# Using Patterns in Alumio

**URL:** <https://forum.alumio.com/t/using-patterns-in-alumio/2223>\
**Category:** Transformers\
**Created:** [July 28, 2025, 7:36am UTC](https://forum.alumio.com/t/using-patterns-in-alumio/2223 "2025-07-28T07:36:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![o.plokha](https://forum.alumio.com/user_avatar/forum.alumio.com/o.plokha/32/337_2.png) [@o.plokha](https://forum.alumio.com/u/o.plokha)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 7:36am UTC](https://forum.alumio.com/t/using-patterns-in-alumio/2223/1 "2025-07-28T07:36:38Z")

</div>

### Table of contents

- Introduction
- Selecting Data
- Common Pattern
- Moving and Copying Data

### Introduction

In Alumio, fields marked with a **pattern info icon** support dynamic data handling using patterns. Patterns allow  
you to work with flexible data structures by matching multiple paths. These fields let you use **dot-notation paths**  
(like `customer.name` or `orders.*.id`) to select, move, or delete data.

### Selecting Data

Patterns can be used to select data. By using special symbols like wildcards, you can match specific values,  
entire sections of nested data, or multiple items at once—without needing to list each path individually.

### Common Pattern

| Symbol | Description | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `.` | Separates levels in the data | `customer.name` = `"John"` |
| `*` | Matches **any value** at that level | `orders.*.id` = matches all order IDs |
| `?` | Matches **a single character** | `product.?d` = `product.id`, `product.ad` |
| `[abc]` | Matches **one of several characters** | `status.[ao]k` = `status.ok`, `status.ak` |

### Moving and Copying Data

Patterns can also be used to move or copy data. In some forms (such as the **Move using a pattern** transformer), you may  
be asked to enter:

- A **source pattern** (where the data comes from)
- A **destination pattern** (where the data should go)

You can use patterns with wildcard and placeholders to move or copy multiple pieces of data at once.

Patterns may include wildcards like `*` to match any value at that level. If you use multiple wildcards, you can  
refer back to each one in the destination using numbered placeholders:

- `$1` matches the first `*`
- `$2` matches the second `*`, and so on

### Example

**Source pattern:**

```auto
categories.*

```

**Destination pattern:**

```auto
archived_categories.$1

```

**What it does:**  
Moves all categories (like `categories.shoes`, `categories.hats`, etc.) into  
`archived_categories.shoes`, `archived_categories.hats`, and so on.

> 💡 **Note:** `$1` refers to whatever matched the `*` in the source pattern.