---
title:  Querying Partitioned Regions
---

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<%=vars.product_name%> allows you to manage and store large amounts of data across distributed nodes using partitioned regions. The basic unit of storage for a partitioned region is a bucket, which resides on a <%=vars.product_name%> node and contains all the entries that map to a single hashcode. In a typical partitioned region query, the system distributes the query to all buckets across all nodes, then merges the result sets and sends back the query results.

<a id="querying_partitioned_regions__section_4C603563DEDC4303818FB8F894470457"></a>
The following list summarizes the querying functionality supported by <%=vars.product_name%> for partitioned regions:

-   **Ability to target specific nodes in a query**. If you know that a specific bucket contains the data that you want to query, you can use a function to ensure that your query only runs the specific node that holds the data. This can greatly improve query efficiency. The ability to query data on a specific node is only available if you are using functions and if the function is executed on one single region. In order to do this, you need to use `Query.execute(RegionFunctionContext context)`. See the [Java API](/releases/latest/javadoc/org/apache/geode/cache/query/Query.html) and [Querying a Partitioned Region on a Single Node](../query_additional/query_on_a_single_node.html#concept_30B18A6507534993BD55C2C9E0544A97) for more details.
-   **Ability to optimize partitioned region query performance using key indexes**. You can improve query performance on data that is partitioned by key or a field value by creating a key index and then executing the query using use `Query.execute(RegionFunctionContext context)` with the key or field value used as filter. See the [Java API](/releases/latest/javadoc/org/apache/geode/cache/query/Query.html) and [Optimizing Queries on Data Partitioned by a Key or Field Value](../query_additional/partitioned_region_key_or_field_value.html#concept_3010014DFBC9479783B2B45982014454) for more details.
-   **Ability to perform equi-join queries between partitioned regions and between partitioned regions and replicated regions**. Join queries between partitioned region and between partitioned regions and replicated regions are supported through the function service. In order to perform equi-join operations on partitioned regions or partitioned regions and replicated regions, the partitioned regions must be colocated, and you need to use the need to use `Query.execute(RegionFunctionContext                         context)`. See the [Java API](/releases/latest/javadoc/org/apache/geode/cache/query/Query.html) and [Performing an Equi-Join Query on Partitioned Regions](../partitioned_regions/join_query_partitioned_regions.html#concept_B930D276F49541F282A2CFE639F107DD) for more details.

-   **[Using ORDER BY on Partitioned Regions](../query_additional/order_by_on_partitioned_regions.html)**

-   **[Querying a Partitioned Region on a Single Node](../query_additional/query_on_a_single_node.html)**

-   **[Optimizing Queries on Data Partitioned by a Key or Field Value](../query_additional/partitioned_region_key_or_field_value.html)**

-   **[Performing an Equi-Join Query on Partitioned Regions](../partitioned_regions/join_query_partitioned_regions.html)**

-   **[Partitioned Region Query Restrictions](../query_additional/partitioned_region_query_restrictions.html)**


