# Multi-stage query The general explanation of the multi-stage query engine is provided in the [Multi-stage query engine](/release-1.4.0/reference/multi-stage-engine.md) reference documentation. This section provides a deep dive into the multi-stage query engine. Most of the concepts explained here are related to the internals of the multi-stage query engine and users don't need to know about them in order to write queries. However, understanding these concepts can help you to take advantage of the engine's capabilities and to troubleshoot issues. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.pinot.apache.org/release-1.4.0/for-users/user-guide-query/multi-stage-query.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.