---
title: "How do I write KQL to find items with empty fields?"
description: "In order to write KQL to find items where a particular field is empty (empty string matching), the following KQL should be used: auto \"field\":\"\" The syntax auto \"field\": is incorrect as it is equivalent to \"field\":() which is an empty sequence (ex. type:(RQ,SW))."
category: "Frequently Asked Questions"
section: "Advanced Settings"
keywords: ["write", "matching", "kql", "sequence", "string", "behaves", "type rq", "differently"]
source_url: "https://support.ketryx.com/hc/en-us/articles/42928936616717-How-do-I-write-KQL-to-find-items-with-empty-fields"
last_reviewed: 2026-06-11
---

# How do I write KQL to find items with empty fields?

In order to write KQL to find items where a particular field is empty (empty string matching), the following KQL should be used:

```auto
"field":""
```

The syntax

```auto
"field":
```

is _incorrect_ as it is equivalent to "field":() which is an empty sequence (ex. type:(RQ,SW)). Empty sequence matching behaves differently than empty string matching.

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