---
schema_version: "1"
id: 925cca45c3bccaef1215de32bb1e405ec38af0d8c74be2feff83772d3066e49c
title: "ApexGuru Antipattern: SOQL with Unused Fields"
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/xcloud/264-0-0/apexguru_antipattern_soql_with_unused_fields.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.apexguru_antipattern_soql_with_unused_fields.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 512beb68e78a5a4ba2026490095b1261e4666920b5336bb59e94b91a3e8cefed
description: Retrieving unused fields in SOQL queries increases overhead, resource consumption, and query execution time. It also increases heap size and causes governor limits to be exceeded, especially with large datasets or complex objects. Only include fields directly required by your logic. Regularly review and improve SOQL queries to remove unused fields.
products:
  - Cross Cloud
release: "264"
---
# ApexGuru Antipattern: SOQL with Unused Fields

Retrieving unused fields in SOQL queries increases overhead, resource consumption, and query execution time. It also increases heap size and causes governor limits to be exceeded, especially with large datasets or complex objects. Only include fields directly required by your logic. Regularly review and improve SOQL queries to remove unused fields.

## Scope

Detection and recommendation

## Detection Example

```java
apex
SELECT id, KnowledgeArticleId, PublishStatus, Article_Tag__c 
FROM Knowledge__kav 
WHERE id = :recordId
```

## Recommendation

Remove the unused `KnowledgeArticleId` field to optimize the query. Include only fields directly required by your logic. Regularly review and optimize SOQL queries.

```java
SELECT id, PublishStatus, Article_Tag__c 
FROM Knowledge__kav 
WHERE id = :recordId
```