# Select fields (/docs/orm/prisma-client/queries/select-fields)

Location: ORM > Prisma Client > Queries > Select fields

By default, Prisma Client returns all scalar fields for a model and no relations. Use `select` and `include` to make the result smaller, clearer, and more intentional.

Return the default fields [#return-the-default-fields]

If you do not pass `select`, `include`, or `omit`, Prisma Client returns all scalar fields for the model and excludes relations from the result.

Select specific fields [#select-specific-fields]

Use `select` when you only need a few scalar fields:

```ts
const user = await prisma.user.findFirst({
  select: {
    email: true,
    name: true,
  },
});
```

Return nested objects by selecting relation fields [#return-nested-objects-by-selecting-relation-fields]

Use `include` when you want related records alongside the main result:

```ts
const user = await prisma.user.findFirst({
  include: {
    posts: true,
  },
});
```

Nest selections [#nest-selections]

You can combine both patterns to keep relation payloads focused:

```ts
const user = await prisma.user.findFirst({
  select: {
    email: true,
    posts: {
      select: {
        title: true,
        published: true,
      },
    },
  },
});
```

Omit fields instead of selecting everything manually [#omit-fields-instead-of-selecting-everything-manually]

If you mostly want the default result but need to exclude a few fields, see [Excluding fields](/orm/prisma-client/queries/excluding-fields).

Related pages [#related-pages]

* [Relation queries](/orm/prisma-client/queries/relation-queries)
* [Filtering and sorting](/orm/prisma-client/queries/filtering-and-sorting)
* [Prisma Client API reference](/orm/reference/prisma-client-reference#select)

## Related pages

- [`Aggregation, grouping, and summarizing`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/orm/prisma-client/queries/aggregation-grouping-summarizing): Use Prisma Client to aggregate, group by, count, and select distinct.
- [`CRUD`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/orm/prisma-client/queries/crud): Learn how to perform create, read, update, and delete operations
- [`Excluding fields`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/orm/prisma-client/queries/excluding-fields): Learn how to exclude fields from Prisma Client results with the omit option.
- [`Filtering and sorting`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/orm/prisma-client/queries/filtering-and-sorting): Learn how to filter Prisma Client queries with where and sort results with orderBy.
- [`Full-text search`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/orm/prisma-client/queries/full-text-search): Learn how to search text fields with Prisma Client using your database's native full-text search support.