Kaizen #98 - Query API using v5 PHP SDK
Hello and welcome to another week of Kaizen!
In our previous posts, we have already covered in detail about Query API, when to use them and their supported fields and operators with examples. Please refer to COQL API [Part I] and COQL API [Part II] for more details. In this week's post, we will discuss in detail how to use Query API in Zoho CRM PHP SDK. Please note that this article holds true for PHP SDK supporting version 5 of Zoho CRM APIs.
COQL (CRM Object Query Language) is a powerful query language based on SQL syntax that allows users to write their own queries and fetch records using module API names and field API names. Use Query API when you want to query for a module's data and/or it's look up related data using various comparators, or for records that fall into a custom view without actually creating one, or to query for records from cross-modules (linked via lookup field).
How to construct a simple Query?
- Begin with the SELECT clause
- Specify the fields you want to fetch.
- Use the FROM clause to specify the module you are querying.
- Use the WHERE clause to apply conditions and filter the results based on specific criteria.
- Specify the conditions.
- Utilize additional clauses such as GROUP BY, ORDER BY, LIMIT, and OFFSET to further customize the query results if needed.
For example,
SELECT Last_Name, First_Name, Mobile FROM Leads WHERE (Lead_Status = 'Not Contacted') ORDER BY Last_Name DESC LIMIT 5 OFFSET 10;
COQL API using PHP SDK
To make a query, use the following code snippet in your code.
// Instantiate QueryOperations class $queryOperations = new QueryOperations(); // Create a new BodyWrapper instance to set the query $bodyWrapper = new BodyWrapper(); // Define your COQL select query $selectQuery = "give_your_select_query_here"; // Set the select query in the body wrapper $bodyWrapper->setSelectQuery($selectQuery); // Execute the query and get the response $response = $queryOperations->getRecords($bodyWrapper); |
Let us explore in detail with examples how to use COQL for various field types and operators.
I. Text and Picklist Fields
The supported operators for Text and Picklist fields are =, !=, like, not like, in, not in, is null, is not null.
Sample code using =, like, in operators
<?php use com\zoho\crm\api\query\BodyWrapper; use com\zoho\crm\api\query\QueryOperations; require_once "vendor/autoload.php"; class GetRecords { public static function initialize() { // add initialisation code // refer to this post for details and examples } public static function getRecords1() { $queryOperations = new QueryOperations(); $bodyWrapper = new BodyWrapper(); $selectQuery = "SELECT First_Name, Last_Name FROM Leads WHERE (((Lead_Status = 'Attempted to Contact') and (Company like '%zylker%')) and Lead_Source in ('Employee Referral', 'Advertisement')) LIMIT 5 OFFSET 10"; $bodyWrapper->setSelectQuery($selectQuery); $response = $queryOperations->getRecords($bodyWrapper); //Add your code to handle the response received in $response. To know more, refer to this sample code. } } GetRecords::initialize(); GetRecords::getRecords1(); ?> |
Please note that the like operator is used for pattern matching, and is used for starts_with, ends_with, and contains operators. In this example query, LIKE operator with the pattern %zylker% is used to find records where the Company field contains the substring zylker anywhere within its value. The % symbol represents any number of characters (including none) before or after the pattern zylker. % is the only supported wildcard character for Zoho CRM Query APIs.
II. Lookup Fields
The supported operators for Lookup fields are =, !=, in, not in, is null, is not null.
Sample Query using !=, is not, not in, is not null
<?php use com\zoho\crm\api\query\BodyWrapper; use com\zoho\crm\api\query\QueryOperations; require_once "vendor/autoload.php"; class GetRecords { public static function initialize() { // add initialisation code // refer to this post for details and examples } public static function getRecords1() { $queryOperations = new QueryOperations(); $bodyWrapper = new BodyWrapper(); $selectQuery = "SELECT Last_Name, First_Name, Full_Name, Account_Name, Owner from Contacts where (((Account_Name.Account_Name != 'Zylker') and (Reporting_To is not null)) and Vendor_Name.Vendor_Name not in ('Skytech','SR'))"; $bodyWrapper->setSelectQuery($selectQuery); $response = $queryOperations->getRecords($bodyWrapper); //Add your code to handle the response received in $response. To know more, refer to this sample code. } } GetRecords::initialize(); GetRecords::getRecords1(); ?> |
III. Date, DateTime, Number, Currency Fields
=, !=, >=, >, <=, <, between, not between, in, not in, is null, is not null are the supported operators for these fields.
Sample Query using between, <, >, >=
<?php use com\zoho\crm\api\query\BodyWrapper; use com\zoho\crm\api\query\QueryOperations; require_once "vendor/autoload.php"; class GetRecords { public static function initialize() { // add initialisation code // refer to this post for details and examples } public static function getRecords1() { $queryOperations = new QueryOperations(); $bodyWrapper = new BodyWrapper(); $selectQuery = "SELECT Deal_Name, Amount, Stage, Probability FROM Deals WHERE ((Closing_Date between '2023-01-01' and '2023-03-31') and (Probability < 99)) and ((Amount > 10000) OR (Exchange_Rate >= 5))"; $bodyWrapper->setSelectQuery($selectQuery); $response = $queryOperations->getRecords($bodyWrapper); //Add your code to handle the response received in $response. To know more, refer to this sample code. } } GetRecords::initialize(); GetRecords::getRecords1(); ?> |
Note :
Use the following formats for Date and DateTime fields.
Date : YYYY-MM-DD (eg: 2023-01-01)
DateTime : YYYY-MMDDTHH:mm:ss+/HH:mm (eg: 2023-05-03T20:39:19+05:30)
IV. Boolean
= is the only supported operator for Boolean Fields. You should provide the value as either true or false.
<?php use com\zoho\crm\api\query\BodyWrapper; use com\zoho\crm\api\query\QueryOperations; require_once "vendor/autoload.php"; class GetRecords { public static function initialize() { // add initialisation code // refer to this post for details and examples } public static function getRecords1() { $queryOperations = new QueryOperations(); $bodyWrapper = new BodyWrapper(); $selectQuery = "select Product_Name, Product_Code from Products where Product_Active = 'true'"; $bodyWrapper->setSelectQuery($selectQuery); $response = $queryOperations->getRecords($bodyWrapper); //Add your code to handle the response received in $response. To know more, refer to this sample code. } } GetRecords::initialize(); GetRecords::getRecords1(); ?> |
Aggregate Function Support
Aggregate functions in COQL allow you to perform calculations on groups of records in a module. The available aggregate functions are SUM, MIN, MAX, AVG, and COUNT.
- SUM is used to sum up the values of an aggregate field in a module.
- MAX is used to find the largest value of a field in a module.
- MIN is used to find the smallest value of a field in a module.]
- AVG is used to find the average value of a field in a module.
- COUNT is used to count the number of records in a module satisfying a certain criteria.
This feature allows users to perform complex queries on their data and get insights that would not be possible with simple SELECT queries. For example, you could use aggregate functions to find the total revenue generated by all leads in a month, or the average age of all customers in a region.
<?php use com\zoho\crm\api\query\BodyWrapper; use com\zoho\crm\api\query\QueryOperations; require_once "vendor/autoload.php"; class GetRecords { public static function initialize() { // add initialisation code // refer to this post for details and examples } public static function getRecords1() { $queryOperations = new QueryOperations(); $bodyWrapper = new BodyWrapper(); $selectQuery = "SELECT MIN(Amount), MAX(Amount) FROM Deals WHERE Stage = 'Closed Won'"; $bodyWrapper->setSelectQuery($selectQuery); $response = $queryOperations->getRecords($bodyWrapper); //Add your code to handle the response received in $response. To know more, refer to this sample code. } } GetRecords::initialize(); GetRecords::getRecords1(); ?> |
This query will return the minimum and maximum deal amounts for all deals that have been closed won.
In this guide, we've explored how to use the Query API within Zoho CRM using PHP SDK effectively. By employing COQL, you can create intricate queries to extract specific data from modules, apply various operators, and even utilize aggregate functions for deeper insights. Whether you're seeking lead details, complex filters, or aggregate calculations, Query API empowers you to interact with your CRM data seamlessly.
If you have any queries, let us know the comments below, or send an email to support@zohocrm.com. We would love to hear from you. Your commitment to Kaizen drives us forward!!
Stay tuned for more useful posts in the series!
Access your files securely from anywhere
Centralize Knowledge. Transform Learning.
All-in-one knowledge management and training platform for your employees and customers.
New to Zoho Recruit?
Zoho Developer Community
New to Zoho LandingPage?
Zoho LandingPage Resources
New to Zoho Survey?
New to Zoho CRM Plus?
Deliver unforgettable customer experiences
New to Zoho CRM Plus?
Deliver unforgettable customer experiences
New to Zoho Marketing Plus?
Everything you need to run your marketing
New to Zoho Marketing Plus?
Everything you need to run your marketing
New to Bigin?
Topic Participants
Anu Abraham
Sticky Posts
Kaizen #198: Using Client Script for Custom Validation in Blueprint
Nearing 200th Kaizen Post – 1 More to the Big Two-Oh-Oh! Do you have any questions, suggestions, or topics you would like us to cover in future posts? Your insights and suggestions help us shape future content and make this series better for everyone.Kaizen #226: Using ZRC in Client Script
Hello everyone! Welcome to another week of Kaizen. In today's post, lets see what is ZRC (Zoho Request Client) and how we can use ZRC methods in Client Script to get inputs from a Salesperson and update the Lead status with a single button click. In thisKaizen #222 - Client Script Support for Notes Related List
Hello everyone! Welcome to another week of Kaizen. The final Kaizen post of the year 2025 is here! With the new Client Script support for the Notes Related List, you can validate, enrich, and manage notes across modules. In this post, we’ll explore howKaizen #217 - Actions APIs : Tasks
Welcome to another week of Kaizen! In last week's post we discussed Email Notifications APIs which act as the link between your Workflow automations and you. We have discussed how Zylker Cloud Services uses Email Notifications API in their custom dashboard.Kaizen #216 - Actions APIs : Email Notifications
Welcome to another week of Kaizen! For the last three weeks, we have been discussing Zylker's workflows. We successfully updated a dormant workflow, built a new one from the ground up and more. But our work is not finished—these automated processes are
New to Zoho TeamInbox?
Zoho TeamInbox Resources
Zoho CRM Plus Resources
Zoho Books Resources
Zoho Subscriptions Resources
Zoho Projects Resources
Zoho Sprints Resources
Qntrl Resources
Zoho Creator Resources
Zoho CRM Resources
Design. Discuss. Deliver.
Zoho Show Resources
Get Started. Write Away!
Writer is a powerful online word processor, designed for collaborative work.
Zoho CRM コンテンツ
-
オンラインヘルプ
-
Webセミナー
-
機能活用動画
-
よくある質問
-
Ebook
-
-
Zoho Campaigns
- Zoho サービスのWebセミナー
その他のサービス コンテンツ
Nederlandse Hulpbronnen
ご検討中の方
Recent Topics
"code": "500","description": "Account not exists", mail api
I have been through all the steps and have a functioning Oath access_token etc etc... I then GET https://mail.zoho.com/api/organization And get my zoid then GET http://mail.zoho.com/api/organization/<hidden>/accounts and get the account details, whichRTL Support for Webforms in Zoho CRM
Dear Zoho CRM Support Team, We are writing to request an enhancement to the webform builder functionality within Zoho CRM. Currently, to create a webform in a right-to-left (RTL) language, the entire CRM instance must be set to RTL, which can be inconvenientImported contacts succesful but contacts do not show up in Contacts
I imported +300 contacts. I can see them in import history. When clicking on a contact in import history I see all the imported contact details for any given contact. So import seems to be successful. However the imported contacts do not show up in the contacts tab. Not in All contacts, and not in a filtered view where they absolutely should show up. The search function also does not find any imported contact. Help?Zoho Voice lance BYOC (Bring Your Own Carrier) : intégrez votre opérateur
Pour accompagner sa croissance, une entreprise a besoin d’une infrastructure téléphonique flexible et évolutive. Les solutions de téléphonie s’adaptent aux exigences du centre de contact, tout en intégrant aisément les opérateurs locaux de votre choix.Digest Novembre - Un résumé de ce qui s'est passé le mois dernier sur Community
Bonjour chers utilisateurs, Avec l'arrivée du dernier mois de l'année, il est temps de résumer les activités de novembre dans la communauté Zoho France. Ce mois-ci, Zoho Webinar se dote de deux nouvelles intégrations ! La première est avec Zapier : connectezE-Invoicing in Belgium with Zoho Books
Starting January 1, 2026, Belgium is introducing mandatory electronic invoices (e-invoicing) for all B2B transactions between VAT-registered businesses. This means that invoices and credits notes must be exchanged in a prescribed digital format. How E-InvoicingAnnouncing new features in Trident for Mac (1.30.0)
Hello everyone! We’re excited to introduce the latest updates to Trident, bringing you a more seamless, intuitive, and secure communication experience. Let’s take a quick look at what’s new. Work with PST/EML files more efficiently. You can now do moreOpen Form in Same window as Page from embedded Report
I have a page that has an embedded report, as shown below. When I click the + sign to add a new record, the form shows up inside the page where the report was embedded. I know that I can add a custom action to the report grid or report detail view andPricing Strategies: #4 Counting on Discounts
"Is there any chance I can get a little discount on this month's service?" Maya hears this almost every time at her fitness studio. She offers monthly subscription plans for various services, including yoga, strength training, wellness sessions, and personalIntroducing Query Workbench in Zoho CRM
Hello everyone! We’re excited to announce the Query Workbench, a brand-new interface designed to improve developer experience of building Queries in Zoho CRM faster, simpler, and more intuitive. In the past, constructing queries required navigating acrossLimitation with Dynamic Email Attachment Capture
I've discovered a flaw in how Zoho Creator handles email attachments when using the Email-to-Form feature, and I'm hoping the Zoho team can address this in a future update. The Issue According to the official documentation, capturing email attachmentsAdd Customer in Books on Creator Form Submit Params
Hi guys, Were integrating a creator app with books however what were doing is adding a books customer on submit of creator form. We have some parameters but some fields aren't coping, All were seeing is the contact name in books,. Any help of the params for this would be great. below is a sample of the script... response = zoho.books.createRecord("contacts", "XXXXXXXXX", { "contact_name" : input.Name, "address" : input.Email });Suggestion : link KB with Accounts
Hi Zoho teams. I think it could be good to link KB articles with : accounts in order to easily find articles dedicated to some account specificities. I tried to use tags , but tags are free text with not easy way to retrieve it directly from ticket or list article for one tag. Tickets : It would be a good way to measure usage of KB directly from ticket when we don't need to copy/paste KB in solution. And : Great Tool , keep going !Drag and Drop in Creator Application
Hi, I am in the planning phase of a new application and I would like to use 'Drag and Drop' in the user interface of my new Creator application that I am sketching out, but I don't seem to be able to find any reference that this is available to developers. In my instance I have table of entries and I would like to be able to allow users to move an entry to another table (much like you do in your own interface when creating a Pivot Table report. In addition, I would like the user to be able to re-orderIs there any way to integrate Zoho with Zapier?
Is there any way to integrate Zoho with Zapier? I'd like to use it to create a workflow, sharing posts from our Wordpress website to all our channels.Popular Articles Report
From data to decisions: A deep dive into ticketing system reports Content management teams can use various metrics to assess the effectiveness of knowledge base articles, improve content quality, and ensure articles are regularly updated. Predefined articleInvoice Ref. Field
Hello Team, Currently, the Invoice Ref. field is set to a Number type with a maximum limit of 9 digits. However, we often receive customer invoices that contain up to 12 digits. In some cases, the invoice reference includes not only numbers but also letters60 Days Into Zoho - Tiktok Branding Startup -7 Questions?!
Wsp Everybody I co-own a TikTok Branding / Consulting Startup & have been using Zoho for the past 60 days - Am now looking to make our overall operations & processes more Efficient & Effective! Curious to know how others are using the platform & what'sTurning off the new UI
Tried the new 'enhanced' UI and actively dislike it. Anyone know how to revert back?XML format to import knowledgebase into Zoho Desk
Hi, We just started to use Zoho Desk and want to import our knowledgebase from our old support system (Freshdesk) to Zoho Desk. Can anyone give us information about the format of xml file to import? There is no explanation on the related page.Pushing Zoho People leave into Microsoft calendar: how to chose how "event" is shown (busy, free etc)
Hi, how can I select how a "leave" event is pushed into Microsoft calendar? I want for leave "working elsewhere" to show as working elsewhere and NOT as busy.Duplicate Accounts
Hi There, I am looking for a solution, script, workflow or anything to solve an issue we have - in our customers section we have a rule that doesn't allow duplicates, however Zoho will allow customers with xxxxx and xxxxx PLC or LTD so effectivley weError with If formula
I've got this super simple If formula, what is the reason for the error? If ( LEN(${Leads.Trial Slot Option}) == 3,'y','n') Syntax Error. Check the examples for any functions you're using to see if you formatted them correctly. Make sure your fields areAnnouncing Multi-language Support in Zoho FSM
Zoho FSM now speaks your language. The much-awaited multi-language support is now available in Zoho FSM. The following languages are supported in Zoho FSM: Dutch (Nederlands) English - United Kingdom English - United States French (français) French -Creating multiple CRM leads from a Zoho Forms subform
Hi all, We have a heavily used intake form that is used for new leads as a part of our intake. There is a subform that allows the lead to add additional team members, their titles and other basic info. That form submission creates a new Lead and the subformFree webinar! Build smarter apps with Zoho Sign and Zoho Creator
Hello, Bring the power of digital signatures to the apps you build in Zoho Creator! Connect Zoho Sign as a microservice and enable seamless e-signature workflows in your applications. This integration allows you to automate signing tasks using Deluge.Restrict Addresses in Zoho Forms?
In the address field, is there a way to restrict the addresses that auto populate (via Zoho Maps or Google Maps) to a specific state (I know it's possible with the country). Additionally, how often does the address in Zoho Maps get updated? Certain addressesWeekly Tips: Secure your attachment downloads with Zoho Mail
Safety is one of our main concerns, whether it’s about device security or online protection. We use tools like fingerprint scanners, facial recognition, and two-factor authentication to keep our devices and email accounts secure. We use methods like OTPResume Harvester: New Enhancements for Faster Sourcing
We’re excited to share a set of enhancements to Resume Harvester that make sourcing faster and more flexible. These updates help you cut down on repetitive steps, manage auto searches more efficiently, and review candidate profiles with ease. Why we builtLooking for best practices to import data from SAP Business One (on-prem) into Zoho Analytics via Zoho DataPrep / Databridge — daily automated schedule
Hi all, I’m using SAP Business One on-prem (SQL Server / or HANA — depending on DB backend) as our ERP. I want to build a pipeline that, every morning at 9:00 AM IST: pulls transactional data (invoices, customers, products, stock, etc.) from SAP B1, loadsZoho One Unified Portal - Applications
Hello, It is great to see the work on the New Unified Customer Portal. Thanks for that. The number of applications is limited though. It is now only around the Zoho Books ecosystem (Books, Expense...) and Zoho Social. = Are other applications plannedMarketing Tip #10: Start a customer loyalty program
Winning a new customer is great, but keeping them coming back is even better. A loyalty program rewards repeat buyers with points, giving them more reasons to shop again. Over time, this builds trust and long-term relationships. Try this today: Set upZia Actions: AI-powered Workflow Automation for Faster and Smarter Execution
Hello everyone, Updated on 12th Dec 2025 Zia actions for Workflow is available for Enterprise edition ONLY. These features are currently available in the following DCs: US, CA, EU, IN, and AU Email Auto reply and Content Generation are available as EarlyDo Individual Forums within Categories, in Desk Community, Produce Their Own RSS Feed?
Do Individual Forums within Categories, in Desk Community, Produce Their Own RSS Feed? If not, can anyone share a work-around that could help me get an RSS feed for individual category forums?Incremental Migration Issue – Ticket Showing Resolution on Dec 9 Despite Urgent MX Cutover (Ticket ID: 152080262)
I am experiencing an issue with Zoho Mail incremental migration from Rackspace. The initial full migration completed successfully, but the incremental migration for one mailbox failed immediately with the message: “User not exist” This appears to be aResend Client Portal Invitation + View Email Delivery Status
Hi Zoho Team, We hope you are doing well. We would like to request two important enhancements related to the Zoho Creator Client Portal invitation process. At the moment, when we add a user to the Client Portal, Zoho Creator automatically sends an invitationGet user last login
1. Is there a way to programmatically get the last user login to trigger certain workflows? 2. Is there a way to programmatically access the custom fields on a user's account?Seeking Zoho Creator Expert (Delivery Management App / Logistics Ops) — Built & Deployed Before
Hi everyone, We’re building a Delivery Management App (focused on delivery operations for now) using Zoho Creator. We’re looking for a Zoho Creator expert who has already developed and deployed a similar delivery/workflow system and can assist us withAdding Multiple Files to a Zoho Vault Entry
There is a old blog post talking about adding multiple file attachments to one Zoho Vault Secret: https://www.zoho.com/blog/vault/introducing-new-features-in-zoho-vault-powerful-password-sharing-wider-storing.html Is that still possible, I can see howFNB South Africa Bank Feed
I should've thought this wouldn't work. As suspect, Zoho claims to be able to pull bank feeds from First National Bank (South Africa), but fails everytime. I suppose Xero (or even Sage One) is the way to go? If they (miraculously) get it to work again,Next Page