> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex-xdr-3.x/cortex-xdr-3.x-documentation/cortex-xdr-xql/build-xql-queries/how-to-build-xql-queries/expected-results-when-querying-fields.md).

# Expected results when querying fields

{% hint style="info" %}

### Notice

Building Cortex Query Language (XQL) queries in the Query Builder requires a Cortex XDR Pro license.
{% endhint %}

The following are returned when querying fields:

* If specific fields are stated in the [fields](/cortex-xdr-3.x/cortex-xdr-3.x-documentation/cortex-xdr-xql/stages/fields.md) stage, those exact fields will be returned. 
* The `_time` system field will not be added to queries that contain the `comp` stage.
* All current system fields will be returned, even if they are not stated in the query.
* Each new column in the result set created by the [alter](/cortex-xdr-3.x/cortex-xdr-3.x-documentation/cortex-xdr-xql/stages/alter.md) stage will be added as the last column. You can specify a different column order by modifying the field order in the [fields](/cortex-xdr-3.x/cortex-xdr-3.x-documentation/cortex-xdr-xql/stages/fields.md) stage of the query.
* Each new column in the result set created by the [comp](/cortex-xdr-3.x/cortex-xdr-3.x-documentation/cortex-xdr-xql/stages/comp.md) stage will be added as the last column. Other fields that are not in the `group by / calculated` column will be removed from the result set, including the core fields and `_time` system field.
* When no limit is explicitly stated in a `datamodel` query, a maximum of 1,000,000 results are returned (default). When this limit is applied to results using the [limit](/cortex-xdr-3.x/cortex-xdr-3.x-documentation/cortex-xdr-xql/stages/limit.md) stage, it will be indicated in the user interface.


---

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