There are a few characters and words you need to escape while using Sitecore query. You can escape special characters wrapping them in a #. For example a hyphen in a query needs to be escaped.

Example

string query = "/sitecore/content//*[@#site-title#=’Example Value’]";

In the previous example we use the single quote (‘) to wrap the field value. Using a single quote in the field value will break the parser.  At this point you can use an escaped double quote to wrap the field value containing the single quote.

Example

string query = "/sitecore/content//*[@#site-title#=<strong>"</strong>It’s great<strong>"</strong>]";

There is also a list of words that  needs to escaped when used in the path (before //*), there words are :

• ancestor
• and
• child
• descendant
• div
• false
• following
• mod
• or
• parent
• preceding
• self
• true
• xor

Example

string query = "/sitecore/content/#this or that#/*[@#site-title#="Example Value"];

More information about the Sitecore Query Syntax on SDN:
http://sdn.sitecore.net/Reference/Using%20Sitecore%20Query.aspx

Author: Pieter Brinkman (123 Posts)

Pieter is Technical Marketing Manager for Sitecore Netherlands and owner of Gaatverweg.nl. He has more than ten years experience with software developing in multiple programming languages and with different Content Management Systems. Before joining Sitecore Pieter was a lead developer for multiple Sitecore and .Net projects, he joined Sitecore in 2011 as an Solution Architect in The Netherlands, after two years as an Solution Architect he joined the Technical Marketing department. In the role as Techinical Marketing Manager he is responsible for the Global MVP program and the Sitecore technical branding strategy. You can follow Pieter on twitter: @pieterbrink123 or Google+

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