An alias field type creates another name for an existing field. You can use aliases in the[search](#using-aliases-in-search-api-operations) and [field capabilities](#using-aliases-in-field-capabilities-api-operations) API operations, with some [exceptions](#exceptions). To set up an [alias](#alias-field), you need to specify the [original field](#original-field) name in the `path` parameter.
`path` | The full path to the original field, including all parent objects. For example, parent.child.field_name. Required.
## Alias field
Alias fields must obey the following rules:
- An alias field can only have one original field.
- In nested objects, the alias must have the same nesting level as the original field.
To change the field that the alias references, update the mappings. Note that aliases in any previously stored percolator queries will still reference the original field.
{: .note }
## Original field
The original field for an alias must obey the following rules:
- The original field must be created before the alias is created.
- The original field cannot be an object or another alias.
## Using aliases in search API operations
You can use aliases in the following read operations of the search API:
- Queries
- Sorts
- Aggregations
-`stored_fields`
-`docvalue_fields`
- Suggestions
- Highlights
- Scripts that access field values
## Using aliases in field capabilities API operations
To use an alias in the field capabilities API, specify it in the fields parameter.