docs/data/reusables/code-scanning/run-additional-queries.md

When you use {% data variables.product.prodname_codeql %} to scan code, the {% data variables.product.prodname_codeql %} analysis engine generates a database from the code and runs queries on it. {% data variables.product.prodname_codeql %} analysis uses a default set of queries, but you can specify more queries to run, in addition to the default queries.

{% ifversion codeql-packs %} You can run extra queries if they are part of a {% data variables.product.prodname_codeql %} pack (beta) published to the {% data variables.product.company_short %} {% data variables.product.prodname_container_registry %} or a {% data variables.product.prodname_ql %} pack stored in a repository. For more information, see "About {% data variables.product.prodname_code_scanning %} with {% data variables.product.prodname_codeql %}."

The options available to specify the additional queries you want to run are:

• packs to install one or more {% data variables.product.prodname_codeql %} query packs (beta) and run the default query suite or queries for those packs.
• queries to specify a single .ql file, a directory containing multiple .ql files, a .qls query suite definition file, or any combination. For more information about query suite definitions, see "Creating {% data variables.product.prodname_codeql %} query suites."

You can use both packs and queries in the same workflow. {% else %} Any additional queries you want to run must belong to a {% data variables.product.prodname_ql %} pack in a repository. For more information, see "About {% data variables.product.prodname_code_scanning %} with {% data variables.product.prodname_codeql %}."

You can specify a single .ql file, a directory containing multiple .ql files, a .qls query suite definition file, or any combination. For more information about query suite definitions, see "Creating {% data variables.product.prodname_codeql %} query suites." {% endif %}

{% ifversion fpt or ghec %}We don't recommend referencing query suites directly from the github/codeql repository, for example, github/codeql/cpp/ql/src@main. Such queries would have to be recompiled, and may not be compatible with the version of {% data variables.product.prodname_codeql %} currently active on {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %}, which could lead to errors during analysis.{% endif %}