Search work items using natural language
5 min
Intermediate
By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to:
- Search and filter work items using natural language
- Gain a better understanding of JQL using Rovo
Search and filter work items using Rovo
Rovo lets you use natural language to find your work faster. When you ask a question in your own words, it is translated into Jira Query Language (JQL), which is then used to search for relevant work items and their relationships. JQL enables more precise filtering based on fields like priority, assignee, and work type, and allows you to combine multiple criteria to pinpoint specific items, including those that need attention or may be blocking progress.
👉 For example: Frank is a support manager unfamiliar with JQL but frequently needs to conduct work item searches. He can simply ask “Find all bugs reported in the space mobile dev” and retrieve all reported bugs within the "mobile dev" Jira space.
👇 Here’s an example of a query in plain language to retrieve all work items reported on a Jira space.
To see the JQL query, select JQL next to Basic.The translated JQL representation will display beneath the original natural language query.
How to search for work items using Rovo
👇 Click through the tabs below to see the steps on how to search for work items using Rovo.
Select Search from the main navigation bar. Then, select Search Jira for work items.
Rovo can only do searches that it can express as a JQL query. To learn more about JQL, check out Atlassian Documentation.
Gain a better understanding of JQL using Rovo
You don’t need to know JQL to search for work items with Rovo. If you’re interested in learning more about JQL, Rovo can help by showing the JQL query it generates based on your search. When you enter a query, Rovo provides both the search results and the corresponding JQL string.
👇 The JQL translation is shown below the original natural language query.
Rovo may create JQL functions that are incorrect or don’t work. Rewrite your query and try again if something looks off.
Example JQL queries in natural language
👇 Review the table below for examples of JQL queries in natural language.
Natural language | JQL query |
|---|---|
Work items in space EZJQL that were created in the last 30 days | spaceJira = "EZJQL" AND created >= "-30d" |
Epics labeled ux | type = "epic" and labels = "ux" |
Work items missing an assignee | assignee IS EMPTY |
Unresolved work items in space EZJQL with a due date, ordered by earliest due date | resolved = empty AND duedate IS NOT EMPTY order by duedate |
Work items belonging to parent EZJQL-11 order by created | parent = "EZJQL-11" order by created |
Work items in space EZJQL due before 1st december 2023 | spaceJira = "EZJQL" and due < "2023/12/01" |
High priority work items labelled marketing | labels = "marketing" and priority = "High" |
Work items in Sprint Two reported in November 2023 | sprint = "Sprint Two" AND created >= "2023/11/01" AND created < "2023/12/01" |
Most recently updated stories | type = "story" ORDER BY updated DESC |
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Use JQL to filter search results
- What is JQL?
- Access JQL searches
- Learn the language of JQL queries
- Elements of JQL syntax
- Write a simple query