## Syntax
```mermaid
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'themeVariables': {
'fontSize': '11px',
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}}%%
flowchart LR
ods_start((START))
ods_start --> ods_0_0[ODS]
ods_0_0 --> ods_0_1["("]:::quoted
ods_0_1 --> ods_0_2[booleanConstant]
ods_0_2 --> ods_0_3[","]:::quoted
ods_0_2 --> ods_0_5
ods_0_3 --> ods_0_4[intervalConstant]
ods_0_4 --> ods_0_5[")"]:::quoted
ods_0_5 --> ods_end((END))
```
## Purpose
The `ods`-hint controls the use of the [[Invantive Data Cache]] stored in a relational database. The Invantive Data Cache is also the basis of the Operational Data Store managed by Invantive Data Replicator. The `ods`-hint specifies the maximum age data from the data cache eligible for use.
The boolean specifies whether the Data Cache may be used to answer a query. Set it to false to disable use of Data Cache for the duration of the query. Keep it on the default `true` to use Data Cache.
The interval specifies the period of time during which cached results are considered sufficiently fresh for use, such as '30 minutes'.
When no interval is present, the actual platform is consulted. The default with Invantive Data Cache enabled is to always use the data cache contents when not stale according to the metadata of the data cache. In general, that defaults to a maximum age of 7 days.
When use of data cache is requested and a filter is applied, all data will be retrieved from the actual platform and filtered on the Invantive UniversalSQL engine. This also applies when a filter is applied that can be forwarded to the actual platform.
It can be faster to not use the data cache when the data is requested a limited number of times and the filter severely reduces the amount of data to be transported.
## Examples
Retrieve the transaction lines from Exact Online directly, even when Invantive Data Cache is activated:
```sql
select /*+ ods(false) */ *
from TransactionLinesBulk
order
by Id
```
Retrieve the accounts from Exact Online when the data in Data Cache is older than 1 hour and from the Data Cache when sufficiently fresh:
```sql
select /*+ ods(true, interval '1 hour') */ count(*)
from AccountsBulk
```