[[query-dsl-distance-feature-query]]
=== Distance feature query
++++
<titleabbrev>Distance feature</titleabbrev>
++++

The `distance_feature` query is a specialized query that only works
on <<date, `date`>>, <<date_nanos, `date_nanos`>> or <<geo-point,`geo_point`>>
fields. Its goal is to boost documents' scores based on proximity
to some given origin. For example, use this query if you want to
give more weight to documents with dates closer to a certain date,
or to documents with locations closer to a certain location.

This query is called `distance_feature` query, because it dynamically
calculates distances between the given origin and documents' field values,
and use these distances as features to boost the documents' scores.

`distance_feature` query is typically used on its own to find the nearest
neighbors to a given point, or put in a `should` clause of a
<<query-dsl-bool-query,`bool`>> query so that its score is added to the score
of the query.

Compared to using <<query-dsl-function-score-query,`function_score`>> or other
ways to modify the score, this query has the benefit of being able to
efficiently skip non-competitive hits when
<<search-uri-request,`track_total_hits`>> is not set to `true`.

==== Syntax of distance_feature query

`distance_feature` query has the following syntax:
[source,js]
--------------------------------------------------
"distance_feature": {
  "field": <field>,
  "origin": <origin>,
  "pivot": <pivot>,
  "boost" : <boost>
}
--------------------------------------------------
// NOTCONSOLE

[horizontal]
`field`::
    Required parameter. Defines the name of the field on which to calculate
    distances. Must be a field of the type `date`, `date_nanos` or `geo_point`,
    and must be indexed (`"index": true`, which is the default) and has
    <<doc-values, doc values>> (`"doc_values": true`, which is the default).

`origin`::
    Required parameter. Defines a point of origin used for calculating
    distances. Must be a date for date and date_nanos fields,
    and a geo-point for geo_point fields. Date math (for example `now-1h`) is
    supported for a date origin.

`pivot`::
    Required parameter. Defines the distance from origin at which the computed
    score will equal to a half of the `boost` parameter. Must be
    a `number+date unit` ("1h", "10d",...) for date and date_nanos fields,
    and a `number + geo unit` ("1km", "12m",...) for geo fields.

`boost`::
    Optional parameter with a default value of `1`. Defines the factor by which
    to multiply the score. Must be a non-negative float number.


The `distance_feature` query computes a document's score as following:

`score = boost * pivot / (pivot + distance)`

where `distance` is the absolute difference between the origin and
a document's field value.

==== Example using distance_feature query

Let's look at an example. We index several documents containing
information about sales items, such as name, production date,
and location.

[source,js]
--------------------------------------------------
PUT items
{
  "mappings": {
    "properties": {
      "name": {
        "type": "keyword"
      },
      "production_date": {
        "type": "date"
      },
      "location": {
        "type": "geo_point"
      }
    }
  }
}

PUT items/_doc/1
{
  "name" : "chocolate",
  "production_date": "2018-02-01",
  "location": [-71.34, 41.12]
}

PUT items/_doc/2
{
  "name" : "chocolate",
  "production_date": "2018-01-01",
  "location": [-71.3, 41.15]
}


PUT items/_doc/3
{
  "name" : "chocolate",
  "production_date": "2017-12-01",
  "location": [-71.3, 41.12]
}

POST items/_refresh
--------------------------------------------------
// CONSOLE

We look for all chocolate items, but we also want chocolates
that are produced recently (closer to the date `now`)
to be ranked higher.

[source,js]
--------------------------------------------------
GET items/_search
{
  "query": {
    "bool": {
      "must": {
        "match": {
          "name": "chocolate"
        }
      },
      "should": {
        "distance_feature": {
          "field": "production_date",
          "pivot": "7d",
          "origin": "now"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
--------------------------------------------------
// CONSOLE
// TEST[continued]

We can look for all chocolate items, but we also want chocolates
that are produced locally (closer to our geo origin)
come first in the result list.

[source,js]
--------------------------------------------------
GET items/_search
{
  "query": {
    "bool": {
      "must": {
        "match": {
          "name": "chocolate"
        }
      },
      "should": {
        "distance_feature": {
          "field": "location",
          "pivot": "1000m",
          "origin": [-71.3, 41.15]
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
--------------------------------------------------
// CONSOLE
// TEST[continued]