---
title: Use Discover with ES|QL
description: Find the Discover tasks that are specific to ES|QL mode, from running a first query to reading results and building lookup indices.
url: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4302/explore-analyze/discover/use-esql
products:
  - Elastic Documentation
  - Kibana
applies_to:
  - Elastic Cloud Serverless: Generally available
  - Elastic Stack: Generally available
---

# Use Discover with ES|QL
ES|QL mode in **Discover** lets you explore data with an ES|QL query. The query sets the data, so you don't need a data view. Classic mode uses data views with Kibana Query Language (KQL) or Lucene.
For the editor itself, time parameters, AI assistance, and Fast mode, refer to [Use ES|QL in the Kibana UI](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4302/explore-analyze/query-filter/languages/esql-kibana). If you haven't run a query in this mode yet, start with [Get started with ES|QL in Discover](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4302/explore-analyze/discover/try-esql).

## ES|QL tasks in Discover


| When you need this                                                                            | Guide                                                                                                                                                                  |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| You haven't run an ES|QL query in Discover yet                                                | [Get started with ES|QL in Discover](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4302/explore-analyze/discover/try-esql)                                          |
| You want to query in ES|QL, or go back to KQL, and you need to know what happens to the query | [Switch between ES|QL and classic mode](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4302/explore-analyze/discover/switch-esql-mode)                               |
| You're writing a query and need an index or a field name                                      | [Browse data sources and fields from the ES|QL editor in Discover](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4302/explore-analyze/discover/browse-esql-sources) |
| You have results and want to read them, sort them, or filter from a value                     | [Work with ES|QL results in Discover](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4302/explore-analyze/discover/esql-results)                                     |
| You want to change a value in the query without keeping several copies                        | [Add variable controls to Discover queries](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4302/explore-analyze/discover/esql-variable-controls)                     |
| You need enrichment data for a `LOOKUP JOIN`                                                  | [Create lookup indices from Discover queries](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4302/explore-analyze/discover/create-lookup-indices)                    |
| You grouped with `STATS BY` and want to look inside the groups                                | [Inspect grouped STATS results in Discover](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4302/explore-analyze/discover/inspect-grouped-stats)                      |
| You want to find a spike, dip, or shift in a time series                                      | [Detect change points in Discover](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4302/explore-analyze/discover/detect-change-points)                                |
| You want to keep the chart, the table, or the session                                         | [Save a Discover session for reuse](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4302/explore-analyze/discover/save-open-search)                                   |


## Related pages

- [Explore fields and data with Discover](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4302/explore-analyze/discover/discover-get-started)
- [Use ES|QL in the Kibana UI](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4302/explore-analyze/query-filter/languages/esql-kibana)
- [Lens visualizations using ES|QL queries](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4302/explore-analyze/visualize/esorql)