data-data-modeling#documents), three additional operators match text on `string` fields that have `full_text_search` enabled. They narrow the candidate set before scoring, the same way metadata operators do.

| Operator        | Example                                           | Description                                                        |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `$match_phrase` | `{"body": {"$match_phrase": "machine learning"}}` | Exact phrase match (contiguous tokens) on a text-searchable field. |
| `$match_all`    | `{"body": {"$match_all": "machine learning"}}`    | All tokens present, in any order.                                  |
| `$match_any`    | `{"body": {"$match_any": "AI robotics"}}`         | At least one token present.                                        |

These operators share a few rules:

- **Where they apply.** Fields declared with a `full_text_search` config object.
- **Tokenization.** They reuse the field's configured tokenizer and stemmer, so a token that matches in BM25 scoring will match in a text-match filter.
- **Lucene-style operators.** Phrase slop (`"phrase"~N`), term boosting (`^N`), and phrase prefix (`"phrase pre"*`) aren't parsed. Values are literal text and match semantics come from the operator name. To use those operators, score with `query_string` instead.
- **Composition.** They compose freely with metadata operators under `$and`, `$or`, and `$not` at any nesting level:

```json theme={null}
{
  "$and": [
    { "body": { "$match_all": "federal reserve" } },
    { "category": { "$eq": "finance" } },
    { "year": { "$gte": 2024 } }
  ]
}
```

:::callout{intent="warning"}
Text-match operators (`$match_phrase`, `$match_all`, `$match_any`) are supported on `documents/search` and on [`documents/fetch`](/guides/manage-data-fetch-data#fetch-documents). A filtered [`documents/update`](/guides/manage-data-update-data#update-documents) or [`documents/delete`](/guides/manage-data-delete-data#delete-documents) rejects them with a `400` and takes plain metadata filters only. To update or delete by text match, search or fetch to retrieve the matching IDs first, then act on those IDs.
:::

## Related pages

- [Account management](./account-management-index.md)
- [Admin](./admin-2-index.md)
- [Admin](./admin-index.md)
- [APIs](./apis-index.md)
- [Architecture](./architecture-index.md)
- [Assistants](./assistants-index.md)
- [Bring Your Own Cloud](./bring-your-own-cloud-index.md)
- [Build an assistant](./build-an-assistant-index.md)
- [Build an integration](./build-an-integration-index.md)
- [Changelog](./changelog-index.md)

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