Jira Query Language: 21 Essential JQL Examples to Boost Your Workflow

Jira is a powerful tool for project management, issue tracking, and team collaboration. One of its most powerful features is the Jira Query Language (JQL). JQL allows you to filter and find exactly what you need from the complex web of issues, making your workflow smoother and more efficient.

In this guide, we will explore Jira query examples and show you how to leverage JQL to its full potential. Whether you’re looking to refine your search, analyze data, or automate your processes, these JQL Jira query language examples will help you streamline your Jira experience and enhance your project management.

Why Should You Use JQL?

The power of JQL lies in its ability to make your Jira experience much more efficient. Here are some reasons to start using Jira query today:

• Save Time: JQL lets you filter and find issues in seconds, instead of manually going through hundreds of issues.
  

• Increase Accuracy: By customizing your queries, you ensure you only get the data that matters to you.
  

• Improve Reporting: JQL is perfect for creating custom reports that give you detailed insights into your projects, team performance, and overall progress.
  

• Enable Automation: JQL powers automation in Jira, enabling you to auto-assign tasks, send notifications, or even transition issues based on defined conditions.
  
  

Understanding how to effectively use JQL will allow you to optimize your Jira workflows and increase the efficiency of your entire team.

‍

Common Jira Query Language (JQL) Examples for Your Daily Workflow

Let’s dive into some Jira query language examples that will help you manage your projects more effectively. These queries are some of the most common ones that can save you time and effort in your daily operations.

1. Find All Issues Assigned to a Specific User

assignee = jdoe

‍

This simple query will return all issues currently assigned to jdoe. It’s useful when you want to track the workload of a specific team member.

2. Find All Open Issues in a Specific Project

project = "My Project" AND status in ("To Do", "In Progress")

‍

This query filters issues in My Project that are either "To Do" or "In Progress". It's helpful to monitor active work or tasks that are not yet completed.

3. Find Issues Due Today

due = startOfDay()

‍

Use this query to filter out issues that are due today. It ensures that you never miss a deadline and can stay on top of tasks that need immediate attention.

4. Find Issues Created in the Last 7 Days

created >= -7d

‍

This query finds all issues that were created within the last 7 days. It’s useful for keeping track of newly added tasks or bugs in the system.

5. Find Issues with a Specific Priority (e.g., High)

priority = High

‍

This query filters all issues marked with a High priority, making it easier to focus on the most critical tasks in your backlog.

6. Find Issues of a Specific Type (e.g., Bug)

issuetype = Bug

‍

This query is particularly useful for filtering out issues that are of type Bug. It helps you prioritize fixing defects in your product.

7. Find Unresolved Issues Assigned to a Specific User

assignee = jdoe AND resolution = Unresolved

‍

This finds all unresolved issues assigned to jdoe, making it easy to track and follow up on issues that have not yet been resolved.

8. Find Issues with a Specific Label

labels = "UI-issue"

‍

Use this query to filter issues with the label UI-issue. Labels are useful for categorizing issues by functionality or team focus.

9. Find Issues Not Updated in the Last 2 Weeks

updated <= -2w

‍

This query identifies issues that haven’t been updated in the past 2 weeks. This helps flag tasks that might be stuck or neglected.

10. Find Issues Linked to a Specific Issue

issue in linkedIssues("PROJ-123", "blocks")

‍

This finds all issues that are blocked by PROJ-123, helping you see the dependencies and prioritize unblocking tasks.

11. Find Issues Due in the Next 7 Days

due <= 7d

‍

This query filters issues that are due within the next 7 days, ensuring that upcoming deadlines are clearly visible.

12. Find Issues with No Assignee

assignee IS EMPTY

‍

This finds all unassigned issues, allowing you to quickly identify tasks that need to be picked up by someone.

13. Find Issues Updated by a Specific User

updatedBy = jdoe

‍

This query shows all issues that were last updated by jdoe, useful for tracking updates or progress made by a specific team member.

14. Find Issues with a Specific Epic Link

"Epic Link" = "EPIC-123"

‍

This filters issues that are linked to EPIC-123, making it easy to track all child issues of a specific Epic.

15. Find Issues That Have Transitioned to a Specific Status

status CHANGED FROM "To Do" TO "In Progress"

‍

This query tracks issues that have moved from "To Do" to "In Progress", helping you monitor status transitions and team workflow.

‍

Advanced Jira Query Language (JQL) Examples for Power Users

Once you’re familiar with the basics of Jira query and its syntax, you can explore more advanced JQL queries to get even more detailed results.

1. Filter Issues by Worklog Author

worklogAuthor = jdoe

‍

This query finds all issues where jdoe logged time, allowing managers to track individual contributions and identify potential bottlenecks.

2. Track Time Spent on an Issue

timespent > 3600

‍

Use this query to filter issues where more than 1 hour (3600 seconds) of time has been logged. It’s useful for tracking which tasks are taking longer than expected.

3.. Find Issues with Specific Custom Field Values

cf[10001] = "Custom Field Value"

‍

This query filters out issues where the custom field with ID 10001 has a specific value. Custom fields are often used for unique requirements specific to your organization.

4. Use Jira Wildcard Search

summary ~ "bug*"

‍

The asterisk * wildcard allows you to search for patterns in Jira. This query, for example, finds issues whose summaries start with the word "bug".

5. Parent-Child Relationship Query

parent = "PROJ-123"

‍

This query helps you find all subtasks of the issue PROJ-123, making it easy to track task breakdowns.

6. Filter Issues Based on Issue Link Type

issue in linkedIssues("PROJ-456", "blocks")

‍

This query finds all issues that block PROJ-456, helping you manage dependencies effectively.

‍

Automating Jira Workflows with JQL

‍

Integrating Jira Query Language (JQL) directly into your workflows can significantly enhance your team's efficiency and productivity. By using JQL to automate key processes, you reduce manual work, minimize errors, and ensure that your team is always working on the right tasks at the right time.

JQL allows you to create highly customized queries that you can integrate into Jira's automation rules. For instance, you can automatically assign issues to specific users based on certain criteria, such as project or priority. You can also trigger notifications or transitions when specific conditions are met. This enables you to streamline project management, ensure smooth task assignments, and prevent bottlenecks—all without any manual intervention.

Here are a few ways you can leverage JQL for workflow automation:

• Auto-Assign Issues: Automatically assign newly created issues to the appropriate team members based on project type or specific criteria, such as workload or availability.
  
  
• Trigger Notifications: Set up notifications to be sent when an issue transitions to a specific status or if it is due soon.
  
  
• Transition Issues: Use JQL to trigger status transitions based on specific conditions, such as automatically moving an issue from "In Progress" to "Ready for Review" when certain tasks are completed.
  
  
• Reassign Tasks Based on Priority: For example, reassign issues marked with high priority to a specific user or team, ensuring that important tasks are handled promptly.
  
  

By setting up these Jira automation workflows, you save your team valuable time, reduce human error, and focus more on critical project tasks. Automation also ensures that all processes are carried out consistently and without oversight.

‍

Conclusion

Mastering Jira query language (JQL) can drastically improve your Jira experience. By using these JQL Jira query language examples, you can streamline your workflows, automate tasks, and create custom reports that give you deeper insights into your projects. Whether you’re managing a few issues or handling thousands, JQL gives you the flexibility and control you need to stay organized and efficient.

Start applying these Jira query language examples to your daily tasks and explore the full potential of Jira. With the ability to tailor your searches, you can focus on what really matters to you and your team.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Jira Query Language (JQL)?

Jira Query Language (JQL) is a flexible query language that allows you to search, filter, and organize Jira issues according to custom criteria, making it easier to manage projects.

‍

2. How can I automate workflows using JQL in Jira?

You can automate workflows by creating custom JQL queries to trigger actions like auto-assigning issues, sending notifications, or transitioning tasks based on specific conditions.

‍

3. How do Jira dashboards work with JQL?

Jira dashboards can display real-time data by using JQL queries in gadgets like Filter Results, Pie Charts, and Burndown Charts, offering valuable insights into project status and progress.

‍

4. Can JQL help with tracking project deadlines?

Yes, JQL can filter issues based on due dates, helping you track upcoming deadlines and ensure that important tasks are completed on time.

‍

5. How can I use JQL to find unresolved issues in Jira?

You can use a query like assignee = jdoe AND resolution = Unresolved to find unresolved issues assigned to a specific user, helping you prioritize tasks that still need attention.

‍

6. What are the benefits of using JQL with Jira dashboards?

Using JQL with dashboards allows you to visualize key project metrics in real time, helping you make data-driven decisions and monitor project health efficiently.

‍

7. How can JQL improve team collaboration in Jira?

JQL enables better collaboration by automating task assignments, providing real-time updates, and ensuring that everyone stays on the same page with customized queries and dashboard views.

‍