# qry (1-qry.us)

A person says "qry" as a quick way to write "query." They mean a question or a request for information. They want to look something up or ask for data.

## What a model may hear
- database query (SQL and data systems): Assume the user wants a SELECT statement or a database operation, and may write SQL unprompted
- API query parameter (web development and REST APIs): Treat it as a URL parameter string or a GET request, and may construct a URL with ?qry=
- query language command (search engines and information retrieval): Expect structured search syntax or a formal query language like Lucene or GraphQL
- abbreviated file or variable name (programming and scripting): Assume qry is a variable holding a query object, and may reference it in code examples

## Where people and models part ways
- Says: "Run a qry for me"
  Means: Look up some information
  May be taken as: The model writes SQL or assumes a database exists that the person does not have
  Say instead: "Search the web for this information"
- Says: "Save my qry"
  Means: Remember what I asked
  May be taken as: The model assumes the person wants to store a database query or cache an API call
  Say instead: "Remember this question I asked you"
- Says: "Fix the qry"
  Means: Correct my question
  May be taken as: The model debugs SQL code the person never wrote
  Say instead: "Improve how I phrased my question"
- Says: "Send the qry"
  Means: Submit my request
  May be taken as: The model constructs an HTTP request with query parameters to an endpoint
  Say instead: "Submit this request to the right place"

## Tips
- Spell out "query" if you do not want code in return
- Say "web search" or "look up" to avoid database assumptions
- Add "no code" when you want a plain answer
- Specify "SQL query" only if you actually want database language
- Say "my question" instead of "my qry" to stay in plain language

## Often confused with
- query: the full word, less likely to trigger code
- qry file: a specific file extension for query files in some systems
- QRY: uppercase, more often a protocol or system name
- qry string: explicitly means URL query string, a technical term
- inquiry: no technical abbreviation, stays in plain language
- request: more often HTTP-specific in technical contexts