[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":247},["ShallowReactive",2],{"/faq/editing/queries-vs-collections":3,"/faq/editing/queries-vs-collections-surround":238},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":229,"extension":230,"links":231,"meta":232,"navigation":233,"path":234,"seo":235,"stem":236,"__hash__":237},"docs/3.faq/editing/queries-vs-collections.md","When should I use a query instead of a collection?",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":220},"minimark",[9,23,35,45,50,56,74,78,101,112,116,124,132,136,144,148,213],[10,11,12,17,18,22],"p",{},[13,14,16],"a",{"href":15},"/reference/collections","Collections"," and ",[13,19,21],{"href":20},"/reference/queries","queries"," both group content, but they answer different questions.",[10,24,25,26,30,31,34],{},"A ",[27,28,29],"strong",{},"collection"," is a subgroup of ",[27,32,33],{},"one object type"," that you curate by hand. You add an item when it belongs and remove it when it does not. That is a good fit when membership is a judgment call: a short list of favourite papers, meetings you are actively preparing for, or a showcase set you do not want the app to infer from metadata.",[10,36,25,37,40,41,44],{},[27,38,39],{},"query"," is a ",[27,42,43],{},"saved filter",". You define rules (properties, tags, dates, links), and Capacities shows everything that matches. New content appears when it satisfies the rules; it drops off when it no longer does. You maintain the fields on your objects, not the list itself.",[46,47,49],"h2",{"id":48},"how-to-choose","How to choose",[10,51,52,53,55],{},"Use a ",[27,54,29],{}," when:",[57,58,59,63,66],"ul",{},[60,61,62],"li",{},"You want full control over exactly what is in the set",[60,64,65],{},"The group stays within a single object type",[60,67,68,69,73],{},"The list is small or changes because ",[70,71,72],"em",{},"you"," decide, not because a date or status changed",[10,75,52,76,55],{},[27,77,39],{},[57,79,80,91,94],{},[60,81,82,83,17,87,90],{},"Membership follows clear rules (finished this year, linked to this project, tagged ",[84,85,86],"code",{},"#to-watch",[84,88,89],{},"#video",")",[60,92,93],{},"The set should update on its own as you work",[60,95,96,97],{},"You want the same filter on a dashboard, inside a project page, or in a ",[13,98,100],{"href":99},"/reference/templates","template",[10,102,103,104,107,108,111],{},"You can use both on the same type. For example, keep a ",[27,105,106],{},"Favourites"," collection on Images for pictures you love, and a query on Images filtered by ",[27,109,110],{},"Category"," for every handwritten note scan. The collection stays manual; the query stays automatic.",[46,113,115],{"id":114},"tags-and-object-types","Tags and object types",[10,117,118,119,123],{},"Collections cannot span object types. If you need one theme across pages, quotes, and weblinks, use ",[13,120,122],{"href":121},"/reference/tags","tags"," or a tag query instead of a collection.",[10,125,126,127,131],{},"For a longer comparison of tags and collections (before queries enter the picture), see ",[13,128,130],{"href":129},"/tutorials/tags-vs-collections","Tags vs. Collections",".",[46,133,135],{"id":134},"queries-are-pro","Queries are Pro",[10,137,138,139,143],{},"Saving and reusing queries is part of ",[13,140,142],{"href":141},"/reference/subscriptions","Capacities Pro",". Collections are available on all plans. If you are on the free tier and hit the limit, you can still use filters on object dashboards; you save them as named queries once you upgrade.",[46,145,147],{"id":146},"examples","Examples",[149,150,151,164],"table",{},[152,153,154],"thead",{},[155,156,157,161],"tr",{},[158,159,160],"th",{},"Goal",[158,162,163],{},"Better fit",[165,166,167,179,187,195,205],"tbody",{},[155,168,169,173],{},[170,171,172],"td",{},"Every book you finished in 2025",[170,174,175,176],{},"Query on Book type, filter ",[27,177,178],{},"Finished on",[155,180,181,184],{},[170,182,183],{},"Five papers you recommend to students",[170,185,186],{},"Collection on a Paper or Weblink type",[155,188,189,192],{},[170,190,191],{},"All meetings for the project you are viewing",[170,193,194],{},"Query embedded on the project, with a variable filter",[155,196,197,202],{},[170,198,199,201],{},[84,200,86],{}," videos only",[170,203,204],{},"Tag page or tag query with an extra tag filter",[155,206,207,210],{},[170,208,209],{},"“Best of” gallery you rearrange by hand",[170,211,212],{},"Collection",[10,214,215,216,131],{},"Step-by-step setups for bookshelves, project pages, tag combinations, and similar patterns are in ",[13,217,219],{"href":218},"/reference/use-cases/queries-in-practice","Queries in practice",{"title":221,"searchDepth":222,"depth":223,"links":224},"",1,2,[225,226,227,228],{"id":48,"depth":223,"text":49},{"id":114,"depth":223,"text":115},{"id":134,"depth":223,"text":135},{"id":146,"depth":223,"text":147},"Collections and queries both group content, but they answer different questions.","md",null,{},true,"/faq/editing/queries-vs-collections",{"title":5,"description":229},"3.faq/editing/queries-vs-collections","9FV2c2OSnrj4vv323Rx-u7Fn2z2copLMUmen6p_VUG0",[239,243],{"title":240,"path":241,"stem":242,"children":-1},"Can I use Capacities like an Outliner?","/faq/editing/outliner-mode","3.faq/editing/outliner-mode",{"title":244,"path":245,"stem":246,"children":-1},"How can I create a running total in a table?","/faq/editing/running-total-tables","3.faq/editing/running-total-tables",1779355275194]