Merge branch 'mb/fetch' into develop

37 files changed, 4745 insertions, 169 deletions

diff --git a/.pylintrc b/.pylintrc
index bcb2a86..6b7f471 100644
--- a/.pylintrc
+++ b/.pylintrc
@@ -76,10 +76,10 @@ max-attributes=7
 max-bool-expr=5
 
 # Maximum number of branch for function / method body.
-max-branches=15
+max-branches=20
 
 # Maximum number of locals for function / method body.
-max-locals=15
+max-locals=20
 
 # Maximum number of parents for a class (see R0901).
 max-parents=7
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ max-public-methods=20
 max-returns=15
 
 # Maximum number of statements in function / method body.
-max-statements=50
+max-statements=100
 
 # Minimum number of public methods for a class (see R0903).
 min-public-methods=1
diff --git a/bsfs/graph/ac/base.py b/bsfs/graph/ac/base.py
index 0703e2e..79b09e5 100644
--- a/bsfs/graph/ac/base.py
+++ b/bsfs/graph/ac/base.py
@@ -72,4 +72,8 @@ class AccessControlBase(abc.ABC):
     def filter_read(self, node_type: schema.Node, query: ast.filter.FilterExpression) -> ast.filter.FilterExpression:
         """Re-write a filter *query* to get (i.e., read) *node_type* nodes."""
 
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def fetch_read(self, node_type: schema.Node, query: ast.fetch.FetchExpression) -> ast.fetch.FetchExpression:
+        """Re-write a fetch *query* to get (i.e, read) values for *node_type* nodes."""
+
 ## EOF ##
diff --git a/bsfs/graph/ac/null.py b/bsfs/graph/ac/null.py
index 12b4e87..6a923a5 100644
--- a/bsfs/graph/ac/null.py
+++ b/bsfs/graph/ac/null.py
@@ -54,4 +54,8 @@ class NullAC(base.AccessControlBase):
         """Re-write a filter *query* to get (i.e., read) *node_type* nodes."""
         return query
 
+    def fetch_read(self, node_type: schema.Node, query: ast.fetch.FetchExpression) -> ast.fetch.FetchExpression:
+        """Re-write a fetch *query* to get (i.e, read) values for *node_type* nodes."""
+        return query
+
 ## EOF ##
diff --git a/bsfs/graph/graph.py b/bsfs/graph/graph.py
index 2210755..df2e3a5 100644
--- a/bsfs/graph/graph.py
+++ b/bsfs/graph/graph.py
@@ -133,4 +133,12 @@ class Graph():
         # return Nodes instance
         return _nodes.Nodes(self._backend, self._user, type_, guids)
 
+    def all(self, node_type: URI) -> _nodes.Nodes:
+        """Return all instances of type *node_type*."""
+        # get node type
+        type_ = self.schema.node(node_type)
+        guids = self._backend.get(type_, None) # no need to materialize
+        return _nodes.Nodes(self._backend, self._user, type_, guids)
+
+
 ## EOF ##
diff --git a/bsfs/graph/nodes.py b/bsfs/graph/nodes.py
index 5a93f77..bc71a32 100644
--- a/bsfs/graph/nodes.py
+++ b/bsfs/graph/nodes.py
@@ -5,17 +5,21 @@ A copy of the license is provided with the project.
 Author: Matthias Baumgartner, 2022
 """
 # imports
+from collections import abc
 import time
 import typing
 
 # bsfs imports
-from bsfs import schema as _schema
+from bsfs import schema as bsc
 from bsfs.namespace import ns
+from bsfs.query import ast, validate
 from bsfs.triple_store import TripleStoreBase
 from bsfs.utils import errors, URI, typename
 
 # inner-module imports
 from . import ac
+from . import result
+from . import walk
 
 # exports
 __all__: typing.Sequence[str] = (
@@ -37,7 +41,7 @@ class Nodes():
     _user: URI
 
     # node type.
-    _node_type: _schema.Node
+    _node_type: bsc.Node
 
     # guids of nodes. Can be empty.
     _guids: typing.Set[URI]
@@ -46,13 +50,16 @@ class Nodes():
             self,
             backend: TripleStoreBase,
             user: URI,
-            node_type: _schema.Node,
+            node_type: bsc.Node,
             guids: typing.Iterable[URI],
             ):
+        # set main members
         self._backend = backend
         self._user = user
         self._node_type = node_type
         self._guids = set(guids)
+        # create helper instances
+        # FIXME: Assumes that the schema does not change while the instance is in use!
         self._ac = ac.NullAC(self._backend, self._user)
 
     def __eq__(self, other: typing.Any) -> bool:
@@ -72,7 +79,7 @@ class Nodes():
         return f'{typename(self)}({self._node_type}, {self._guids})'
 
     @property
-    def node_type(self) -> _schema.Node:
+    def node_type(self) -> bsc.Node:
         """Return the node's type."""
         return self._node_type
 
@@ -81,9 +88,72 @@ class Nodes():
         """Return all node guids."""
         return iter(self._guids)
 
+    @property
+    def schema(self) -> bsc.Schema:
+        """Return the store's local schema."""
+        return self._backend.schema
+
+    def __add__(self, other: typing.Any) -> 'Nodes':
+        """Concatenate guids. Backend, user, and node type must match."""
+        if not isinstance(other, type(self)):
+            return NotImplemented
+        if self._backend != other._backend:
+            raise ValueError(other)
+        if self._user != other._user:
+            raise ValueError(other)
+        if self.node_type != other.node_type:
+            raise ValueError(other)
+        return Nodes(self._backend, self._user, self.node_type, self._guids | other._guids)
+
+    def __or__(self, other: typing.Any) -> 'Nodes':
+        """Concatenate guids. Backend, user, and node type must match."""
+        return self.__add__(other)
+
+    def __sub__(self, other: typing.Any) -> 'Nodes':
+        """Subtract guids. Backend, user, and node type must match."""
+        if not isinstance(other, type(self)):
+            return NotImplemented
+        if self._backend != other._backend:
+            raise ValueError(other)
+        if self._user != other._user:
+            raise ValueError(other)
+        if self.node_type != other.node_type:
+            raise ValueError(other)
+        return Nodes(self._backend, self._user, self.node_type, self._guids - other._guids)
+
+    def __and__(self, other: typing.Any) -> 'Nodes':
+        """Intersect guids. Backend, user, and node type must match."""
+        if not isinstance(other, type(self)):
+            return NotImplemented
+        if self._backend != other._backend:
+            raise ValueError(other)
+        if self._user != other._user:
+            raise ValueError(other)
+        if self.node_type != other.node_type:
+            raise ValueError(other)
+        return Nodes(self._backend, self._user, self.node_type, self._guids & other._guids)
+
+    def __len__(self) -> int:
+        """Return the number of guids."""
+        return len(self._guids)
+
+    def __iter__(self) -> typing.Iterator['Nodes']:
+        """Iterate over individual guids. Returns `Nodes` instances."""
+        return iter(
+            Nodes(self._backend, self._user, self.node_type, {guid})
+            for guid in self._guids
+            )
+
+    def __getattr__(self, name: str):
+        try:
+            return super().__getattr__(name) # type: ignore [misc] # parent has no getattr
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
+        return walk.Walk(self, walk.Walk.step(self.schema, self.node_type, name))
+
     def set(
             self,
-            pred: URI, # FIXME: URI or _schema.Predicate?
+            pred: URI, # FIXME: URI or bsc.Predicate?
             value: typing.Any,
             ) -> 'Nodes':
         """Set predicate *pred* to *value*."""
@@ -91,7 +161,7 @@ class Nodes():
 
     def set_from_iterable(
             self,
-            predicate_values: typing.Iterable[typing.Tuple[URI, typing.Any]], # FIXME: URI or _schema.Predicate?
+            predicate_values: typing.Iterable[typing.Tuple[URI, typing.Any]], # FIXME: URI or bsc.Predicate?
             ) -> 'Nodes':
         """Set mutliple predicate-value pairs at once."""
         # TODO: Could group predicate_values by predicate to gain some efficiency
@@ -120,6 +190,120 @@ class Nodes():
 
         return self
 
+    def get(
+            self,
+            *paths: typing.Union[URI, typing.Iterable[URI]],
+            view: typing.Union[typing.Type[list], typing.Type[dict]] = dict,
+            **view_kwargs,
+            ) -> typing.Any:
+        """Get values or nodes at *paths*.
+        Return an iterator (view=list) or a dict (view=dict) over the results.
+        """
+        # FIXME: user-provided Fetch query AST?
+        # check args
+        if len(paths) == 0:
+            raise AttributeError('expected at least one path, found none')
+        if view not in (dict, list):
+            raise ValueError(f'expected dict or list, found {view}')
+        # process paths: create fetch ast, build name mapping, and find unique paths
+        schema = self.schema
+        statements = set()
+        name2path = {}
+        unique_paths = set() # paths that result in a single (unique) value
+        normpath: typing.Tuple[URI, ...]
+        for idx, path in enumerate(paths):
+            # normalize path
+            if isinstance(path, str):
+                normpath = (URI(path), )
+            elif isinstance(path, abc.Iterable):
+                if not all(isinstance(step, str) for step in path):
+                    raise TypeError(path)
+                normpath = tuple(URI(step) for step in path)
+            else:
+                raise TypeError(path)
+            # check path's schema consistency
+            if not all(schema.has_predicate(pred) for pred in normpath):
+                raise errors.ConsistencyError(f'path is not fully covered by the schema: {path}')
+            # check path's uniqueness
+            if all(schema.predicate(pred).unique for pred in normpath):
+                unique_paths.add(path)
+            # fetch tail predicate
+            tail = schema.predicate(normpath[-1])
+            # determine tail ast node type
+            factory = ast.fetch.Node if isinstance(tail.range, bsc.Node) else ast.fetch.Value
+            # assign name
+            name = f'fetch{idx}'
+            name2path[name] = (path, tail)
+            # create tail ast node
+            curr: ast.fetch.FetchExpression = factory(tail.uri, name)
+            # walk towards front
+            hop: URI
+            for hop in normpath[-2::-1]:
+                curr = ast.fetch.Fetch(hop, curr)
+            # add to fetch query
+            statements.add(curr)
+        # aggregate fetch statements
+        if len(statements) == 1:
+            fetch = next(iter(statements))
+        else:
+            fetch = ast.fetch.All(*statements)
+        # add access controls to fetch
+        fetch = self._ac.fetch_read(self.node_type, fetch)
+
+        # compose filter ast
+        filter = ast.filter.IsIn(self.guids) # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
+        # add access controls to filter
+        filter = self._ac.filter_read(self.node_type, filter)
+
+        # validate queries
+        validate.Filter(self._backend.schema)(self.node_type, filter)
+        validate.Fetch(self._backend.schema)(self.node_type, fetch)
+
+        # process results, convert if need be
+        def triple_iter():
+            # query the backend
+            triples = self._backend.fetch(self.node_type, filter, fetch)
+            # process triples
+            for root, name, raw in triples:
+                # get node
+                node = Nodes(self._backend, self._user, self.node_type, {root})
+                # get path
+                path, tail = name2path[name]
+                # covert raw to value
+                if isinstance(tail.range, bsc.Node):
+                    value = Nodes(self._backend, self._user, tail.range, {raw})
+                else:
+                    value = raw
+                # emit triple
+                yield node, path, value
+
+        # simplify by default
+        view_kwargs['node'] = view_kwargs.get('node', len(self._guids) != 1)
+        view_kwargs['path'] = view_kwargs.get('path', len(paths) != 1)
+        view_kwargs['value'] = view_kwargs.get('value', False)
+
+        # return results view
+        if view == list:
+            return result.to_list_view(
+                triple_iter(),
+                # aggregation args
+                **view_kwargs,
+                )
+
+        if view == dict:
+            return result.to_dict_view(
+                triple_iter(),
+                # context
+                len(self._guids) == 1,
+                len(paths) == 1,
+                unique_paths,
+                # aggregation args
+                **view_kwargs,
+                )
+
+        raise errors.UnreachableError() # view was already checked
+
+
     def __set(self, predicate: URI, value: typing.Any):
         """
         """
@@ -145,7 +329,7 @@ class Nodes():
         guids = set(self._ensure_nodes(node_type, guids))
 
         # check value
-        if isinstance(pred.range, _schema.Literal):
+        if isinstance(pred.range, bsc.Literal):
             # check write permissions on existing nodes
             # As long as the user has write permissions, we don't restrict
             # the creation or modification of literal values.
@@ -160,8 +344,9 @@ class Nodes():
                 [value],
                 )
 
-        elif isinstance(pred.range, _schema.Node):
+        elif isinstance(pred.range, bsc.Node):
             # check value type
+            # FIXME: value could be a set of Nodes
             if not isinstance(value, Nodes):
                 raise TypeError(value)
             # value's node_type must be a subclass of the predicate's range
@@ -192,7 +377,7 @@ class Nodes():
         else:
             raise errors.UnreachableError()
 
-    def _ensure_nodes(self, node_type: _schema.Node, guids: typing.Iterable[URI]):
+    def _ensure_nodes(self, node_type: bsc.Node, guids: typing.Iterable[URI]):
         """
         """
         # check node existence
diff --git a/bsfs/graph/resolve.py b/bsfs/graph/resolve.py
index 00b778b..4677401 100644
--- a/bsfs/graph/resolve.py
+++ b/bsfs/graph/resolve.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ class Filter():
         self.schema = schema
 
     def __call__(self, root_type: bsc.Node, node: ast.filter.FilterExpression):
+        # FIXME: node can be None!
         return self._parse_filter_expression(root_type, node)
 
     def _parse_filter_expression(
diff --git a/bsfs/graph/result.py b/bsfs/graph/result.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..31822f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bsfs/graph/result.py
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+"""
+
+Part of the BlackStar filesystem (bsfs) module.
+A copy of the license is provided with the project.
+Author: Matthias Baumgartner, 2022
+"""
+# imports
+from collections import defaultdict
+import typing
+
+# bsfs imports
+from bsfs.utils import URI
+
+# exports
+__all__: typing.Sequence[str] = (
+    'to_list_view',
+    'to_dict_view',
+    )
+
+
+## code ##
+
+# FIXME: node, path, value seem counter-intuitive:
+# node.get(..., node=True) removes the node part.
+# wouldn't it make more sense if node=True keeps the node part
+# and node=False drops it?
+
+def to_list_view(
+        triples,
+        # aggregators
+        node: bool,
+        path: bool,
+        value: bool, # pylint: disable=unused-argument
+        ):
+    """Return an iterator over results.
+
+    Dependent on the *node*, *path*, and *value* flags,
+    the respective component is omitted.
+
+    """
+    if not node and not path:
+        return iter(val for _, _, val in triples)
+    if not node:
+        return iter((pred, val) for _, pred, val in triples)
+    if not path:
+        return iter((subj, val) for subj, _, val in triples)
+    return iter((subj, pred, val) for subj, pred, val in triples)
+
+
+def to_dict_view(
+        triples,
+        # context
+        one_node: bool,
+        one_path: bool,
+        unique_paths: typing.Set[typing.Union[URI, typing.Iterable[URI]]],
+        # aggregators
+        node: bool,
+        path: bool,
+        value: bool,
+        default: typing.Optional[typing.Any] = None,
+        ) -> typing.Any:
+    """Return a dict of results.
+
+    Note that triples are materialized to create this view.
+
+    The returned structure depends on the *node*, *path*, and *value* flags.
+    If all flags are set to False, returns a dict(node -> dict(path -> set(values))).
+    Setting a flag to true omits or simplifies the respective component (if possible).
+
+    """
+    # NOTE: To create a dict, we need to materialize or make further assumptions
+    # (e.g., sorted in a specific order).
+
+    data: typing.Any # disable type checks on data since it's very flexibly typed.
+
+    # FIXME: type of data can be overwritten later on (if value)
+
+    if not node and not path:
+        data = set()
+    elif node ^ path:
+        data = defaultdict(set)
+    else:
+        data = defaultdict(lambda: defaultdict(set))
+
+    for subj, pred, val in triples:
+        unique = pred in unique_paths
+        if not node and not path:
+            if not value and unique and one_node and one_path:
+                return val
+            data.add(val)
+        elif not node:
+            # remove node from result, group by predicate
+            if not value and unique and one_node:
+                data[pred] = val
+            else:
+                data[pred].add(val)
+        elif not path:
+            # remove predicate from result, group by node
+            if not value and unique and one_path:
+                data[subj] = val
+            else:
+                data[subj].add(val)
+        else:
+            if not value and unique:
+                data[subj][pred] = val
+            else:
+                data[subj][pred].add(val)
+
+    # FIXME: Combine multiple Nodes instances into one?
+
+    # convert defaultdict to ordinary dict
+    # pylint: disable=too-many-boolean-expressions
+    if not node and not path and not value \
+       and len(unique_paths) > 0 and one_node and one_path \
+       and len(data) == 0:
+        return default
+    # pylint: enable=too-many-boolean-expressions
+    if not node and not path:
+        return data
+    if node ^ path:
+        return dict(data)
+    return {key: dict(val) for key, val in data.items()}
+
+## EOF ##
diff --git a/bsfs/graph/walk.py b/bsfs/graph/walk.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1b1cfa0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bsfs/graph/walk.py
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+"""
+
+Part of the BlackStar filesystem (bsfs) module.
+A copy of the license is provided with the project.
+Author: Matthias Baumgartner, 2022
+"""
+# imports
+from collections import abc
+import typing
+
+# bsfs imports
+from bsfs import schema as bsc
+
+# inner-module imports
+# NOTE: circular import! OK as long as only used for type annotations.
+from . import nodes # pylint: disable=cyclic-import
+
+# exports
+__all__: typing.Sequence[str] = (
+    'Walk',
+    )
+
+
+## code ##
+
+class Walk(abc.Hashable, abc.Callable): # type: ignore [misc] # invalid base class (Callable)
+    """Syntactic sugar for `Nodes` to build and act on predicate paths via members."""
+
+    # Link to Nodes instance.
+    _root: 'nodes.Nodes'
+
+    # Current predicate path.
+    _path: typing.Tuple[bsc.Predicate, ...]
+
+    def __init__(
+            self,
+            root: 'nodes.Nodes',
+            path: typing.Sequence[bsc.Predicate],
+            ):
+        self._root = root
+        self._path = tuple(path)
+
+    @property
+    def tail(self):
+        """Return the node type at the end of the path."""
+        return self._path[-1].range
+
+
+    ## comparison
+
+    def __hash__(self) -> int:
+        """Return an integer hash that identifies the instance."""
+        return hash((type(self), self._root, self._path))
+
+    def __eq__(self, other) -> bool:
+        """Compare against *other* backend."""
+        return isinstance(other, type(self)) \
+           and self._root == other._root \
+           and self._path == other._path
+
+
+    ## representation
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        """Return a formal string representation."""
+        path = ', '.join(pred.uri for pred in self._path)
+        return f'Walk({self._root.node_type.uri}, ({path}))'
+
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
+        """Return an informal string representation."""
+        path = ', '.join(pred.uri for pred in self._path)
+        return f'Walk(@{self._root.node_type.uri}: {path})'
+
+
+    ## walk
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def step(
+            schema: bsc.Schema,
+            node: bsc.Node,
+            name: str,
+            ) -> typing.Tuple[bsc.Predicate]:
+        """Get an predicate at *node* whose fragment matches *name*."""
+        predicates = tuple(
+            pred
+            for pred
+            in schema.predicates_at(node)
+            if pred.uri.get('fragment', None) == name
+            )
+        if len(predicates) == 0: # no fragment found for name
+            raise ValueError(f'no available predicate matches {name}') # FIXME: Custom exception
+        if len(predicates) > 1: # ambiguous name
+            raise ValueError(f'{name} matches multiple predicates') # FIXME: Custom exception
+        # append predicate to walk
+        return predicates # type: ignore [return-value] # size is one
+
+    def __getattr__(self, name: str) -> 'Walk':
+        """Alias for `Walk.step(name)`."""
+        try:
+            return super().__getattr__(name)
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
+        # get predicate
+        pred = self.step(self._root.schema, self.tail, name)
+        # append predicate to walk
+        return Walk(self._root, self._path + pred)
+
+
+    ## get paths ##
+
+    def get(self, **kwargs) -> typing.Any:
+        """Alias for `Nodes.get(..)`."""
+        return self._root.get(tuple(pred.uri for pred in self._path), **kwargs)
+
+    def __call__(self, **kwargs) -> typing.Any: # pylint: disable=arguments-differ
+        """Alias for `Walk.get(...)`."""
+        return self.get(**kwargs)
+
+
+## EOF ##
diff --git a/bsfs/query/ast/__init__.py b/bsfs/query/ast/__init__.py
index 704d051..66b097d 100644
--- a/bsfs/query/ast/__init__.py
+++ b/bsfs/query/ast/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Query AST components.
 
-The query AST consists of a Filter syntax tree.
+The query AST consists of a Filter and a Fetch syntax trees.
 
 Classes beginning with an underscore (_) represent internal type hierarchies
 and should not be used for parsing. Note that the AST structures do not
@@ -14,10 +14,12 @@ Author: Matthias Baumgartner, 2022
 import typing
 
 # inner-module imports
+from . import fetch
 from . import filter_ as filter # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
 
 # exports
 __all__: typing.Sequence[str] = (
+    'fetch',
     'filter',
     )
 
diff --git a/bsfs/query/ast/fetch.py b/bsfs/query/ast/fetch.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d653a8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bsfs/query/ast/fetch.py
@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+"""
+
+Part of the BlackStar filesystem (bsfs) module.
+A copy of the license is provided with the project.
+Author: Matthias Baumgartner, 2022
+"""
+# imports
+from collections import abc
+import typing
+
+# bsfs imports
+from bsfs.utils import URI, typename, normalize_args
+
+# exports
+__all__ : typing.Sequence[str] = (
+    'All',
+    'Fetch',
+    'FetchExpression',
+    'Node',
+    'This',
+    'Value',
+    )
+
+
+## code ##
+
+class FetchExpression(abc.Hashable):
+    """Generic Fetch expression."""
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        """Return the expressions's string representation."""
+        return f'{typename(self)}()'
+
+    def __hash__(self) -> int:
+        """Return the expression's integer representation."""
+        return hash(type(self))
+
+    def __eq__(self, other: typing.Any) -> bool:
+        """Return True if *self* and *other* are equivalent."""
+        return isinstance(other, type(self))
+
+
+class All(FetchExpression):
+    """Fetch all child expressions."""
+
+    # child expressions.
+    expr: typing.Set[FetchExpression]
+
+    def __init__(self, *expr):
+        # unpack child expressions
+        unfolded = set(normalize_args(*expr))
+        # check child expressions
+        if len(unfolded) == 0:
+            raise AttributeError('expected at least one expression, found none')
+        if not all(isinstance(itm, FetchExpression) for itm in unfolded):
+            raise TypeError(expr)
+        # initialize
+        super().__init__()
+        # assign members
+        self.expr = unfolded
+
+    def __iter__(self) -> typing.Iterator[FetchExpression]:
+        return iter(self.expr)
+
+    def __len__(self) -> int:
+        return len(self.expr)
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return f'{typename(self)}({self.expr})'
+
+    def __hash__(self) -> int:
+        return hash((super().__hash__(), tuple(sorted(self.expr, key=repr))))
+
+    def __eq__(self, other: typing.Any) -> bool:
+        return super().__eq__(other) and self.expr == other.expr
+
+
+class _Branch(FetchExpression):
+    """Branch along a predicate."""
+
+    # FIXME: Use a Predicate (like in ast.filter) so that we can also reverse them!
+
+    # predicate to follow.
+    predicate: URI
+
+    def __init__(self, predicate: URI):
+        if not isinstance(predicate, URI):
+            raise TypeError(predicate)
+        self.predicate = predicate
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return f'{typename(self)}({self.predicate})'
+
+    def __hash__(self) -> int:
+        return hash((super().__hash__(), self.predicate))
+
+    def __eq__(self, other: typing.Any) -> bool:
+        return super().__eq__(other) and self.predicate == other.predicate
+
+
+class Fetch(_Branch):
+    """Follow a predicate before evaluating a child epxression."""
+
+    # child expression.
+    expr: FetchExpression
+
+    def __init__(self, predicate: URI, expr: FetchExpression):
+        # check child expressions
+        if not isinstance(expr, FetchExpression):
+            raise TypeError(expr)
+        # initialize
+        super().__init__(predicate)
+        # assign members
+        self.expr = expr
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return f'{typename(self)}({self.predicate}, {self.expr})'
+
+    def __hash__(self) -> int:
+        return hash((super().__hash__(), self.expr))
+
+    def __eq__(self, other: typing.Any) -> bool:
+        return super().__eq__(other) and self.expr == other.expr
+
+
+class _Named(_Branch):
+    """Fetch a (named) symbol at a predicate."""
+
+    # symbol name.
+    name: str
+
+    def __init__(self, predicate: URI, name: str):
+        super().__init__(predicate)
+        self.name = str(name)
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return f'{typename(self)}({self.predicate}, {self.name})'
+
+    def __hash__(self) -> int:
+        return hash((super().__hash__(), self.name))
+
+    def __eq__(self, other: typing.Any) -> bool:
+        return super().__eq__(other) and self.name == other.name
+
+
+class Node(_Named): # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
+    """Fetch a Node at a predicate."""
+    # FIXME: Is this actually needed?
+
+
+class Value(_Named): # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
+    """Fetch a Literal at a predicate."""
+
+
+class This(FetchExpression):
+    """Fetch the current Node."""
+
+    # symbol name.
+    name: str
+
+    def __init__(self, name: str):
+        super().__init__()
+        self.name = str(name)
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return f'{typename(self)}({self.name})'
+
+    def __hash__(self) -> int:
+        return hash((super().__hash__(), self.name))
+
+    def __eq__(self, other: typing.Any) -> bool:
+        return super().__eq__(other) and self.name == other.name
+
+## EOF ##
diff --git a/bsfs/query/ast/filter_.py b/bsfs/query/ast/filter_.py
index 2f0270c..b29d89e 100644
--- a/bsfs/query/ast/filter_.py
+++ b/bsfs/query/ast/filter_.py
@@ -33,9 +33,6 @@ import typing
 # bsfs imports
 from bsfs.utils import URI, typename, normalize_args
 
-# inner-module imports
-#from . import utils
-
 # exports
 __all__ : typing.Sequence[str] = (
     # base classes
@@ -153,6 +150,7 @@ class _Agg(FilterExpression, abc.Collection):
         # check type
         if not all(isinstance(e, FilterExpression) for e in unfolded):
             raise TypeError(expr)
+        # FIXME: Require at least one child expression?
         # assign member
         self.expr = unfolded
 
@@ -172,7 +170,7 @@ class _Agg(FilterExpression, abc.Collection):
         return f'{typename(self)}({self.expr})'
 
     def __hash__(self) -> int:
-        return hash((super().__hash__(), tuple(self.expr))) # FIXME: Unique hash of different orders over self.expr
+        return hash((super().__hash__(), tuple(sorted(self.expr, key=repr))))
 
     def __eq__(self, other) -> bool:
         return super().__eq__(other) and self.expr == other.expr
@@ -449,20 +447,72 @@ class OneOf(PredicateExpression, abc.Collection):
         return f'{typename(self)}({self.expr})'
 
     def __hash__(self) -> int:
-        return hash((super().__hash__(), tuple(self.expr))) # FIXME: Unique hash of different orders over self.expr
+        return hash((super().__hash__(), tuple(sorted(self.expr, key=repr))))
 
     def __eq__(self, other) -> bool:
         return super().__eq__(other) and self.expr == other.expr
 
 
 # Helpers
+# invalid-name is disabled since they explicitly mimic an expression
 
-def IsIn(*values): # pylint: disable=invalid-name # explicitly mimics an expression
+def IsIn(*values) -> FilterExpression: # pylint: disable=invalid-name
     """Match any of the given URIs."""
-    return Or(Is(value) for value in normalize_args(*values))
-
-def IsNotIn(*values): # pylint: disable=invalid-name # explicitly mimics an expression
+    args = normalize_args(*values)
+    if len(args) == 0:
+        raise AttributeError('expected at least one value, found none')
+    if len(args) == 1:
+        return Is(args[0])
+    return Or(Is(value) for value in args)
+
+def IsNotIn(*values) -> FilterExpression: # pylint: disable=invalid-name
     """Match none of the given URIs."""
     return Not(IsIn(*values))
 
+
+def Between( # pylint: disable=invalid-name
+        lo: float = float('-inf'),
+        hi: float = float('inf'),
+        lo_strict: bool = True,
+        hi_strict: bool = True,
+        ) -> FilterExpression :
+    """Match numerical values between *lo* and *hi*. Include bounds if strict is False."""
+    if abs(lo) == hi == float('inf'):
+        raise ValueError('range cannot be INF on both sides')
+    if lo > hi:
+        raise ValueError(f'lower bound ({lo}) cannot be less than upper bound ({hi})')
+    if lo == hi and not lo_strict and not hi_strict:
+        return Equals(lo)
+    if lo == hi: # either bound is strict
+        raise ValueError('bounds cannot be equal when either is strict')
+    if lo != float('-inf') and hi != float('inf'):
+        return And(GreaterThan(lo, lo_strict), LessThan(hi, hi_strict))
+    if lo != float('-inf'):
+        return GreaterThan(lo, lo_strict)
+    # hi != float('inf'):
+    return LessThan(hi, hi_strict)
+
+
+def Includes(*values, approx: bool = False) -> FilterExpression: # pylint: disable=invalid-name
+    """Match any of the given *values*. Uses `Substring` if *approx* is set."""
+    args = normalize_args(*values)
+    cls = Substring if approx else Equals
+    if len(args) == 0:
+        raise AttributeError('expected at least one value, found none')
+    if len(args) == 1:
+        return cls(args[0])
+    return Or(cls(v) for v in args)
+
+
+def Excludes(*values, approx: bool = False) -> FilterExpression: # pylint: disable=invalid-name
+    """Match none of the given *values*. Uses `Substring` if *approx* is set."""
+    args = normalize_args(*values)
+    cls = Substring if approx else Equals
+    if len(args) == 0:
+        raise AttributeError('expected at least one value, found none')
+    if len(args) == 1:
+        return Not(cls(args[0]))
+    return Not(Or(cls(v) for v in args))
+
+
 ## EOF ##
diff --git a/bsfs/query/matcher.py b/bsfs/query/matcher.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a910756
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bsfs/query/matcher.py
@@ -0,0 +1,366 @@
+"""
+
+Part of the BlackStar filesystem (bsfs) module.
+A copy of the license is provided with the project.
+Author: Matthias Baumgartner, 2022
+"""
+# imports
+from collections import defaultdict
+from itertools import product
+from time import time
+import random
+import threading
+import typing
+
+# external imports
+from hopcroftkarp import HopcroftKarp
+
+# bsfs imports
+from bsfs.utils import errors, typename
+
+# inner-module imports
+from . import ast
+
+# exports
+__all__ : typing.Sequence[str] = (
+    'Filter',
+    )
+
+
+## code ##
+
+class Any(ast.filter.FilterExpression, ast.filter.PredicateExpression):
+    """Match any ast class.
+
+    Note that Any instances are unique, i.e. they do not compare, and
+    can hence be repeated in a set:
+    >>> Any() == Any()
+    False
+    >>> len({Any(), Any(), Any(), Any()})
+    4
+
+    """
+
+    # unique instance id
+    _uid: typing.Tuple[int, int, float, float]
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        self._uid = (
+            id(self),
+            id(threading.current_thread()),
+            time(),
+            random.random(),
+            )
+
+    def __eq__(self, other: typing.Any):
+        return super().__eq__(other) and self._uid == other._uid
+
+    def __hash__(self):
+        return hash((super().__hash__(), self._uid))
+
+
+class Rest(ast.filter.FilterExpression, ast.filter.PredicateExpression):
+    """Match the leftovers in a set of items to be compared.
+
+    Rest can be used in junction with aggregating expressions such as ast.filter.And,
+    ast.filter.Or, ast.filter.OneOf. It controls childs expressions that were not yet
+    consumed by other matching rules. Rest may match to only a specific expression.
+    The expresssion defaults to Any().
+
+    For example, the following to ast structures would match since Rest
+    allows an arbitrary repetition of ast.filter.Equals statements.
+
+    >>> And(Equals('hello'), Equals('world'), Equals('foobar'))
+    >>> And(Equals('world'), Rest(Partial(Equals)))
+
+    """
+
+    # child expression for the Rest.
+    expr: typing.Union[ast.filter.FilterExpression, ast.filter.PredicateExpression]
+
+    def __init__(
+            self,
+            expr: typing.Optional[typing.Union[ast.filter.FilterExpression, ast.filter.PredicateExpression]] = None,
+            ):
+        if expr is None:
+            expr = Any()
+        self.expr = expr
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return f'{typename(self)}({self.expr})'
+
+    def __hash__(self) -> int:
+        return hash((super().__hash__(), self.expr))
+
+    def __eq__(self, other: typing.Any) -> bool:
+        return super().__eq__(other) and self.expr == other.expr
+
+
+class Partial(ast.filter.FilterExpression, ast.filter.PredicateExpression):
+    """Match a partially defined ast expression.
+
+    Literal values might be irrelevant or unknown when comparing two ast
+    structures. Partial allows to constrain the matcher to a certain
+    ast class, while leaving some of its members unspecified.
+
+    Pass the class (not instance) and its members as keyword arguments
+    to Partial. Note that the arguments are not validated.
+
+    For example, the following instance matches any ast.filter.Equals,
+    irrespective of its value:
+
+    >>> Partial(ast.filter.Equals)
+
+    Likewise, the following instance matches any ast.filter.LessThan
+    that has a strict bounds, but makes no claim about the threshold:
+
+    >>> Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, strict=False)
+
+    """
+
+    # target node type.
+    node: typing.Type
+
+    # node construction args.
+    kwargs: typing.Dict[str, typing.Any]
+
+    def __init__(
+            self,
+            node: typing.Type,
+            **kwargs,
+            ):
+        self.node = node
+        self.kwargs = kwargs
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return f'{typename(self)}({self.node.__name__}, {self.kwargs})'
+
+    def __hash__(self) -> int:
+        kwargs = tuple((key, self.kwargs[key]) for key in sorted(self.kwargs))
+        return hash((super().__hash__(), self.node, kwargs))
+
+    def __eq__(self, other: typing.Any) -> bool:
+        return super().__eq__(other) \
+           and self.node == other.node \
+           and self.kwargs == other.kwargs
+
+    def match(
+            self,
+            name: str,
+            value: typing.Any,
+            ) -> bool:
+        """Return True if *name* is unspecified or matches *value*."""
+        return name not in self.kwargs or self.kwargs[name] == value
+
+
+T_ITEM_TYPE = typing.TypeVar('T_ITEM_TYPE') # pylint: disable=invalid-name
+
+def _set_matcher(
+        query: typing.Collection[T_ITEM_TYPE],
+        reference: typing.Collection[T_ITEM_TYPE],
+        cmp: typing.Callable[[T_ITEM_TYPE, T_ITEM_TYPE], bool],
+        ) -> bool:
+    """Compare two sets of child expressions.
+
+    This check has a best-case complexity of O(|N|**2) and worst-case
+    complexity of O(|N|**3), with N the number of child expressions.
+    """
+    # get reference items
+    r_items = list(reference)
+    # deal with Rest
+    r_rest = {itm for itm in r_items if isinstance(itm, Rest)}
+    if len(r_rest) > 1:
+        raise errors.BackendError(f'there must be at most one Rest instance per set, found {len(r_rest)}')
+    if len(r_rest) == 1:
+        # replace Rest by filling the reference up with rest's expression
+        # NOTE: convert r_items to list so that items can be repeated
+        expr = next(iter(r_rest)).expr # type: ignore [attr-defined]
+        r_items = [itm for itm in r_items if not isinstance(itm, Rest)]
+        r_items += [expr for _ in range(len(query) - len(r_items))] # type: ignore [misc]
+    # sanity check: cannot match if the item sizes differ:
+    # either a reference item is unmatched (len(r_items) > len(query))
+    # or a query item is unmatched (len(r_items) < len(query))
+    if len(query) != len(r_items):
+        return False
+
+    # To have a positive match between the query and the reference,
+    # each query expr has to match any reference expr.
+    # However, each reference expr can only be "consumed" once even
+    # if it matches multiple query exprs (e.g., the Any expression matches
+    # every query expr).
+    # This is a bipartide matching problem (Hall's marriage problem)
+    # and the Hopcroft-Karp-Karzanov algorithm finds a maximum
+    # matching. While there might be multiple maximum matchings,
+    # we only need to know whether (at least) one complete matching
+    # exists. The hopcroftkarp module provides this functionality.
+    # The HKK algorithm has worst-case complexity of O(|N|**2 * sqrt(|N|))
+    # and we also need to compare expressions pairwise, hence O(|N|**2).
+    num_items = len(r_items)
+    graph = defaultdict(set)
+    # build the bipartide graph as {lhs: {rhs}, ...}
+    # lhs and rhs must be disjoint identifiers.
+    for (ridx, ref), (nidx, node) in product(enumerate(r_items), enumerate(query)):
+        # add edges for equal expressions
+        if cmp(node, ref):
+            graph[ridx].add(num_items + nidx)
+
+    # maximum_matching returns the matches for all nodes in the graph
+    # ({ref_itm: node_itm}), hence a complete matching's size is
+    # the number of reference's child expressions.
+    return len(HopcroftKarp(graph).maximum_matching(keys_only=True)) == num_items
+
+
+class Filter():
+    """Compare a bsfs.query.ast.filter` query's structure to a reference ast.
+
+    The reference ast may include `Rest`, `Partial`, or `Any` to account for irrelevant
+    or unknown ast pieces.
+
+    This is only a structural comparison, not a semantic one. For example, the
+    two following queries are semantically identical, but structurally different,
+    and would therefore not match:
+
+    >>> ast.filter.OneOf(ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename))
+    >>> ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename)
+
+    """
+
+    def __call__(self, query: ast.filter.FilterExpression, reference: ast.filter.FilterExpression) -> bool:
+        """Compare a *query* to a *reference* ast structure.
+        Return True if both are structurally equivalent.
+        """
+        if not isinstance(query, ast.filter.FilterExpression):
+            raise errors.BackendError(f'expected filter expression, found {query}')
+        if not isinstance(reference, ast.filter.FilterExpression):
+            raise errors.BackendError(f'expected filter expression, found {reference}')
+        return self._parse_filter_expression(query, reference)
+
+    def _parse_filter_expression(
+            self,
+            node: ast.filter.FilterExpression,
+            reference: ast.filter.FilterExpression,
+            ) -> bool:
+        """Route *node* to the handler of the respective FilterExpression subclass."""
+        # generic checks: reference type must be Any or match node type
+        if isinstance(reference, Any):
+            return True
+        # node-specific checks
+        if isinstance(node, ast.filter.Not):
+            return self._not(node, reference)
+        if isinstance(node, ast.filter.Has):
+            return self._has(node, reference)
+        if isinstance(node, ast.filter.Distance):
+            return self._distance(node, reference)
+        if isinstance(node, (ast.filter.Any, ast.filter.All)):
+            return self._branch(node, reference)
+        if isinstance(node, (ast.filter.And, ast.filter.Or)):
+            return self._agg(node, reference)
+        if isinstance(node, (ast.filter.Is, ast.filter.Equals, ast.filter.Substring,
+                             ast.filter.StartsWith, ast.filter.EndsWith)):
+            return self._value(node, reference)
+        if isinstance(node, (ast.filter.LessThan, ast.filter.GreaterThan)):
+            return self._bounded(node, reference)
+        # invalid node
+        raise errors.BackendError(f'expected filter expression, found {node}')
+
+    def _parse_predicate_expression(
+            self,
+            node: ast.filter.PredicateExpression,
+            reference: ast.filter.PredicateExpression,
+            ) -> bool:
+        """Route *node* to the handler of the respective PredicateExpression subclass."""
+        if isinstance(reference, Any):
+            return True
+        if isinstance(node, ast.filter.Predicate):
+            return self._predicate(node, reference)
+        if isinstance(node, ast.filter.OneOf):
+            return self._one_of(node, reference)
+        # invalid node
+        raise errors.BackendError(f'expected predicate expression, found {node}')
+
+    def _one_of(self, node: ast.filter.OneOf, reference: ast.filter.PredicateExpression) -> bool:
+        if not isinstance(reference, type(node)):
+            return False
+        return _set_matcher(node, reference, self._parse_predicate_expression)
+
+    def _predicate(self, node: ast.filter.Predicate, reference: ast.filter.PredicateExpression) -> bool:
+        if not isinstance(reference, (Partial, type(node))):
+            return False
+        # partial check
+        if isinstance(reference, Partial):
+            if not isinstance(node, reference.node):
+                return False
+            return reference.match('predicate', node.predicate) \
+               and reference.match('reverse', node.reverse)
+        # full check
+        return node.predicate == reference.predicate \
+           and node.reverse == reference.reverse
+
+    def _branch(self,
+            node: typing.Union[ast.filter.Any, ast.filter.All],
+            reference: ast.filter.FilterExpression,
+            ) -> bool:
+        if not isinstance(reference, type(node)):
+            return False
+        if not self._parse_predicate_expression(node.predicate, reference.predicate): # type: ignore [attr-defined]
+            return False
+        if not self._parse_filter_expression(node.expr, reference.expr): # type: ignore [attr-defined]
+            return False
+        return True
+
+    def _agg(self, node: typing.Union[ast.filter.And, ast.filter.Or], reference: ast.filter.FilterExpression) -> bool:
+        if not isinstance(reference, type(node)):
+            return False
+        return _set_matcher(node, reference, self._parse_filter_expression) # type: ignore [arg-type]
+
+    def _not(self, node: ast.filter.Not, reference: ast.filter.FilterExpression) -> bool:
+        if not isinstance(reference, type(node)):
+            return False
+        return self._parse_filter_expression(node.expr, reference.expr)
+
+    def _has(self, node: ast.filter.Has, reference: ast.filter.FilterExpression) -> bool:
+        if not isinstance(reference, type(node)):
+            return False
+        return self._parse_predicate_expression(node.predicate, reference.predicate) \
+           and self._parse_filter_expression(node.count, reference.count)
+
+    def _distance(self, node: ast.filter.Distance, reference: ast.filter.FilterExpression) -> bool:
+        if not isinstance(reference, (Partial, type(node))):
+            return False
+        # partial check
+        if isinstance(reference, Partial):
+            if not isinstance(node, reference.node):
+                return False
+            return reference.match('reference', node.reference) \
+               and reference.match('threshold', node.threshold) \
+               and reference.match('strict', node.strict)
+        # full check
+        return node.reference == reference.reference \
+           and node.threshold == reference.threshold \
+           and node.strict == reference.strict
+
+    def _value(self, node: ast.filter._Value, reference: ast.filter.FilterExpression) -> bool:
+        if not isinstance(reference, (Partial, type(node))):
+            return False
+        # partial check
+        if isinstance(reference, Partial):
+            if not isinstance(node, reference.node):
+                return False
+            return reference.match('value', node.value)
+        # full ckeck
+        return node.value == reference.value
+
+    def _bounded(self, node: ast.filter._Bounded, reference: ast.filter.FilterExpression) -> bool:
+        if not isinstance(reference, (Partial, type(node))):
+            return False
+        # partial check
+        if isinstance(reference, Partial):
+            if not isinstance(node, reference.node):
+                return False
+            return reference.match('threshold', node.threshold) \
+               and reference.match('strict', node.strict)
+        # full check
+        return node.threshold == reference.threshold \
+           and node.strict == reference.strict
+
+## EOF ##
diff --git a/bsfs/query/validator.py b/bsfs/query/validator.py
index 904ac14..f0aa795 100644
--- a/bsfs/query/validator.py
+++ b/bsfs/query/validator.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ __all__ : typing.Sequence[str] = (
     'Filter',
     )
 
+# FIXME: Split into a submodule and the two classes into their own respective files.
 
 ## code ##
 
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ class Filter():
         """
         # root_type must be a schema.Node
         if not isinstance(root_type, bsc.Node):
-            raise TypeError(f'Expected a node, found {typename(root_type)}')
+            raise TypeError(f'expected a node, found {typename(root_type)}')
         # root_type must exist in the schema
         if root_type not in self.schema.nodes():
             raise errors.ConsistencyError(f'{root_type} is not defined in the schema')
@@ -223,4 +224,125 @@ class Filter():
         # FIXME: Check if node.value corresponds to type_
 
 
+class Fetch():
+    """Validate a `bsfs.query.ast.fetch` query's structure and schema compliance.
+
+    * Value can only be applied on literals
+    * Node can only be applied on nodes
+    * Names must be non-empty
+    * Branching nodes' predicates must match the type
+    * Symbols must be in the schema
+    * Predicates must follow the schema
+
+    """
+
+    # schema to validate against.
+    schema: bsc.Schema
+
+    def __init__(self, schema: bsc.Schema):
+        self.schema = schema
+
+    def __call__(self, root_type: bsc.Node, query: ast.fetch.FetchExpression):
+        """Validate a fetch *query*, assuming the subject having *root_type*.
+
+        Raises a `bsfs.utils.errors.ConsistencyError` if the query violates the schema.
+        Raises a `bsfs.utils.errors.BackendError` if the query structure is invalid.
+
+        """
+        # root_type must be a schema.Node
+        if not isinstance(root_type, bsc.Node):
+            raise TypeError(f'expected a node, found {typename(root_type)}')
+        # root_type must exist in the schema
+        if root_type not in self.schema.nodes():
+            raise errors.ConsistencyError(f'{root_type} is not defined in the schema')
+        # query must be a FetchExpression
+        if not isinstance(query, ast.fetch.FetchExpression):
+            raise TypeError(f'expected a fetch expression, found {typename(query)}')
+        # check root expression
+        self._parse_fetch_expression(root_type, query)
+        # all tests passed
+        return True
+
+    def _parse_fetch_expression(self, type_: bsc.Vertex, node: ast.fetch.FetchExpression):
+        """Route *node* to the handler of the respective FetchExpression subclass."""
+        if isinstance(node, (ast.fetch.Fetch, ast.fetch.Value, ast.fetch.Node)):
+            # NOTE: don't return so that checks below are executed
+            self._branch(type_, node)
+        if isinstance(node, (ast.fetch.Value, ast.fetch.Node)):
+            # NOTE: don't return so that checks below are executed
+            self._named(type_, node)
+        if isinstance(node, ast.fetch.All):
+            return self._all(type_, node)
+        if isinstance(node, ast.fetch.Fetch):
+            return self._fetch(type_, node)
+        if isinstance(node, ast.fetch.Value):
+            return self._value(type_, node)
+        if isinstance(node, ast.fetch.Node):
+            return self._node(type_, node)
+        if isinstance(node, ast.fetch.This):
+            return self._this(type_, node)
+        # invalid node
+        raise errors.BackendError(f'expected fetch expression, found {node}')
+
+    def _all(self, type_: bsc.Vertex, node: ast.fetch.All):
+        # check child expressions
+        for expr in node:
+            self._parse_fetch_expression(type_, expr)
+
+    def _branch(self, type_: bsc.Vertex, node: ast.fetch._Branch):
+        # type is a node
+        if not isinstance(type_, bsc.Node):
+            raise errors.ConsistencyError(f'expected a Node, found {type_}')
+        # node exists in the schema
+        if type_ not in self.schema.nodes():
+            raise errors.ConsistencyError(f'node {type_} is not in the schema')
+        # predicate exists in the schema
+        if not self.schema.has_predicate(node.predicate):
+            raise errors.ConsistencyError(f'predicate {node.predicate} is not in the schema')
+        pred = self.schema.predicate(node.predicate)
+        # type_ must be a subclass of domain
+        if not type_ <= pred.domain:
+            raise errors.ConsistencyError(
+                f'expected type {pred.domain} or subtype thereof, found {type_}')
+
+    def _fetch(self, type_: bsc.Vertex, node: ast.fetch.Fetch): # pylint: disable=unused-argument # type_ was considered in _branch
+        # range must be a node
+        rng = self.schema.predicate(node.predicate).range
+        if not isinstance(rng, bsc.Node):
+            raise errors.ConsistencyError(
+                f'expected the predicate\'s range to be a Node, found {rng}')
+        # child expression must be valid
+        self._parse_fetch_expression(rng, node.expr)
+
+    def _named(self, type_: bsc.Vertex, node: ast.fetch._Named): # pylint: disable=unused-argument # type_ was considered in _branch
+        # name must be set
+        if node.name.strip() == '':
+            raise errors.BackendError('node name cannot be empty')
+        # FIXME: check for double name use?
+
+    def _node(self, type_: bsc.Vertex, node: ast.fetch.Node): # pylint: disable=unused-argument # type_ was considered in _branch
+        # range must be a node
+        rng = self.schema.predicate(node.predicate).range
+        if not isinstance(rng, bsc.Node):
+            raise errors.ConsistencyError(
+                f'expected the predicate\'s range to be a Node, found {rng}')
+
+    def _value(self, type_: bsc.Vertex, node: ast.fetch.Value): # pylint: disable=unused-argument # type_ was considered in _branch
+        # range must be a literal
+        rng = self.schema.predicate(node.predicate).range
+        if not isinstance(rng, bsc.Literal):
+            raise errors.ConsistencyError(
+                f'expected the predicate\'s range to be a Literal, found {rng}')
+
+    def _this(self, type_: bsc.Vertex, node: ast.fetch.This):
+        # type is a node
+        if not isinstance(type_, bsc.Node):
+            raise errors.ConsistencyError(f'expected a Node, found {type_}')
+        # node exists in the schema
+        if type_ not in self.schema.nodes():
+            raise errors.ConsistencyError(f'node {type_} is not in the schema')
+        # name must be set
+        if node.name.strip() == '':
+            raise errors.BackendError('node name cannot be empty')
+
 ## EOF ##
diff --git a/bsfs/schema/schema.py b/bsfs/schema/schema.py
index 8d9a821..0de4203 100644
--- a/bsfs/schema/schema.py
+++ b/bsfs/schema/schema.py
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ class Schema():
         literals.add(types.ROOT_LITERAL)
         predicates.add(types.ROOT_PREDICATE)
         # add minimally necessary types to the schema
+        literals.add(types.ROOT_BLOB)
         literals.add(types.ROOT_NUMBER)
         literals.add(types.ROOT_TIME)
         literals.add(types.ROOT_ARRAY)
@@ -312,4 +313,8 @@ class Schema():
         """Return the Literal matching the *uri*."""
         return self._literals[uri]
 
+    def predicates_at(self, node: types.Node) -> typing.Iterator[types.Predicate]:
+        """Return predicates that have domain *node* (or superclass thereof)."""
+        return iter(pred for pred in self._predicates.values() if node <= pred.domain)
+
 ## EOF ##
diff --git a/bsfs/schema/types.py b/bsfs/schema/types.py
index 3a2e10c..12e7e94 100644
--- a/bsfs/schema/types.py
+++ b/bsfs/schema/types.py
@@ -380,6 +380,11 @@ ROOT_LITERAL = Literal(
     parent=None,
     )
 
+ROOT_BLOB = Literal(
+    uri=ns.bsfs.BinaryBlob,
+    parent=ROOT_LITERAL,
+    )
+
 ROOT_NUMBER = Literal(
     uri=ns.bsfs.Number,
     parent=ROOT_LITERAL,
diff --git a/bsfs/triple_store/base.py b/bsfs/triple_store/base.py
index 7e03714..1baa63b 100644
--- a/bsfs/triple_store/base.py
+++ b/bsfs/triple_store/base.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import typing
 # inner-module imports
 from bsfs.query import ast
 from bsfs.utils import URI, typename
-import bsfs.schema  as _schema
+import bsfs.schema  as bsc
 
 # exports
 __all__: typing.Sequence[str] = (
@@ -82,12 +82,12 @@ class TripleStoreBase(abc.ABC):
 
     @property
     @abc.abstractmethod
-    def schema(self) -> _schema.Schema:
+    def schema(self) -> bsc.Schema:
         """Return the store's local schema."""
 
     @schema.setter
     @abc.abstractmethod
-    def schema(self, schema: _schema.Schema):
+    def schema(self, schema: bsc.Schema):
         """Migrate to new schema by adding or removing class definitions.
 
         Commits before and after the migration.
@@ -112,17 +112,28 @@ class TripleStoreBase(abc.ABC):
     @abc.abstractmethod
     def get(
             self,
-            node_type: _schema.Node,
-            query: typing.Optional[ast.filter.FilterExpression] = None,
+            node_type: bsc.Node,
+            filter: typing.Optional[ast.filter.FilterExpression] = None, # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
             ) -> typing.Iterator[URI]:
-        """Return guids of nodes of type *node_type* that match the *query*.
-        Return all guids of the respective type if *query* is None.
+        """Return guids of nodes of type *node_type* that match the *filter*.
+        Return all guids of the respective type if *filter* is None.
+        """
+
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def fetch(
+            self,
+            node_type: bsc.Node,
+            filter: ast.filter.FilterExpression, # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
+            fetch: ast.fetch.FetchExpression,
+            ) -> typing.Iterator[typing.Tuple[URI, str, typing.Any]]:
+        """Return (guid, name, value) triples where the guid is determined by the *filter*
+        query and the name matches the *fetch* query.
         """
 
     @abc.abstractmethod
     def exists(
             self,
-            node_type: _schema.Node,
+            node_type: bsc.Node,
             guids: typing.Iterable[URI],
             ) -> typing.Iterable[URI]:
         """Return those *guids* that exist and have type *node_type* or a subclass thereof."""
@@ -130,7 +141,7 @@ class TripleStoreBase(abc.ABC):
     @abc.abstractmethod
     def create(
             self,
-            node_type: _schema.Node,
+            node_type: bsc.Node,
             guids: typing.Iterable[URI],
             ):
         """Create *guid* nodes with type *subject*."""
@@ -138,9 +149,9 @@ class TripleStoreBase(abc.ABC):
     @abc.abstractmethod
     def set(
             self,
-            node_type: _schema.Node, # FIXME: is the node_type even needed? Couldn't I infer from the predicate?
+            node_type: bsc.Node, # FIXME: is the node_type even needed? Couldn't I infer from the predicate?
             guids: typing.Iterable[URI],
-            predicate: _schema.Predicate,
+            predicate: bsc.Predicate,
             values: typing.Iterable[typing.Any],
             ):
         """Add triples to the graph.
diff --git a/bsfs/triple_store/sparql/parse_fetch.py b/bsfs/triple_store/sparql/parse_fetch.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..20d4e74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bsfs/triple_store/sparql/parse_fetch.py
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+"""
+
+Part of the BlackStar filesystem (bsfs) module.
+A copy of the license is provided with the project.
+Author: Matthias Baumgartner, 2022
+"""
+# standard imports
+import typing
+
+# bsfs imports
+from bsfs import schema as bsc
+from bsfs.query import ast
+from bsfs.utils import errors
+
+# inner-module imports
+from .utils import GenHopName, Query
+
+# exports
+__all__: typing.Sequence[str] = (
+    'Fetch',
+    )
+
+
+## code ##
+
+class Fetch():
+    """Translate `bsfs.query.ast.fetch` structures into Sparql queries."""
+
+    def __init__(self, schema):
+        self.schema = schema
+        self.ngen = GenHopName(prefix='?fch')
+
+    def __call__(
+            self,
+            root_type: bsc.Node,
+            root: ast.fetch.FetchExpression,
+            ) -> Query:
+        """
+        """
+        # check root_type
+        if not isinstance(root_type, bsc.Node):
+            raise errors.BackendError(f'expected Node, found {root_type}')
+        if root_type not in self.schema.nodes():
+            raise errors.ConsistencyError(f'node {root_type} is not in the schema')
+        # parse root
+        terms, expr = self._parse_fetch_expression(root_type, root, '?ent')
+        # assemble query
+        return Query(
+            root_type=root_type.uri,
+            root_head='?ent',
+            select=terms,
+            where=expr,
+            )
+
+    def _parse_fetch_expression(
+            self,
+            node_type: bsc.Vertex,
+            node: ast.fetch.FetchExpression,
+            head: str,
+            ):
+        """Route *node* to the handler of the respective FetchExpression subclass."""
+        if isinstance(node, ast.fetch.All):
+            return self._all(node_type, node, head)
+        if isinstance(node, ast.fetch.Fetch):
+            return self._fetch(node_type, node, head)
+        if isinstance(node, ast.fetch.Node):
+            return self._node(node_type, node, head)
+        if isinstance(node, ast.fetch.Value):
+            return self._value(node_type, node, head)
+        if isinstance(node, ast.fetch.This):
+            return self._this(node_type, node, head)
+        # invalid node
+        raise errors.BackendError(f'expected fetch expression, found {node}')
+
+    def _all(self, node_type: bsc.Vertex, node: ast.fetch.All, head: str):
+        # child expressions
+        terms, exprs = zip(*[self._parse_fetch_expression(node_type, expr, head) for expr in node])
+        terms = {term for sub in terms for term in sub}
+        exprs = ' .\n'.join({expr for expr in exprs if len(expr.strip()) > 0})
+        return terms, exprs
+
+    def _fetch(self, node_type: bsc.Vertex, node: ast.fetch.Fetch, head: str): # pylint: disable=unused-argument # (node_type)
+        # child expressions
+        rng = self.schema.predicate(node.predicate).range
+        nexthead = next(self.ngen)
+        terms, expr = self._parse_fetch_expression(rng, node.expr, nexthead)
+        return terms, f'OPTIONAL{{ {head} <{node.predicate}> {nexthead} .\n {expr} }}'
+
+    def _node(self, node_type: bsc.Vertex, node: ast.fetch.Node, head: str): # pylint: disable=unused-argument # (node_type)
+        if f'?{node.name}'.startswith(self.ngen.prefix):
+            raise errors.BackendError(f'Node name must start with {self.ngen.prefix}')
+        # compose and return statement
+        term = next(self.ngen)
+        return {(term, node.name)}, f'OPTIONAL{{ {head} <{node.predicate}> {term} }}'
+
+    def _value(self, node_type: bsc.Vertex, node: ast.fetch.Value, head: str): # pylint: disable=unused-argument # (node_type)
+        if f'?{node.name}'.startswith(self.ngen.prefix):
+            raise errors.BackendError(f'Value name must start with {self.ngen.prefix}')
+        # compose and return statement
+        term = next(self.ngen)
+        return {(term, node.name)}, f'OPTIONAL{{ {head} <{node.predicate}> {term} }}'
+
+    def _this(self, node_type: bsc.Vertex, node: ast.fetch.This, head: str): # pylint: disable=unused-argument # (node_type)
+        if f'?{node.name}'.startswith(self.ngen.prefix):
+            raise errors.BackendError(f'This name must start with {self.ngen.prefix}')
+        # compose and return statement
+        return {(head, node.name)}, ''
+
+## EOF ##
diff --git a/bsfs/triple_store/sparql/parse_filter.py b/bsfs/triple_store/sparql/parse_filter.py
index 8b6b976..dca0aea 100644
--- a/bsfs/triple_store/sparql/parse_filter.py
+++ b/bsfs/triple_store/sparql/parse_filter.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from bsfs.utils import URI, errors
 
 # inner-module imports
 from .distance import DISTANCE_FU
+from .utils import GenHopName, Query
 
 # exports
 __all__: typing.Sequence[str] = (
@@ -28,25 +29,6 @@ __all__: typing.Sequence[str] = (
 
 ## code ##
 
-class _GenHopName():
-    """Generator that produces a new unique symbol name with each iteration."""
-
-    # Symbol name prefix.
-    prefix: str
-
-    # Current counter.
-    curr: int
-
-    def __init__(self, prefix: str = '?hop', start: int = 0):
-        self.prefix = prefix
-        self.curr = start - 1
-
-    def __next__(self):
-        """Generate and return the next unique name."""
-        self.curr += 1
-        return self.prefix + str(self.curr)
-
-
 class Filter():
     """Translate `bsfs.query.ast.filter` structures into Sparql queries."""
 
@@ -54,18 +36,18 @@ class Filter():
     schema: bsc.Schema
 
     # Generator that produces unique symbol names.
-    ngen: _GenHopName
+    ngen: GenHopName
 
     def __init__(self, graph, schema):
         self.graph = graph
         self.schema = schema
-        self.ngen = _GenHopName()
+        self.ngen = GenHopName(prefix='?flt')
 
     def __call__(
             self,
             root_type: bsc.Node,
             root: typing.Optional[ast.filter.FilterExpression] = None,
-            ) -> str:
+            ) -> Query:
         """
         """
         # check root_type
@@ -79,15 +61,18 @@ class Filter():
         else:
             cond = self._parse_filter_expression(root_type, root, '?ent')
         # assemble query
-        return f'''
-            SELECT ?ent
-            WHERE {{
-                ?ent <{ns.rdf.type}>/<{ns.rdfs.subClassOf}>* <{root_type.uri}> .
-                {cond}
-            }}
-            '''
+        return Query(
+            root_type=root_type.uri,
+            root_head='?ent',
+            where=cond,
+            )
 
-    def _parse_filter_expression(self, type_: bsc.Vertex, node: ast.filter.FilterExpression, head: str) -> str:
+    def _parse_filter_expression(
+            self,
+            type_: bsc.Vertex,
+            node: ast.filter.FilterExpression,
+            head: str,
+            ) -> str:
         """Route *node* to the handler of the respective FilterExpression subclass."""
         if isinstance(node, ast.filter.Is):
             return self._is(type_, node, head)
diff --git a/bsfs/triple_store/sparql/sparql.py b/bsfs/triple_store/sparql/sparql.py
index fedd227..dbf9d45 100644
--- a/bsfs/triple_store/sparql/sparql.py
+++ b/bsfs/triple_store/sparql/sparql.py
@@ -5,8 +5,11 @@ A copy of the license is provided with the project.
 Author: Matthias Baumgartner, 2022
 """
 # imports
+import base64
 import itertools
 import typing
+
+# external imports
 import rdflib
 
 # bsfs imports
@@ -16,6 +19,7 @@ from bsfs.query import ast
 from bsfs.utils import errors, URI
 
 # inner-module imports
+from . import parse_fetch
 from . import parse_filter
 from .. import base
 from .distance import DISTANCE_FU
@@ -29,6 +33,8 @@ __all__: typing.Sequence[str] = (
 
 ## code ##
 
+rdflib.term.bind(ns.bsfs.BinaryBlob, bytes, constructor=base64.b64decode)
+
 class _Transaction():
     """Lightweight rdflib transactions for in-memory databases."""
 
@@ -92,13 +98,16 @@ class SparqlStore(base.TripleStoreBase):
     # Filter parser
     _filter_parser: parse_filter.Filter
 
+    # Fetch parser
+    _fetch_parser: parse_fetch.Fetch
+
     def __init__(self):
         super().__init__(None)
         self._graph = rdflib.Graph()
         self._transaction = _Transaction(self._graph)
-        # NOTE: parsing bsfs.query.ast.filter.Has requires xsd:integer.
         self._schema = bsc.Schema(literals={bsc.ROOT_NUMBER.child(ns.xsd.integer)})
         self._filter_parser = parse_filter.Filter(self._graph, self._schema)
+        self._fetch_parser = parse_fetch.Fetch(self._schema)
 
     # NOTE: mypy and pylint complain about the **kwargs not being listed (contrasting super)
     # However, not having it here is clearer since it's explicit that there are no arguments.
@@ -197,17 +206,53 @@ class SparqlStore(base.TripleStoreBase):
         # migrate schema
         self._schema = schema
         self._filter_parser.schema = schema
+        self._fetch_parser.schema = schema
+
+    def fetch(
+            self,
+            node_type: bsc.Node,
+            filter: ast.filter.FilterExpression, # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
+            fetch: ast.fetch.FetchExpression,
+            ) -> typing.Iterator[typing.Tuple[URI, str, typing.Any]]:
+        if node_type not in self.schema.nodes():
+            raise errors.ConsistencyError(f'{node_type} is not defined in the schema')
+        if not isinstance(filter, ast.filter.FilterExpression):
+            raise TypeError(filter)
+        if not isinstance(fetch, ast.fetch.FetchExpression):
+            raise TypeError(fetch)
+        # compose a query from fetch and filter ast
+        query = self._filter_parser(node_type, filter)
+        query += self._fetch_parser(node_type, fetch)
+        # run query
+        emitted = set()
+        for result in query(self._graph):
+            guid = URI(result[0])
+            for name, raw in zip(query.names, result[1:]):
+                if raw is None: # undefined value
+                    continue
+                if isinstance(raw, rdflib.Literal):
+                    value = raw.value
+                else:
+                    value = URI(raw)
+                # emit triple
+                triple = (guid, name, value)
+                if triple not in emitted: # FIXME: needs a better solution!
+                    emitted.add(triple)
+                    yield guid, name, value
 
     def get(
             self,
             node_type: bsc.Node,
-            query: typing.Optional[ast.filter.FilterExpression] = None,
+            filter: typing.Optional[ast.filter.FilterExpression] = None, # pylint: disable=redefined-builtin
             ) -> typing.Iterator[URI]:
         if node_type not in self.schema.nodes():
             raise errors.ConsistencyError(f'{node_type} is not defined in the schema')
-        if not isinstance(query, ast.filter.FilterExpression):
-            raise TypeError(query)
-        for guid, in self._graph.query(self._filter_parser(node_type, query)):
+        if filter is not None and not isinstance(filter, ast.filter.FilterExpression):
+            raise TypeError(filter)
+        # compose query
+        query = self._filter_parser(node_type, filter)
+        # run query
+        for guid, in query(self._graph):
             yield URI(guid)
 
     def _has_type(self, subject: URI, node_type: bsc.Node) -> bool:
@@ -294,7 +339,11 @@ class SparqlStore(base.TripleStoreBase):
             guid = rdflib.URIRef(guid)
             # convert value
             if isinstance(predicate.range, bsc.Literal):
-                value = rdflib.Literal(value, datatype=rdflib.URIRef(predicate.range.uri))
+                dtype = rdflib.URIRef(predicate.range.uri)
+                if predicate.range <= self.schema.literal(ns.bsfs.BinaryBlob):
+                    dtype = rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.BinaryBlob)
+                    value = base64.b64encode(value)
+                value = rdflib.Literal(value, datatype=dtype)
             elif isinstance(predicate.range, bsc.Node):
                 value = rdflib.URIRef(value)
             else:
diff --git a/bsfs/triple_store/sparql/utils.py b/bsfs/triple_store/sparql/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..deca4d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bsfs/triple_store/sparql/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+"""
+
+Part of the BlackStar filesystem (bsfs) module.
+A copy of the license is provided with the project.
+Author: Matthias Baumgartner, 2022
+"""
+# standard imports
+import typing
+
+# external imports
+import rdflib
+
+# bsfs imports
+from bsfs.namespace import ns
+from bsfs.utils import typename
+
+# exports
+__all__: typing.Sequence[str] = (
+    'GenHopName',
+    'Query',
+    )
+
+
+## code ##
+
+class GenHopName():
+    """Generator that produces a new unique symbol name with each iteration."""
+
+    # Symbol name prefix.
+    prefix: str
+
+    # Current counter.
+    curr: int
+
+    def __init__(self, prefix: str = '?hop', start: int = 0):
+        self.prefix = prefix
+        self.curr = start - 1
+
+    def __next__(self):
+        """Generate and return the next unique name."""
+        self.curr += 1
+        return self.prefix + str(self.curr)
+
+
+class Query():
+    """Hold, manage, and complete partial Sparql queries."""
+
+    # root node type URI.
+    root_type: str
+
+    # root node variable name.
+    root_head: str
+
+    # (head, name) tuples (w/o root)
+    select: typing.Tuple[typing.Tuple[str, str], ...]
+
+    # where statements.
+    where: str
+
+    def __init__(
+            self,
+            root_type: str,
+            root_head: str = '?ent',
+            select: typing.Optional[typing.Iterable[typing.Tuple[str, str]]] = None,
+            where: typing.Optional[str] = None,
+            ):
+        # check arguments
+        if select is None:
+            select = []
+        if where is None:
+            where = ''
+        # set members
+        self.root_type = root_type
+        self.root_head = root_head
+        self.select = tuple(select) # tuple ensures presistent order
+        self.where = where.strip()
+
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
+        return self.query
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return f'{typename(self)}({self.root_type}, {self.root_head}, {self.select}, {self.where})'
+
+    def __eq__(self, other: typing.Any) -> bool:
+        return isinstance(other, type(self)) \
+           and self.root_type == other.root_type \
+           and self.root_head == other.root_head \
+           and self.select == other.select \
+           and self.where == other.where
+
+    def __hash__(self) -> int:
+        return hash((type(self), self.root_type, self.root_head, self.select, self.where))
+
+    def __add__(self, other: typing.Any) -> 'Query':
+        # check other's type
+        if not isinstance(other, type(self)):
+            return NotImplemented
+        # check query compatibility
+        if not self.root_type == other.root_type:
+            raise ValueError(other)
+        if not self.root_head == other.root_head:
+            raise ValueError(other)
+        # combine selections
+        select = self.select + other.select
+        # combine conditions
+        conds = []
+        if self.where != '':
+            conds.append(self.where)
+        if other.where != '':
+            conds.append(other.where)
+        where = ' . '.join(conds)
+        # return new query
+        return Query(
+            root_type=self.root_type,
+            root_head=self.root_head,
+            select=select,
+            where=where,
+            )
+
+    @property
+    def names(self) -> typing.Tuple[str, ...]:
+        """Return a tuple of selected variable names, excluding the root."""
+        return tuple(name for _, name in self.select)
+
+    @property
+    def query(self) -> str:
+        """Return an executable sparql query."""
+        select = ' '.join(f'({head} as ?{name})' for head, name in self.select)
+        return f'''
+            SELECT {self.root_head} {select}
+            WHERE {{
+                {self.root_head} <{ns.rdf.type}>/<{ns.rdfs.subClassOf}>* <{self.root_type}> .
+                {self.where}
+            }}
+            '''
+
+    def __call__(self, graph: rdflib.Graph) -> rdflib.query.Result:
+        """Execute the query on a *graph* and return the query result."""
+        return graph.query(self.query)
+
+## EOF ##
diff --git a/bsfs/utils/uuid.py b/bsfs/utils/uuid.py
index ba5cf52..70e1656 100644
--- a/bsfs/utils/uuid.py
+++ b/bsfs/utils/uuid.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ Author: Matthias Baumgartner, 2022
 # imports
 from collections import abc
 import hashlib
+import io
 import json
 import os
 import platform
@@ -106,6 +107,17 @@ class UCID():
         with open(path, 'rb') as ifile:
             return HASH(ifile.read()).hexdigest()
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def from_buffer(buffer: io.IOBase) -> str:
+        """Read the content from a buffer."""
+        if isinstance(buffer, io.TextIOBase):
+            return HASH(buffer.read().encode('utf-8', errors='ignore')).hexdigest()
+        return HASH(buffer.read()).hexdigest()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def from_bytes(content: bytes) -> str:
+        """Get the content from as bytes."""
+        return HASH(content).hexdigest()
 
     @staticmethod
     def from_dict(content: dict) -> str:
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index ab3864a..243c73f 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -14,7 +14,10 @@ setup(
     url='https://www.igsor.net/projects/blackstar/bsfs/',
     download_url='https://pip.igsor.net',
     packages=('bsfs', ),
-    install_requires=('rdflib', ),
+    install_requires=(
+        'rdflib', # schema and sparql storage
+        'hopcroftkarp', # ast matching
+        ),
     python_requires=">=3.7",
 )
 
diff --git a/test/graph/test_graph.py b/test/graph/test_graph.py
index f97783b..5db1fd2 100644
--- a/test/graph/test_graph.py
+++ b/test/graph/test_graph.py
@@ -95,6 +95,19 @@ class TestGraph(unittest.TestCase):
         # node_type must be in the schema
         self.assertRaises(KeyError, graph.nodes, ns.bsfs.Invalid, guids)
 
+    def test_all(self):
+        graph = Graph(self.backend, self.user)
+        # resulting nodes can be empty
+        self.assertEqual(graph.all(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            Nodes(self.backend, self.user, graph.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), set()))
+        # resulting nodes contains all nodes of the respective type
+        guids = {URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'), URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321')}
+        self.backend.create(graph.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), guids)
+        self.assertEqual(graph.all(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            Nodes(self.backend, self.user, graph.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), guids))
+        # node_type must be in the schema
+        self.assertRaises(KeyError, graph.all, ns.bsfs.Invalid)
+
     def test_migrate(self):
         # setup
         graph = Graph(self.backend, self.user)
diff --git a/test/graph/test_nodes.py b/test/graph/test_nodes.py
index 2870f35..6bb3ef3 100644
--- a/test/graph/test_nodes.py
+++ b/test/graph/test_nodes.py
@@ -4,13 +4,18 @@ Part of the bsfs test suite.
 A copy of the license is provided with the project.
 Author: Matthias Baumgartner, 2022
 """
-# imports
-import rdflib
+# standard imports
+from functools import partial
+import operator
 import unittest
 
+# external imports
+import rdflib
+
 # bsie imports
-from bsfs import schema as _schema
-from bsfs.namespace import ns
+from bsfs import schema as bsc
+from bsfs.graph.walk import Walk
+from bsfs.namespace import Namespace, ns
 from bsfs.triple_store.sparql import SparqlStore
 from bsfs.utils import errors, URI
 
@@ -20,11 +25,13 @@ from bsfs.graph.nodes import Nodes
 
 ## code ##
 
+bst = Namespace('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Tag')
+
 class TestNodes(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         # initialize backend
         self.backend = SparqlStore()
-        self.backend.schema = _schema.from_string('''
+        self.backend.schema = bsc.from_string('''
             prefix rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#>
             prefix xsd: <http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#>
 
@@ -67,6 +74,11 @@ class TestNodes(unittest.TestCase):
                 rdfs:range bsfs:User ;
                 bsfs:unique "true"^^xsd:boolean .
 
+            bst:label rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Tag ;
+                rdfs:range xsd:string ;
+                bsfs:unique "true"^^xsd:boolean .
+
             bst:representative rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
                 rdfs:domain bsfs:Tag ;
                 rdfs:range bsfs:Entity ;
@@ -80,6 +92,7 @@ class TestNodes(unittest.TestCase):
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.User), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Node)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.xsd.string), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Literal)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Array), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Literal)),
+            (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.BinaryBlob), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Literal)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Feature), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Array)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Number), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Literal)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Time), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Literal)),
@@ -89,7 +102,8 @@ class TestNodes(unittest.TestCase):
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bse.filesize), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Predicate)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bse.tag), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Predicate)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bse.author), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Predicate)),
-            (rdflib.URIRef('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Tag#representative'), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Predicate)),
+            (rdflib.URIRef(bst.representative), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Predicate)),
+            (rdflib.URIRef(bst.label), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Predicate)),
             }
         # Nodes constructor args
         self.user = URI('http://example.com/me')
@@ -100,7 +114,8 @@ class TestNodes(unittest.TestCase):
         self.p_filesize = self.backend.schema.predicate(ns.bse.filesize)
         self.p_author = self.backend.schema.predicate(ns.bse.author)
         self.p_tag = self.backend.schema.predicate(ns.bse.tag)
-        self.p_representative = self.backend.schema.predicate(URI('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Tag#representative'))
+        self.p_representative = self.backend.schema.predicate(bst.representative)
+        self.p_label = self.backend.schema.predicate(bst.label)
         self.t_created = self.backend.schema.predicate(ns.bsm.t_created)
         self.ent_ids = {
             URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'),
@@ -371,6 +386,201 @@ class TestNodes(unittest.TestCase):
             (self.p_author.uri, Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.user_type, {URI('http://example.com/me/user#1234'), URI('http://example.com/me/user#4321')}))))
         self.assertSetEqual(curr, set(self.backend._graph))
 
+    def test_get(self):
+        # setup: add some instances
+        Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#1234'}) \
+            .set(ns.bse.comment, 'hello world') \
+            .set(ns.bse.filesize, 1234) \
+            .set(ns.bse.tag, Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.tag_type, {'http://example.com/me/tag#1234'}))
+        Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#4321'}) \
+            .set(ns.bse.filesize, 4321) \
+            .set(ns.bse.tag, Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.tag_type, {'http://example.com/me/tag#4321'}))
+        Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.tag_type, {'http://example.com/me/tag#1234'}) \
+            .set(bst.label, 'tag_label_1234')
+        Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.tag_type, {'http://example.com/me/tag#4321'}) \
+            .set(bst.label, 'tag_label_4321')
+        # setup: get nodes instance
+        nodes = Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, self.ent_ids)
+        # must pass at least one path
+        self.assertRaises(AttributeError, nodes.get)
+        # view must be list or dict
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, nodes.get, ns.bse.filesize, view='hello')
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, nodes.get, ns.bse.filesize, view=1234)
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, nodes.get, ns.bse.filesize, view=tuple)
+        # can pass path as URI
+        self.assertDictEqual(nodes.get(ns.bse.filesize), {
+            Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#1234'}): 1234,
+            Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#4321'}): 4321,
+            })
+        # can pass path as sequence of URI
+        self.assertDictEqual(nodes.get((ns.bse.tag, bst.label)), {
+            Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#1234'}): {'tag_label_1234'},
+            Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#4321'}): {'tag_label_4321'},
+            })
+        # get returns the same path that was passed
+        self.assertCountEqual(list(nodes.get((ns.bse.tag, bst.label), path=True, view=list)), [
+            (Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#1234'}), (ns.bse.tag, bst.label), 'tag_label_1234'),
+            (Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#4321'}), (ns.bse.tag, bst.label), 'tag_label_4321'),
+            ])
+        self.assertCountEqual(list(nodes.get([ns.bse.tag, bst.label], path=True, view=list)), [
+            (Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#1234'}), [ns.bse.tag, bst.label], 'tag_label_1234'),
+            (Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#4321'}), [ns.bse.tag, bst.label], 'tag_label_4321'),
+            ])
+        # paths must be URI or sequence thereof
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, nodes.get, 1234)
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, nodes.get, (ns.bse.tag, 1234))
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, nodes.get, (1234, ns.bse.tag))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, nodes.get, 'hello world')
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, nodes.get, ns.bse.invalid)
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, nodes.get, (ns.bse.tag, bst.invalid))
+        # can pass multiple paths
+        self.assertDictEqual(nodes.get(ns.bse.filesize, (ns.bse.tag, bst.label)), {
+            Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#1234'}): {
+                ns.bse.filesize: 1234,
+                (ns.bse.tag, bst.label): {'tag_label_1234'},
+                },
+            Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#4321'}): {
+                ns.bse.filesize: 4321,
+                (ns.bse.tag, bst.label): {'tag_label_4321'},
+                },
+            })
+        # get respects view
+        self.assertDictEqual(nodes.get(ns.bse.filesize, view=dict), {
+            Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#1234'}): 1234,
+            Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#4321'}): 4321,
+            })
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(nodes.get(ns.bse.filesize, view=list)), {
+            (Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#1234'}), 1234),
+            (Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#4321'}), 4321),
+            })
+        # get returns Nodes instance when fetching a node
+        self.assertDictEqual(nodes.get(ns.bse.tag), {
+            Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#1234'}):
+                {Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.tag_type, {'http://example.com/me/tag#1234'})},
+            Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#4321'}):
+                {Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.tag_type, {'http://example.com/me/tag#4321'})},
+            })
+        # get returns a value when fetching a value and omits missing values
+        self.assertDictEqual(nodes.get(ns.bse.comment), {
+            Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#1234'}): {'hello world'},
+            })
+
+        # FIXME: What if I call `get` with a single predicate and a single node, but
+        # that node has no value for that predicate?
+        # so, essentially, what if triples is empty? -> Also check in test_result!
+        raise NotImplementedError()
+
+    def test_getattr(self):
+        nodes = Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {'http://example.com/me/entity#1234'})
+        # can get walks to values
+        self.assertEqual(nodes.filesize, Walk(nodes, (self.p_filesize, )))
+        # can get walks to nodes
+        self.assertEqual(nodes.tag, Walk(nodes, (self.p_tag, )))
+        # can do multiple hops
+        self.assertEqual(nodes.tag.label, Walk(nodes, (self.p_tag, self.p_label)))
+        # invalid step raises an error
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, getattr, nodes, 'foobar')
+
+    def test_schema(self):
+        self.assertEqual(Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type,
+            {URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}).schema, self.backend.schema)
+
+    def test_operators(self): # __add__, __or__, __sub__, __and__
+        gen = partial(Nodes, self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type)
+        nodes = gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')})
+        # add/or concatenates guids
+        self.assertEqual(
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}) +
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321')}),
+            # target
+            gen({
+                URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'),
+                URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321')}))
+        self.assertEqual(
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}) |
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321')}),
+            # target
+            gen({
+                URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'),
+                URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321')}))
+        # repeated guids are ignored
+        self.assertEqual(
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}) +
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}),
+            # target
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}))
+        self.assertEqual(
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}) |
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}),
+            # target
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}))
+
+        # sub substracts guids
+        self.assertEqual(
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'),
+                 URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321')}) -
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321')}),
+            # target
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}))
+        # missing guids are ignored
+        self.assertEqual(
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}) -
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321')}),
+            # target
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}))
+
+        # and intersects guids
+        self.assertEqual(
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'),
+                 URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321')}) &
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321'),
+                 URI('http://example.com/me/entity#5678')}),
+            # target
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321')}))
+
+        for op in (operator.add, operator.or_, operator.sub, operator.and_):
+            # type must match
+            self.assertRaises(TypeError, op, nodes, 1234)
+            self.assertRaises(TypeError, op, nodes, 'hello world')
+            # backend must match
+            self.assertRaises(ValueError, op, nodes,
+                Nodes(None, self.user, self.ent_type, {URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}))
+            # user must match
+            self.assertRaises(ValueError, op, nodes,
+                Nodes(self.backend, '', self.ent_type, {URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}))
+            # node type must match
+            self.assertRaises(ValueError, op, nodes,
+                Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.tag_type, {URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}))
+
+    def test_len(self):
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {
+            URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'),
+            })))
+        self.assertEqual(2, len(Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {
+            URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'),
+            URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321'),
+            })))
+        self.assertEqual(4, len(Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {
+            URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'),
+            URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321'),
+            URI('http://example.com/me/entity#5678'),
+            URI('http://example.com/me/entity#8765'),
+            })))
+
+    def test_iter(self): # __iter__
+        gen = partial(Nodes, self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type)
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(Nodes(self.backend, self.user, self.ent_type, {
+            URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'),
+            URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321'),
+            URI('http://example.com/me/entity#5678'),
+            URI('http://example.com/me/entity#8765'),
+            })), {
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}),
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321')}),
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#5678')}),
+            gen({URI('http://example.com/me/entity#8765')}),
+            })
+
 
 ## main ##
 
diff --git a/test/graph/test_result.py b/test/graph/test_result.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..749b8ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/graph/test_result.py
@@ -0,0 +1,432 @@
+"""
+
+Part of the bsfs test suite.
+A copy of the license is provided with the project.
+Author: Matthias Baumgartner, 2022
+"""
+# imports
+import unittest
+
+# bsie imports
+from bsfs import schema as bsc
+from bsfs.namespace import ns
+from bsfs.utils import URI
+
+# objects to test
+from bsfs.graph.result import to_list_view, to_dict_view
+
+
+## code ##
+
+class TestListView(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.triples_111 = [('ent#1234', ns.bse.iso, 123)]
+        self.triples_11U = [('ent#1234', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#1234'),
+                            ('ent#1234', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#5678')]
+        self.triples_1M1 = [('ent#1234', ns.bse.iso, 123),
+                            ('ent#1234', ns.bse.t_created, '2010-01-02')]
+        self.triples_1MU = [('ent#1234', ns.bse.iso, 123),
+                            ('ent#1234', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#1234'),
+                            ('ent#1234', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#5678')]
+        self.triples_N11 = [('ent#1234', ns.bse.iso, 123),
+                            ('ent#4321', ns.bse.iso, 321)]
+        self.triples_N1U = [('ent#1234', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#1234'),
+                            ('ent#1234', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#5678'),
+                            ('ent#4321', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#4321')]
+        self.triples_NM1 = [('ent#1234', ns.bse.iso, 123),
+                            ('ent#1234', ns.bse.t_created, '2010-01-02'),
+                            ('ent#4321', ns.bse.iso, 321),
+                            ('ent#4321', ns.bse.t_created, '2022-02-22')]
+        self.triples_NMU = [('ent#1234', ns.bse.iso, 123),
+                            ('ent#1234', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#1234'),
+                            ('ent#1234', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#5678'),
+                            ('ent#4321', ns.bse.iso, 321),
+                            ('ent#4321', ns.bse.t_created, '2022-02-22')]
+
+    def test_copy(self):
+        # iterator yields tuples
+        self.assertIsInstance(list(to_list_view([('subject', 'predicate', 'object')], node=True, path=True, value=True))[0], tuple)
+        # components are not changed
+        class Foo(): pass
+        foo = Foo()
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view([('subject', 'predicate', 'object')], node=True, path=True, value=True)),
+            [('subject', 'predicate', 'object')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view([(foo, 'predicate', 'object')], node=True, path=True, value=True)),
+            [(foo, 'predicate', 'object')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view([('subject', foo, 'object')], node=True, path=True, value=True)),
+            [('subject', foo, 'object')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view([('subject', 'predicate', foo)], node=True, path=True, value=True)),
+            [('subject', 'predicate', foo)])
+
+    def test_agg_none(self):
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_111, node=True, path=True, value=True)), self.triples_111)
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_11U, node=True, path=True, value=True)), self.triples_11U)
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_1M1, node=True, path=True, value=True)), self.triples_1M1)
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_1MU, node=True, path=True, value=True)), self.triples_1MU)
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_N11, node=True, path=True, value=True)), self.triples_N11)
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_N1U, node=True, path=True, value=True)), self.triples_N1U)
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_NM1, node=True, path=True, value=True)), self.triples_NM1)
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_NMU, node=True, path=True, value=True)), self.triples_NMU)
+
+    def test_agg_node(self):
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_111, node=False, path=True, value=True)),
+            [(ns.bse.iso, 123)])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_11U, node=False, path=True, value=True)),
+            [(ns.bse.tag, 'tag#1234'), (ns.bse.tag, 'tag#5678')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_1M1, node=False, path=True, value=True)),
+            [(ns.bse.iso, 123), (ns.bse.t_created, '2010-01-02')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_1MU, node=False, path=True, value=True)),
+            [(ns.bse.iso, 123), (ns.bse.tag, 'tag#1234'), (ns.bse.tag, 'tag#5678')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_N11, node=False, path=True, value=True)),
+            [(ns.bse.iso, 123), (ns.bse.iso, 321)])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_N1U, node=False, path=True, value=True)),
+            [(ns.bse.tag, 'tag#1234'), (ns.bse.tag, 'tag#5678'), (ns.bse.tag, 'tag#4321')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_NM1, node=False, path=True, value=True)),
+            [(ns.bse.iso, 123), (ns.bse.t_created, '2010-01-02'), (ns.bse.iso, 321), (ns.bse.t_created, '2022-02-22')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_NMU, node=False, path=True, value=True)),
+            [(ns.bse.iso, 123), (ns.bse.tag, 'tag#1234'), (ns.bse.tag, 'tag#5678'), (ns.bse.iso, 321), (ns.bse.t_created, '2022-02-22')])
+
+    def test_agg_path(self):
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_111, node=True, path=False, value=True)),
+            [('ent#1234', 123)])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_11U, node=True, path=False, value=True)),
+            [('ent#1234', 'tag#1234'), ('ent#1234', 'tag#5678')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_1M1, node=True, path=False, value=True)),
+            [('ent#1234', 123), ('ent#1234', '2010-01-02')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_1MU, node=True, path=False, value=True)),
+            [('ent#1234', 123), ('ent#1234', 'tag#1234'), ('ent#1234', 'tag#5678')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_N11, node=True, path=False, value=True)),
+            [('ent#1234', 123), ('ent#4321', 321)])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_N1U, node=True, path=False, value=True)),
+            [('ent#1234', 'tag#1234'), ('ent#1234', 'tag#5678'), ('ent#4321', 'tag#4321')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_NM1, node=True, path=False, value=True)),
+            [('ent#1234', 123), ('ent#1234', '2010-01-02'), ('ent#4321', 321), ('ent#4321', '2022-02-22')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_NMU, node=True, path=False, value=True)),
+            [('ent#1234', 123), ('ent#1234', 'tag#1234'), ('ent#1234', 'tag#5678'), ('ent#4321', 321), ('ent#4321', '2022-02-22')])
+
+    def test_agg_node_path(self):
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_111, node=False, path=False, value=True)),
+            [123])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_11U, node=False, path=False, value=True)),
+            ['tag#1234', 'tag#5678'])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_1M1, node=False, path=False, value=True)),
+            [123, '2010-01-02'])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_1MU, node=False, path=False, value=True)),
+            [123, 'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_N11, node=False, path=False, value=True)),
+            [123, 321])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_N1U, node=False, path=False, value=True)),
+            ['tag#1234', 'tag#5678', 'tag#4321'])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_NM1, node=False, path=False, value=True)),
+            [123, '2010-01-02', 321, '2022-02-22'])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_NMU, node=False, path=False, value=True)),
+            [123, 'tag#1234', 'tag#5678', 321, '2022-02-22'])
+
+    def test_agg_value(self):
+        # value flag has no effect
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_111, node=True, path=True, value=True)), self.triples_111)
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_11U, node=True, path=True, value=True)), self.triples_11U)
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_1M1, node=True, path=True, value=True)), self.triples_1M1)
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_1MU, node=True, path=True, value=True)), self.triples_1MU)
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_N11, node=True, path=True, value=True)), self.triples_N11)
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_N1U, node=True, path=True, value=True)), self.triples_N1U)
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_NM1, node=True, path=True, value=True)), self.triples_NM1)
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_NMU, node=True, path=True, value=True)), self.triples_NMU)
+
+    def test_agg_node_value(self):
+        # value flag has no effect -> same test as test_agg_node
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_111, node=False, path=True, value=False)),
+            [(ns.bse.iso, 123)])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_11U, node=False, path=True, value=False)),
+            [(ns.bse.tag, 'tag#1234'), (ns.bse.tag, 'tag#5678')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_1M1, node=False, path=True, value=False)),
+            [(ns.bse.iso, 123), (ns.bse.t_created, '2010-01-02')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_1MU, node=False, path=True, value=False)),
+            [(ns.bse.iso, 123), (ns.bse.tag, 'tag#1234'), (ns.bse.tag, 'tag#5678')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_N11, node=False, path=True, value=False)),
+            [(ns.bse.iso, 123), (ns.bse.iso, 321)])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_N1U, node=False, path=True, value=False)),
+            [(ns.bse.tag, 'tag#1234'), (ns.bse.tag, 'tag#5678'), (ns.bse.tag, 'tag#4321')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_NM1, node=False, path=True, value=False)),
+            [(ns.bse.iso, 123), (ns.bse.t_created, '2010-01-02'), (ns.bse.iso, 321), (ns.bse.t_created, '2022-02-22')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_NMU, node=False, path=True, value=False)),
+            [(ns.bse.iso, 123), (ns.bse.tag, 'tag#1234'), (ns.bse.tag, 'tag#5678'), (ns.bse.iso, 321), (ns.bse.t_created, '2022-02-22')])
+
+    def test_agg_path_value(self):
+        # value flag has no effect -> same test as test_agg_path
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_111, node=True, path=False, value=False)),
+            [('ent#1234', 123)])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_11U, node=True, path=False, value=False)),
+            [('ent#1234', 'tag#1234'), ('ent#1234', 'tag#5678')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_1M1, node=True, path=False, value=False)),
+            [('ent#1234', 123), ('ent#1234', '2010-01-02')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_1MU, node=True, path=False, value=False)),
+            [('ent#1234', 123), ('ent#1234', 'tag#1234'), ('ent#1234', 'tag#5678')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_N11, node=True, path=False, value=False)),
+            [('ent#1234', 123), ('ent#4321', 321)])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_N1U, node=True, path=False, value=False)),
+            [('ent#1234', 'tag#1234'), ('ent#1234', 'tag#5678'), ('ent#4321', 'tag#4321')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_NM1, node=True, path=False, value=False)),
+            [('ent#1234', 123), ('ent#1234', '2010-01-02'), ('ent#4321', 321), ('ent#4321', '2022-02-22')])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_NMU, node=True, path=False, value=False)),
+            [('ent#1234', 123), ('ent#1234', 'tag#1234'), ('ent#1234', 'tag#5678'), ('ent#4321', 321), ('ent#4321', '2022-02-22')])
+
+    def test_agg_all(self):
+        # value flag has no effect -> same test as test_agg_node_path
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_111, node=False, path=False, value=False)),
+            [123])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_11U, node=False, path=False, value=False)),
+            ['tag#1234', 'tag#5678'])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_1M1, node=False, path=False, value=False)),
+            [123, '2010-01-02'])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_1MU, node=False, path=False, value=False)),
+            [123, 'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_N11, node=False, path=False, value=False)),
+            [123, 321])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_N1U, node=False, path=False, value=False)),
+            ['tag#1234', 'tag#5678', 'tag#4321'])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_NM1, node=False, path=False, value=False)),
+            [123, '2010-01-02', 321, '2022-02-22'])
+        self.assertListEqual(list(to_list_view(self.triples_NMU, node=False, path=False, value=False)),
+            [123, 'tag#1234', 'tag#5678', 321, '2022-02-22'])
+
+
+class TestDictView(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.unique_paths = {ns.bse.iso, ns.bse.t_created}
+        self.triples_111 = [('ent#1234', ns.bse.iso, 123)]
+        self.triples_11U = [('ent#1234', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#1234'),
+                            ('ent#1234', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#5678')]
+        self.triples_1M1 = [('ent#1234', ns.bse.iso, 123),
+                            ('ent#1234', ns.bse.t_created, '2010-01-02')]
+        self.triples_1MU = [('ent#1234', ns.bse.iso, 123),
+                            ('ent#1234', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#1234'),
+                            ('ent#1234', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#5678')]
+        self.triples_N11 = [('ent#1234', ns.bse.iso, 123),
+                            ('ent#4321', ns.bse.iso, 321)]
+        self.triples_N1U = [('ent#1234', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#1234'),
+                            ('ent#1234', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#5678'),
+                            ('ent#4321', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#4321')]
+        self.triples_NM1 = [('ent#1234', ns.bse.iso, 123),
+                            ('ent#1234', ns.bse.t_created, '2010-01-02'),
+                            ('ent#4321', ns.bse.iso, 321),
+                            ('ent#4321', ns.bse.t_created, '2022-02-22')]
+        self.triples_NMU = [('ent#1234', ns.bse.iso, 123),
+                            ('ent#1234', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#1234'),
+                            ('ent#1234', ns.bse.tag, 'tag#5678'),
+                            ('ent#4321', ns.bse.iso, 321),
+                            ('ent#4321', ns.bse.t_created, '2022-02-22')]
+
+    def test_errounous_call(self):
+        # return set instead of value
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_111, one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=False),
+            {123})
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_111, one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=False),
+            {123})
+        # one_node mismatch: return set of values instead of value
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_111, one_node=False, one_path=True, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=False),
+            {ns.bse.iso: {123}})
+        # one_path mismatch: return set of values instead of value
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_111, one_node=True, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': {123}})
+        # unique_paths mismatch: return set of values instead of value
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_111, one_node=True, one_path=False, unique_paths={}, node=False, path=False, value=False),
+            {123})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_111, one_node=True, one_path=False, unique_paths={}, node=False, path=True, value=False),
+            {ns.bse.iso: {123}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_111, one_node=True, one_path=False, unique_paths={}, node=True, path=False, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': {123}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_111, one_node=True, one_path=False, unique_paths={}, node=True, path=True, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': {ns.bse.iso: {123}}})
+
+    def test_agg_none(self):
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_111, one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=True),
+            {'ent#1234': {ns.bse.iso: {123}}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_11U, one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=True),
+            {'ent#1234': {ns.bse.tag: {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_1M1, one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=True),
+            {'ent#1234': {ns.bse.iso: {123}, ns.bse.t_created: {'2010-01-02'}}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_1MU, one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=True),
+            {'ent#1234': {ns.bse.iso: {123}, ns.bse.tag: {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_N11, one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=True),
+            {'ent#1234': {ns.bse.iso: {123}}, 'ent#4321': {ns.bse.iso: {321}}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_N1U, one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=True),
+            {'ent#1234': {ns.bse.tag: {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}}, 'ent#4321': {ns.bse.tag: {'tag#4321'}}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_NM1, one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=True),
+            {'ent#1234': {ns.bse.iso: {123}, ns.bse.t_created: {'2010-01-02'}}, 'ent#4321': {ns.bse.iso: {321}, ns.bse.t_created: {'2022-02-22'}}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_NMU, one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=True),
+            {'ent#1234': {ns.bse.iso: {123}, ns.bse.tag: {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}}, 'ent#4321': {ns.bse.iso: {321}, ns.bse.t_created: {'2022-02-22'}}})
+        # empty
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=True), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=True), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=True), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=True), {})
+
+    def test_agg_node(self):
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_111, one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=True),
+            {ns.bse.iso: {123}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_11U, one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=True),
+            {ns.bse.tag: {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_1M1, one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=True),
+            {ns.bse.iso: {123}, ns.bse.t_created: {'2010-01-02'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_1MU, one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=True),
+            {ns.bse.iso: {123}, ns.bse.tag: {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_N11, one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=True),
+            {ns.bse.iso: {123, 321}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_N1U, one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=True),
+            {ns.bse.tag: {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678', 'tag#4321'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_NM1, one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=True),
+            {ns.bse.iso: {123, 321}, ns.bse.t_created: {'2010-01-02', '2022-02-22'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_NMU, one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=True),
+            {ns.bse.iso: {123, 321}, ns.bse.tag: {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}, ns.bse.t_created: {'2022-02-22'}})
+        # empty
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=True), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=True), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=True), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=True), {})
+
+    def test_agg_path(self):
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_111, one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=True),
+            {'ent#1234': {123}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_11U, one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=True),
+            {'ent#1234': {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_1M1, one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=True),
+            {'ent#1234': {123, '2010-01-02'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_1MU, one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=True),
+            {'ent#1234': {123, 'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_N11, one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=True),
+            {'ent#1234': {123}, 'ent#4321': {321}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_N1U, one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=True),
+            {'ent#1234': {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}, 'ent#4321': {'tag#4321'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_NM1, one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=True),
+            {'ent#1234': {123, '2010-01-02'}, 'ent#4321': {321, '2022-02-22'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_NMU, one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=True),
+            {'ent#1234': {123, 'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}, 'ent#4321': {321, '2022-02-22'}})
+        # empty
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=True), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=True), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=True), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=True), {})
+
+    def test_agg_node_path(self):
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_111, one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=True),
+            {123})
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_11U, one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=True),
+            {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'})
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_1M1, one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=True),
+            {123, '2010-01-02'})
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_1MU, one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=True),
+            {123, 'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'})
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_N11, one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=True),
+            {123, 321})
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_N1U, one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=True),
+            {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678', 'tag#4321'})
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_NM1, one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=True),
+            {123, '2010-01-02', 321, '2022-02-22'})
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_NMU, one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=True),
+            {123, 'tag#1234', 'tag#5678', 321, '2022-02-22'})
+        # empty
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=True), set())
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=True), set())
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=True), set())
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=True), set())
+
+    def test_agg_value(self):
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_111, one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': {ns.bse.iso: 123}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_11U, one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': {ns.bse.tag: {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_1M1, one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': {ns.bse.iso: 123, ns.bse.t_created: '2010-01-02'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_1MU, one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': {ns.bse.iso: 123, ns.bse.tag: {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_N11, one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': {ns.bse.iso: 123}, 'ent#4321': {ns.bse.iso: 321}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_N1U, one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': {ns.bse.tag: {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}}, 'ent#4321': {ns.bse.tag: {'tag#4321'}}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_NM1, one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': {ns.bse.iso: 123, ns.bse.t_created: '2010-01-02'}, 'ent#4321': {ns.bse.iso: 321, ns.bse.t_created: '2022-02-22'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_NMU, one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': {ns.bse.iso: 123, ns.bse.tag: {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}}, 'ent#4321': {ns.bse.iso: 321, ns.bse.t_created: '2022-02-22'}})
+        # empty
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=False), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=False), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=False), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=True, value=False), {})
+
+    def test_agg_node_value(self):
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_111, one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=False),
+            {ns.bse.iso: 123})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_11U, one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=False),
+            {ns.bse.tag: {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_1M1, one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=False),
+            {ns.bse.iso: 123, ns.bse.t_created: '2010-01-02'})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_1MU, one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=False),
+            {ns.bse.iso: 123, ns.bse.tag: {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_N11, one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=False),
+            {ns.bse.iso: {123, 321}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_N1U, one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=False),
+            {ns.bse.tag: {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678', 'tag#4321'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_NM1, one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=False),
+            {ns.bse.iso: {123, 321}, ns.bse.t_created: {'2010-01-02', '2022-02-22'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_NMU, one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=False),
+            {ns.bse.iso: {123, 321}, ns.bse.tag: {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}, ns.bse.t_created: {'2022-02-22'}})
+        # empty
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=False), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=False), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=False), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=True, value=False), {})
+
+    def test_agg_path_value(self):
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_111, one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': 123})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_11U, one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_1M1, one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': {123, '2010-01-02'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_1MU, one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': {123, 'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_N11, one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': 123, 'ent#4321': 321})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_N1U, one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}, 'ent#4321': {'tag#4321'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_NM1, one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': {123, '2010-01-02'}, 'ent#4321': {321, '2022-02-22'}})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_NMU, one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=False),
+            {'ent#1234': {123, 'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'}, 'ent#4321': {321, '2022-02-22'}})
+        # empty
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=False), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=False), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=False), {})
+        self.assertDictEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=True, path=False, value=False), {})
+
+    def test_agg_all(self):
+        self.assertEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_111, one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=False),
+            123)
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_11U, one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=False),
+            {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'})
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_1M1, one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=False),
+            {123, '2010-01-02'})
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_1MU, one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=False),
+            {123, 'tag#1234', 'tag#5678'})
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_N11, one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=False),
+            {123, 321})
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_N1U, one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=False),
+            {'tag#1234', 'tag#5678', 'tag#4321'})
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_NM1, one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=False),
+            {123, '2010-01-02', 321, '2022-02-22'})
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view(self.triples_NMU, one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=False),
+            {123, 'tag#1234', 'tag#5678', 321, '2022-02-22'})
+        # empty
+        self.assertEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=False), None)
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=True,  one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=False), set())
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=False, one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=False), set())
+        self.assertSetEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=False, one_path=False, unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=False), set())
+        self.assertEqual(to_dict_view([], one_node=True,  one_path=True,  unique_paths=self.unique_paths, node=False, path=False, value=False, default=123), 123)
+
+## main ##
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()
+
+## EOF ##
diff --git a/test/graph/test_walk.py b/test/graph/test_walk.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f9dbc7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/graph/test_walk.py
@@ -0,0 +1,173 @@
+"""
+
+Part of the bsfs test suite.
+A copy of the license is provided with the project.
+Author: Matthias Baumgartner, 2022
+"""
+# imports
+import unittest
+
+# bsfs imports
+from bsfs import schema as bsc
+from bsfs.graph import Graph
+from bsfs.namespace import Namespace, ns
+from bsfs.triple_store.sparql import SparqlStore
+from bsfs.utils import URI
+
+# symbol to test
+from bsfs.graph.walk import Walk
+
+## code ##
+
+bse = ns.bse
+bst = Namespace('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Tag')
+
+class TestWalk(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        # backend setup
+        self.schema = bsc.from_string('''
+            prefix rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#>
+            prefix xsd: <http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#>
+            prefix bsfs: <http://bsfs.ai/schema/>
+            prefix bse: <http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity#>
+            prefix bst: <http://bsfs.ai/schema/Tag#>
+
+            bsfs:Entity rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Node .
+            bsfs:Tag rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Node .
+            bsfs:User rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Node .
+            xsd:string rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Literal .
+
+            bse:author rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Node ;
+                rdfs:range bsfs:User .
+
+            bse:tag rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Entity ;
+                rdfs:range bsfs:Tag .
+
+            bst:label rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Tag ;
+                rdfs:range xsd:string ;
+                bsfs:unique "true"^^xsd:boolean .
+
+            bst:subTagOf rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Tag ;
+                rdfs:range bsfs:Tag .
+
+            bst:main rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Tag ;
+                rdfs:range bsfs:Entity .
+
+            bst:author rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Tag ;
+                rdfs:range xsd:string .
+
+            ''')
+        self.backend = SparqlStore.Open()
+        self.user = URI('http://example.com/me')
+        self.graph = Graph(self.backend, self.user)
+        self.graph.migrate(self.schema)
+
+        # nodes setup
+        self.ents = self.graph.nodes(ns.bsfs.Entity, {
+            URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'),
+            URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321')})
+        self.tags = self.graph.nodes(ns.bsfs.Tag, {
+            URI('http://example.com/me/tag#1234'),
+            URI('http://example.com/me/tag#4321')})
+        # add some instances
+        self.ents.set(bse.tag, self.tags)
+        self.graph.node(ns.bsfs.Tag, URI('http://example.com/me/tag#1234')).set(bst.label, 'hello')
+        self.graph.node(ns.bsfs.Tag, URI('http://example.com/me/tag#4321')).set(bst.label, 'world')
+
+    def test_essentials(self): # __eq__, __hash__, __str__, __repr__
+        p_author = self.schema.predicate(bse.author)
+        p_tag = self.schema.predicate(bse.tag)
+        p_main = self.schema.predicate(bst.main)
+        # comparison
+        self.assertEqual(Walk(self.ents, [p_tag]), Walk(self.ents, [p_tag]))
+        self.assertEqual(hash(Walk(self.ents, [p_tag])), hash(Walk(self.ents, [p_tag])))
+        # comparison respects type
+        class Foo(Walk): pass
+        self.assertNotEqual(Walk(self.ents, [p_tag]), Foo(self.ents, [p_tag]))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Walk(self.ents, [p_tag])), hash(Foo(self.ents, [p_tag])))
+        # comparison respects root
+        self.assertNotEqual(Walk(self.ents, [p_author]), Walk(self.tags, [p_author]))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Walk(self.ents, [p_author])), hash(Walk(self.tags, [p_author])))
+        # comparison respects path
+        self.assertNotEqual(Walk(self.tags, [p_author]), Walk(self.tags, [p_main]))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Walk(self.tags, [p_author])), hash(Walk(self.tags, [p_main])))
+        # string conversion
+        self.assertEqual(str(Walk(self.ents, [p_tag, p_main])),
+            'Walk(@http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity: http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity#tag, http://bsfs.ai/schema/Tag#main)')
+        self.assertEqual(repr(Walk(self.ents, [p_tag, p_main])),
+            'Walk(http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity, (http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity#tag, http://bsfs.ai/schema/Tag#main))')
+
+    def test_tail(self):
+        self.assertEqual(Walk(self.ents, (
+            self.schema.predicate(bse.tag),
+            )).tail,
+            self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Tag))
+        self.assertEqual(Walk(self.ents, (
+            self.schema.predicate(bse.tag),
+            self.schema.predicate(bst.main),
+            )).tail,
+            self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity))
+
+    def test_step(self):
+        tag_type = self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Tag)
+        # step returns a predicate
+        self.assertEqual(Walk.step(self.schema, tag_type, 'subTagOf'),
+            (self.schema.predicate(bst.subTagOf), ))
+        # invalid step raises an error
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, Walk.step, self.schema, tag_type, 'foobar')
+        # ambiguous step raises an error
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, Walk.step, self.schema, tag_type, 'author')
+
+    def test_getattr(self): # __getattr__
+        walk = Walk(self.ents, (self.schema.predicate(bse.tag), ))
+        # first step
+        self.assertEqual(walk.subTagOf, Walk(self.ents, (
+            self.schema.predicate(bse.tag),
+            self.schema.predicate(bst.subTagOf),
+            )))
+        # second step
+        self.assertEqual(walk.subTagOf.main, Walk(self.ents, (
+            self.schema.predicate(bse.tag),
+            self.schema.predicate(bst.subTagOf),
+            self.schema.predicate(bst.main),
+            )))
+        # invalid step raises an error
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, getattr, walk, 'foobar')
+        # ambiguous step raises an error
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, getattr, walk, 'author')
+
+    def test_get(self): # get, __call__
+        walk = Walk(self.ents, (self.schema.predicate(bse.tag), ))
+        tags = {
+            self.graph.node(ns.bsfs.Tag, URI('http://example.com/me/tag#1234')),
+            self.graph.node(ns.bsfs.Tag, URI('http://example.com/me/tag#4321'))}
+        # get returns from Nodes.get
+        self.assertDictEqual(walk.get(), {
+            self.graph.node(ns.bsfs.Entity, URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')): tags,
+            self.graph.node(ns.bsfs.Entity, URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321')): tags,
+            })
+        self.assertDictEqual(walk(), {
+            self.graph.node(ns.bsfs.Entity, URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')): tags,
+            self.graph.node(ns.bsfs.Entity, URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321')): tags,
+            })
+        # get passes kwargs to Nodes.get
+        self.assertSetEqual(tags, walk.get(node=False))
+        self.assertSetEqual(tags, walk(node=False))
+        self.assertSetEqual(tags, set(walk.get(view=list, node=False)))
+        self.assertSetEqual(tags, set(walk(view=list, node=False)))
+        # get returns values if need be
+        self.assertSetEqual(walk.label(node=False), {'hello', 'world'})
+
+
+## main ##
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()
+
+## EOF ##
diff --git a/test/query/ast_test/test_fetch.py b/test/query/ast_test/test_fetch.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0c48a1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/query/ast_test/test_fetch.py
@@ -0,0 +1,239 @@
+"""
+
+Part of the tagit test suite.
+A copy of the license is provided with the project.
+Author: Matthias Baumgartner, 2022
+"""
+# imports
+import unittest
+
+# bsfs imports
+from bsfs.namespace import ns
+from bsfs.utils import URI
+
+# objects to test
+from bsfs.query.ast.fetch import FetchExpression
+from bsfs.query.ast.fetch import All, This
+from bsfs.query.ast.fetch import _Branch, Fetch
+from bsfs.query.ast.fetch import _Named, Node, Value
+
+
+## code ##
+
+class TestExpression(unittest.TestCase): # FetchExpression
+    def test_essentials(self):
+        class Foo(FetchExpression): pass
+        # comparison
+        self.assertEqual(FetchExpression(), FetchExpression())
+        self.assertEqual(hash(FetchExpression()), hash(FetchExpression()))
+        # comparison respects type
+        self.assertNotEqual(FetchExpression(), Foo())
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(FetchExpression()), hash(Foo()))
+        # string conversion
+        self.assertEqual(str(FetchExpression()), 'FetchExpression()')
+        self.assertEqual(repr(FetchExpression()), 'FetchExpression()')
+        self.assertEqual(str(Foo()), 'Foo()')
+        self.assertEqual(repr(Foo()), 'Foo()')
+
+
+class TestAll(unittest.TestCase): # All
+    def test_essentials(self):
+        class Foo(All): pass
+        expr0 = This('hello')
+        expr1 = This('world')
+        # comparison
+        self.assertEqual(All(expr0), All(expr0))
+        self.assertEqual(hash(All(expr0)), hash(All(expr0)))
+        # comparison respects type
+        self.assertNotEqual(All(expr0), Foo(expr0))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(All(expr0)), hash(Foo(expr0)))
+        # comparison respects expressions
+        self.assertEqual(All(expr0, expr1), All(expr0, expr1))
+        self.assertEqual(hash(All(expr0, expr1)), hash(All(expr0, expr1)))
+        self.assertNotEqual(All(expr0), All(expr1))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(All(expr0)), hash(All(expr1)))
+        # expressions are unordered
+        self.assertEqual(All(expr0, expr1), All(expr1, expr0))
+        self.assertEqual(hash(All(expr0, expr1)), hash(All(expr1, expr0)))
+        # string conversion
+        self.assertIn(str(All(expr0, expr1)), {
+            'All({This(world), This(hello)})',
+            'All({This(hello), This(world)})'})
+        self.assertIn(repr(All(expr0, expr1)), {
+            'All({This(world), This(hello)})',
+            'All({This(hello), This(world)})'})
+
+    def test_members(self):
+        class Foo(): pass
+        expr0 = This('hello')
+        expr1 = This('world')
+        # requires at least one child expression
+        self.assertRaises(AttributeError, All)
+        # expr returns child expressions
+        self.assertEqual(All(expr0, expr1).expr, {expr0, expr1})
+        # can pass expressions as arguments
+        self.assertEqual(All(expr0, expr1).expr, {expr0, expr1})
+        # can pass a single expression as argument
+        self.assertEqual(All(expr0).expr, {expr0})
+        # can pass expressions as list-like
+        self.assertEqual(All([expr0, expr1]).expr, {expr0, expr1})
+        self.assertEqual(All((expr0, expr1)).expr, {expr0, expr1})
+        self.assertEqual(All({expr0, expr1}).expr, {expr0, expr1})
+        # can pass a single expression as list-like
+        self.assertEqual(All([expr0]).expr, {expr0})
+        # must pass a FilterExpression
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, All, Foo())
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, All, 1234)
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, All, 'hello world')
+        # len returns the number of child expressions
+        self.assertEqual(len(All(expr0)), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(len(All(expr0, expr1)), 2)
+        # iter iterates over child expressions
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(All(expr0, expr1)), {expr0, expr1})
+
+
+class TestThis(unittest.TestCase): # This
+    def test_essentials(self):
+        class Foo(This): pass
+        # comparison
+        self.assertEqual(This('hello'), This('hello'))
+        self.assertEqual(hash(This('hello')), hash(This('hello')))
+        # comparison respects type
+        self.assertNotEqual(This('hello'), Foo('hello'))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(This('hello')), hash(Foo('hello')))
+        # comparison respects name
+        self.assertNotEqual(This('hello'), This('world'))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(This('hello')), hash(This('world')))
+        # string conversion
+        self.assertEqual(str(This('hello')), 'This(hello)')
+        self.assertEqual(repr(This('hello')), 'This(hello)')
+
+    def test_members(self):
+        class Foo(): pass
+        # name returns member
+        self.assertEqual(This('hello').name, 'hello')
+        self.assertEqual(This('world').name, 'world')
+        # name is converted to a string
+        self.assertEqual(This(1234).name, '1234')
+        foo = Foo()
+        self.assertEqual(This(foo).name, str(foo))
+
+
+class TestBranch(unittest.TestCase): # _Branch, Fetch
+    def test_essentials(self):
+        pred = ns.bse.tag
+        expr = FetchExpression()
+        # comparison
+        self.assertEqual(_Branch(pred), _Branch(pred))
+        self.assertEqual(hash(_Branch(pred)), hash(_Branch(pred)))
+        self.assertEqual(Fetch(pred, expr), Fetch(pred, expr))
+        self.assertEqual(hash(Fetch(pred, expr)), hash(Fetch(pred, expr)))
+        # comparison respects type
+        self.assertNotEqual(_Branch(pred), Fetch(pred, expr))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(_Branch(pred)), hash(Fetch(pred, expr)))
+        self.assertNotEqual(Fetch(pred, expr), _Branch(pred))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Fetch(pred, expr)), hash(_Branch(pred)))
+        # comparison respects predicate
+        self.assertNotEqual(_Branch(pred), _Branch(ns.bse.filesize))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(_Branch(pred)), hash(_Branch(ns.bse.filesize)))
+        self.assertNotEqual(Fetch(pred, expr), Fetch(ns.bse.filesize, expr))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Fetch(pred, expr)), hash(Fetch(ns.bse.filesize, expr)))
+        # comparison respects expression
+        self.assertNotEqual(Fetch(pred, expr), Fetch(pred, This('foo')))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Fetch(pred, expr)), hash(Fetch(pred, This('foo'))))
+        # string conversion
+        self.assertEqual(str(_Branch(pred)), f'_Branch({pred})')
+        self.assertEqual(repr(_Branch(pred)), f'_Branch({pred})')
+        self.assertEqual(str(Fetch(pred, expr)), f'Fetch({pred}, {expr})')
+        self.assertEqual(repr(Fetch(pred, expr)), f'Fetch({pred}, {expr})')
+
+    def test_members(self):
+        class Foo(): pass
+        pred = ns.bse.tag
+        expr = FetchExpression()
+
+        # predicate returns member
+        self.assertEqual(_Branch(pred).predicate, pred)
+        self.assertEqual(Fetch(pred, expr).predicate, pred)
+        # can pass an URI
+        self.assertEqual(_Branch(ns.bse.filename).predicate, ns.bse.filename)
+        self.assertEqual(Fetch(ns.bse.filename, expr).predicate, ns.bse.filename)
+        # must pass an URI
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, _Branch, Foo())
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, Fetch, Foo(), expr)
+        # expression returns member
+        self.assertEqual(Fetch(pred, expr).expr, expr)
+        # expression must be a FilterExpression
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, Fetch, ns.bse.filename, 'hello')
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, Fetch, ns.bse.filename, 1234)
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, Fetch, ns.bse.filename, Foo())
+
+
+class TestNamed(unittest.TestCase): # _Named, Node, Value
+    def test_essentials(self):
+        pred = ns.bse.tag
+        name = 'foobar'
+        # comparison
+        self.assertEqual(_Named(pred, name), _Named(pred, name))
+        self.assertEqual(hash(_Named(pred, name)), hash(_Named(pred, name)))
+        # comparison respects type
+        self.assertNotEqual(_Named(pred, name), Node(pred, name))
+        self.assertNotEqual(Node(pred, name), Value(pred, name))
+        self.assertNotEqual(Value(pred, name), _Named(pred, name))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(_Named(pred, name)), hash(Node(pred, name)))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Node(pred, name)), hash(Value(pred, name)))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Value(pred, name)), hash(_Named(pred, name)))
+        # comparison respects predicate
+        self.assertNotEqual(_Named(pred, name), _Named(ns.bse.filesize, name))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(_Named(pred, name)), hash(_Named(ns.bse.filesize, name)))
+        self.assertNotEqual(Node(pred, name), Node(ns.bse.filesize, name))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Node(pred, name)), hash(Node(ns.bse.filesize, name)))
+        self.assertNotEqual(Value(pred, name), Value(ns.bse.filesize, name))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Value(pred, name)), hash(Value(ns.bse.filesize, name)))
+        # comparison respects name
+        self.assertNotEqual(_Named(pred, name), _Named(pred, 'foo'))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(_Named(pred, name)), hash(_Named(pred, 'foo')))
+        self.assertNotEqual(Node(pred, name), Node(pred, 'foo'))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Node(pred, name)), hash(Node(pred, 'foo')))
+        self.assertNotEqual(Value(pred, name), Value(pred, 'foo'))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Value(pred, name)), hash(Value(pred, 'foo')))
+        # string conversion
+        self.assertEqual(str(_Named(pred, name)), f'_Named({pred}, {name})')
+        self.assertEqual(repr(_Named(pred, name)), f'_Named({pred}, {name})')
+        self.assertEqual(str(Node(pred, name)), f'Node({pred}, {name})')
+        self.assertEqual(repr(Node(pred, name)), f'Node({pred}, {name})')
+        self.assertEqual(str(Value(pred, name)), f'Value({pred}, {name})')
+        self.assertEqual(repr(Value(pred, name)), f'Value({pred}, {name})')
+
+    def test_members(self):
+        class Foo(): pass
+        pred = ns.bse.tag
+        name = 'foobar'
+        # predicate returns member
+        self.assertEqual(_Named(pred, name).predicate, pred)
+        self.assertEqual(Node(pred, name).predicate, pred)
+        self.assertEqual(Value(pred, name).predicate, pred)
+        # can pass an URI as predicate
+        self.assertEqual(_Named(ns.bse.filename, name).predicate, ns.bse.filename)
+        self.assertEqual(Node(ns.bse.filename, name).predicate, ns.bse.filename)
+        self.assertEqual(Value(ns.bse.filename, name).predicate, ns.bse.filename)
+        # must pass an URI
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, _Named, Foo(), name)
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, Node, Foo(), name)
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, Value, Foo(), name)
+        # name returns member
+        self.assertEqual(_Named(pred, name).name, name)
+        self.assertEqual(Node(pred, name).name, name)
+        self.assertEqual(Value(pred, name).name, name)
+        # name is converted to a string
+        self.assertEqual(_Named(pred, 1234).name, '1234')
+        self.assertEqual(Node(pred, 1234).name, '1234')
+        self.assertEqual(Value(pred, 1234).name, '1234')
+
+
+## main ##
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()
+
+## EOF ##
diff --git a/test/query/ast_test/test_filter_.py b/test/query/ast_test/test_filter_.py
index 9eb92e2..39b98f8 100644
--- a/test/query/ast_test/test_filter_.py
+++ b/test/query/ast_test/test_filter_.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ from bsfs.query.ast.filter_ import _Value, Is, Equals, Substring, StartsWith, En
 from bsfs.query.ast.filter_ import _Bounded, LessThan, GreaterThan
 from bsfs.query.ast.filter_ import Predicate, OneOf
 from bsfs.query.ast.filter_ import IsIn, IsNotIn
+from bsfs.query.ast.filter_ import Includes, Excludes, Between
 
 
 ## code ##
@@ -456,13 +457,15 @@ class TestOneOf(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(len(OneOf(Predicate(ns.bse.filesize), Predicate(ns.bse.filename), Predicate(ns.bse.tag))), 3)
 
 
-    def testIsIn(self):
+    def test_IsIn(self):
+        # cannot pass zero arguments
+        self.assertRaises(AttributeError, IsIn)
         # can pass expressions as arguments
         self.assertEqual(IsIn('http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321'),
             Or(Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'), Is('http://example.com/entity#4321')))
         # can pass one expression as argument
         self.assertEqual(IsIn('http://example.com/entity#1234'),
-            Or(Is('http://example.com/entity#1234')))
+            Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'))
         # can pass expressions as iterator
         self.assertEqual(IsIn(iter(('http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321'))),
             Or(Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'), Is('http://example.com/entity#4321')))
@@ -477,16 +480,18 @@ class TestOneOf(unittest.TestCase):
             Or(Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'), Is('http://example.com/entity#4321')))
         # can pass one expression as list-like
         self.assertEqual(IsIn(['http://example.com/entity#1234']),
-            Or(Is('http://example.com/entity#1234')))
+            Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'))
 
 
-    def testIsNotIn(self):
+    def test_IsNotIn(self):
+        # cannot pass zero arguments
+        self.assertRaises(AttributeError, IsNotIn)
         # can pass expressions as arguments
         self.assertEqual(IsNotIn('http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321'),
             Not(Or(Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'), Is('http://example.com/entity#4321'))))
         # can pass one expression as argument
         self.assertEqual(IsNotIn('http://example.com/entity#1234'),
-            Not(Or(Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'))))
+            Not(Is('http://example.com/entity#1234')))
         # can pass expressions as iterator
         self.assertEqual(IsNotIn(iter(('http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321'))),
             Not(Or(Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'), Is('http://example.com/entity#4321'))))
@@ -501,9 +506,110 @@ class TestOneOf(unittest.TestCase):
             Not(Or(Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'), Is('http://example.com/entity#4321'))))
         # can pass one expression as list-like
         self.assertEqual(IsNotIn(['http://example.com/entity#1234']),
-            Not(Or(Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'))))
+            Not(Is('http://example.com/entity#1234')))
 
 
+    def test_Includes(self):
+        # cannot pass zero arguments
+        self.assertRaises(AttributeError, Includes)
+        # can pass expressions as arguments
+        self.assertEqual(Includes('hello', 'world'),
+            Or(Equals('hello'), Equals('world')))
+        self.assertEqual(Includes('hello', 'world', approx=True),
+            Or(Substring('hello'), Substring('world')))
+        # can pass one expression as argument
+        self.assertEqual(Includes('hello'),
+            Equals('hello'))
+        self.assertEqual(Includes('hello', approx=True),
+            Substring('hello'))
+        # can pass expressions as iterator
+        self.assertEqual(Includes(iter(('hello', 'world'))),
+            Or(Equals('hello'), Equals('world')))
+        self.assertEqual(Includes(iter(('hello', 'world')), approx=True),
+            Or(Substring('hello'), Substring('world')))
+        # can pass expressions as generator
+        def gen():
+            yield 'hello'
+            yield 'world'
+        self.assertEqual(Includes(gen()),
+            Or(Equals('hello'), Equals('world')))
+        self.assertEqual(Includes(gen(), approx=True),
+            Or(Substring('hello'), Substring('world')))
+        # can pass expressions as list-like
+        self.assertEqual(Includes(['hello', 'world']),
+            Or(Equals('hello'), Equals('world')))
+        self.assertEqual(Includes(['hello', 'world'], approx=True),
+            Or(Substring('hello'), Substring('world')))
+        # can pass one expression as list-like
+        self.assertEqual(Includes(['hello']),
+            Equals('hello'))
+        self.assertEqual(Includes(['hello'], approx=True),
+            Substring('hello'))
+
+
+    def test_Excludes(self):
+        # cannot pass zero arguments
+        self.assertRaises(AttributeError, Excludes)
+        # can pass expressions as arguments
+        self.assertEqual(Excludes('hello', 'world'),
+            Not(Or(Equals('hello'), Equals('world'))))
+        self.assertEqual(Excludes('hello', 'world', approx=True),
+            Not(Or(Substring('hello'), Substring('world'))))
+        # can pass one expression as argument
+        self.assertEqual(Excludes('hello'),
+            Not(Equals('hello')))
+        self.assertEqual(Excludes('hello', approx=True),
+            Not(Substring('hello')))
+        # can pass expressions as iterator
+        self.assertEqual(Excludes(iter(('hello', 'world'))),
+            Not(Or(Equals('hello'), Equals('world'))))
+        self.assertEqual(Excludes(iter(('hello', 'world')), approx=True),
+            Not(Or(Substring('hello'), Substring('world'))))
+        # can pass expressions as generator
+        def gen():
+            yield 'hello'
+            yield 'world'
+        self.assertEqual(Excludes(gen()),
+            Not(Or(Equals('hello'), Equals('world'))))
+        self.assertEqual(Excludes(gen(), approx=True),
+            Not(Or(Substring('hello'), Substring('world'))))
+        # can pass expressions as list-like
+        self.assertEqual(Excludes(['hello', 'world']),
+            Not(Or(Equals('hello'), Equals('world'))))
+        self.assertEqual(Excludes(['hello', 'world'], approx=True),
+            Not(Or(Substring('hello'), Substring('world'))))
+        # can pass one expression as list-like
+        self.assertEqual(Excludes(['hello']),
+            Not(Equals('hello')))
+        self.assertEqual(Excludes(['hello'], approx=True),
+            Not(Substring('hello')))
+
+
+    def test_Between(self):
+        # must specify at least one bound
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, Between, float('inf'), float('inf'))
+        # lower bound must be less than the upper bound
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, Between, 321, 123)
+        # can set a lower bound only
+        self.assertEqual(Between(123),
+            GreaterThan(123, strict=True))
+        self.assertEqual(Between(123, lo_strict=False),
+            GreaterThan(123, strict=False))
+        # can set an upper bound only
+        self.assertEqual(Between(hi=123),
+            LessThan(123, strict=True))
+        self.assertEqual(Between(hi=123, hi_strict=False),
+            LessThan(123, strict=False))
+        # can set both bounds
+        self.assertEqual(Between(123, 321),
+            And(GreaterThan(123, strict=True), LessThan(321, strict=True)))
+        self.assertEqual(Between(123, 321, False, False),
+            And(GreaterThan(123, strict=False), LessThan(321, strict=False)))
+        # can set identical bounds
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, Between, 123, 123)
+        self.assertEqual(Between(123, 123, False, False),
+            Equals(123))
+
 
 ## main ##
 
diff --git a/test/query/test_matcher.py b/test/query/test_matcher.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e830cf8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/query/test_matcher.py
@@ -0,0 +1,1182 @@
+"""
+
+Part of the tagit test suite.
+A copy of the license is provided with the project.
+Author: Matthias Baumgartner, 2022
+"""
+# imports
+import operator
+import unittest
+
+# bsfs imports
+from bsfs.namespace import ns
+from bsfs.query import ast
+from bsfs.utils import errors
+
+# objects to test
+from bsfs.query.matcher import Any, Filter, Partial, Rest, _set_matcher
+
+
+## code ##
+
+class TestAny(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_essentials(self):
+        # comparison
+        a = Any()
+        b = Any()
+        self.assertNotEqual(Any(), Any())
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Any()), hash(Any()))
+        self.assertNotEqual(a, Any())
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(a), hash(Any()))
+        self.assertNotEqual(a, b)
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(a), hash(b))
+        # comparison within sets
+        self.assertEqual(len({Any(), Any(), Any(), Any()}), 4)
+        self.assertEqual(len({Any() for _ in range(1000)}), 1000)
+        # string representation
+        self.assertEqual(str(Any()), 'Any()')
+        self.assertEqual(repr(Any()), 'Any()')
+
+
+class TestRest(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_essentials(self):
+        expr = ast.filter.Equals('hello')
+        # comparison
+        self.assertEqual(Rest(expr), Rest(expr))
+        self.assertEqual(hash(Rest(expr)), hash(Rest(expr)))
+        # comparison respects type
+        class Foo(): pass
+        self.assertNotEqual(Rest(expr), 1234)
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Rest(expr)), hash(1234))
+        self.assertNotEqual(Rest(expr), Foo())
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Rest(expr)), hash(Foo()))
+        # comparison respects expr
+        self.assertNotEqual(Rest(expr), Rest(ast.filter.Equals('world')))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Rest(expr)), hash(Rest(ast.filter.Equals('world'))))
+        # default constructor -> Any -> Not equal
+        self.assertNotEqual(Rest(), Rest())
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Rest()), hash(Rest()))
+        # string representation
+        self.assertEqual(str(Rest()), 'Rest(Any())')
+        self.assertEqual(str(Rest(expr)), 'Rest(Equals(hello))')
+        self.assertEqual(repr(Rest()), 'Rest(Any())')
+        self.assertEqual(repr(Rest(expr)), 'Rest(Equals(hello))')
+
+
+
+class TestPartial(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_match(self):
+        p0 = Partial(ast.filter.LessThan)
+        p1 = Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3)
+        p2 = Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, strict=False)
+        p3 = Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False)
+        # match respects name
+        self.assertTrue(p0.match('foo', None))
+        self.assertTrue(p1.match('foo', None))
+        self.assertTrue(p2.match('foo', None))
+        self.assertTrue(p3.match('foo', None))
+        # match respects correct value
+        self.assertTrue(p0.match('threshold', 3))
+        self.assertTrue(p1.match('threshold', 3))
+        self.assertTrue(p2.match('threshold', 3))
+        self.assertTrue(p3.match('threshold', 3))
+        self.assertTrue(p0.match('strict', False))
+        self.assertTrue(p1.match('strict', False))
+        self.assertTrue(p2.match('strict', False))
+        self.assertTrue(p3.match('strict', False))
+        # match respects incorrect value
+        self.assertTrue(p0.match('threshold', 5))
+        self.assertFalse(p1.match('threshold', 5))
+        self.assertTrue(p2.match('threshold', 5))
+        self.assertFalse(p3.match('threshold', 5))
+        self.assertTrue(p0.match('strict', True))
+        self.assertTrue(p1.match('strict', True))
+        self.assertFalse(p2.match('strict', True))
+        self.assertFalse(p3.match('strict', True))
+
+    def test_members(self):
+        # node returns expression
+        self.assertEqual(Partial(ast.filter.Equals).node, ast.filter.Equals)
+        self.assertEqual(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan).node, ast.filter.LessThan)
+        # kwargs returns arguments
+        self.assertDictEqual(Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='hello').kwargs,
+            {'value': 'hello'})
+        self.assertDictEqual(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False).kwargs,
+            {'threshold': 3, 'strict': False})
+        # Partial does not check about kwargs
+        self.assertDictEqual(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, value='hello').kwargs,
+            {'value': 'hello'})
+        self.assertDictEqual(Partial(ast.filter.Equals, threshold=3, strict=False).kwargs,
+            {'threshold': 3, 'strict': False})
+
+    def test_essentials(self):
+        # comparison respects type
+        class Foo(): pass
+        self.assertNotEqual(Partial(ast.filter.Equals), 1234)
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Partial(ast.filter.Equals)), hash(1234))
+        self.assertNotEqual(Partial(ast.filter.Equals), Foo())
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Partial(ast.filter.Equals)), hash(Foo()))
+        self.assertNotEqual(Partial(ast.filter.Equals), ast.filter.Equals)
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Partial(ast.filter.Equals)), hash(ast.filter.Equals))
+        self.assertNotEqual(Partial(ast.filter.Equals), ast.filter.Equals('hello'))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Partial(ast.filter.Equals)), hash(ast.filter.Equals('hello')))
+        # comparison respects node
+        self.assertEqual(Partial(ast.filter.Equals), Partial(ast.filter.Equals))
+        self.assertEqual(hash(Partial(ast.filter.Equals)), hash(Partial(ast.filter.Equals)))
+        self.assertEqual(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan), Partial(ast.filter.LessThan))
+        self.assertEqual(hash(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan)), hash(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan)))
+        self.assertNotEqual(Partial(ast.filter.Equals), Partial(ast.filter.LessThan))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(Partial(ast.filter.Equals)), hash(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan)))
+        # comparison respects kwargs
+        self.assertEqual(
+            Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='hello'),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='hello'))
+        self.assertEqual(
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='hello')),
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='hello')))
+        self.assertEqual(
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False))
+        self.assertEqual(
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False)),
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False)))
+        self.assertNotEqual(
+            Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='hello'),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Equals))
+        self.assertNotEqual(
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='hello')),
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.Equals)))
+        self.assertNotEqual(
+            Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='hello'),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='world'))
+        self.assertNotEqual(
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='hello')),
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='world')))
+        self.assertNotEqual(
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan))
+        self.assertNotEqual(
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False)),
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan)))
+        self.assertNotEqual(
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=5))
+        self.assertNotEqual(
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False)),
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=5)))
+        self.assertNotEqual(
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, strict=False))
+        self.assertNotEqual(
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False)),
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, strict=False)))
+        self.assertNotEqual(
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=True))
+        self.assertNotEqual(
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False)),
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=True)))
+        self.assertNotEqual(
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=5, strict=False))
+        self.assertNotEqual(
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False)),
+            hash(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=5, strict=False)))
+        # string representation
+        self.assertEqual(str(Partial(ast.filter.Equals)), 'Partial(Equals, {})')
+        self.assertEqual(repr(Partial(ast.filter.Equals)), 'Partial(Equals, {})')
+        self.assertEqual(str(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan)), 'Partial(LessThan, {})')
+        self.assertEqual(repr(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan)), 'Partial(LessThan, {})')
+        self.assertEqual(str(Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='hello')), "Partial(Equals, {'value': 'hello'})")
+        self.assertEqual(repr(Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='hello')), "Partial(Equals, {'value': 'hello'})")
+        self.assertEqual(str(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3)), "Partial(LessThan, {'threshold': 3})")
+        self.assertEqual(repr(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3)), "Partial(LessThan, {'threshold': 3})")
+        self.assertEqual(str(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, strict=False)), "Partial(LessThan, {'strict': False})")
+        self.assertEqual(repr(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, strict=False)), "Partial(LessThan, {'strict': False})")
+        self.assertEqual(str(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False)), "Partial(LessThan, {'threshold': 3, 'strict': False})")
+        self.assertEqual(repr(Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False)), "Partial(LessThan, {'threshold': 3, 'strict': False})")
+
+
+class TestSetMatcher(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_set_matcher(self):
+        # setup
+        A = ast.filter.Equals('A')
+        B = ast.filter.Equals('B')
+        C = ast.filter.Equals('C')
+        D = ast.filter.Equals('D')
+        matcher = Filter()
+
+        # identical sets match
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+
+        # order is irrelevant
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(B, C, A),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+
+        # all reference items must be present
+        self.assertFalse(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+
+        # all reference items must have a match
+        self.assertFalse(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(D, B, C),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(A, D, C),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, D),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+
+        # Any matches every item
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(Any(), B, C),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(A, Any(), C),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, Any()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, D),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, Any()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+
+        # there can be multiple Any's
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(A, Any(), Any()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(Any(), B, Any()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(Any(), Any(), C),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+
+        # Any covers exactly one element
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, Any()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, D),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, Any()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, Any()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C, D),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, Any()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+
+        # each Any covers exactly one element
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(Any(), Any(), Any()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(Any(), Any()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B),
+            ast.filter.And(Any(), Any(), Any()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+
+        # Rest captures remainder
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, Rest()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C, D),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, Rest()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        # remainder matches the empty set
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, Rest()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        # Rest does not absolve other refernce items from having a match
+        self.assertFalse(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, C, D),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, Rest()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        # Rest can be combined with Any ...
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, C, D),
+            ast.filter.And(A, Any(), Rest()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, C, D),
+            ast.filter.And(A, Any(), Rest()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        # ... explicit items still need to match
+        self.assertFalse(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, C, D),
+            ast.filter.And(B, Any(), Rest()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        # ... Any still determines minimum element count
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B),
+            ast.filter.And(A, Any(), Rest()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B),
+            ast.filter.And(A, Any(), Any(), Rest()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        # Rest cannot be repeated ...
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, _set_matcher,
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(A, Rest(), Rest(ast.filter.Equals('hello'))),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            )
+        # ... unless they are identical
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, _set_matcher,
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(A, Rest(), Rest()), # Any instances are different!
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            )
+        # ... unless they are identical
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, Rest(C), Rest(C)),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        # Rest can mandate a specific expression
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, Rest(C)),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, Rest(D)),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        # Rest can mandate a partial expression
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, Rest(Partial(ast.filter.Equals))),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(A, Rest(Partial(ast.filter.Equals))),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, Rest(Partial(ast.filter.Substring))),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, Rest(Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='D'))),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        # Rest can be the only expression
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(Rest(Partial(ast.filter.Equals))),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+        # Rest's expression defaults to Any
+        self.assertTrue(_set_matcher(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ast.filter.And(Rest()),
+            matcher._parse_filter_expression,
+            ))
+
+
+class TestFilter(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.match = Filter()
+
+    def test_call(self):
+        # query must be a filter expression
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.match, 1234, Any())
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.match, ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename), Any())
+        # reference must be a filter expression
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.match, ast.filter.Equals('hello'), 1234)
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.match, ast.filter.Equals('hello'), ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename))
+        # reference can be Any or Partial
+        self.assertTrue(self.match(
+            ast.filter.Equals('hello'),
+            Any(),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match(
+            ast.filter.Equals('hello'),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Equals),
+            ))
+        # call parses expression
+        self.assertTrue(self.match(
+            # query
+            ast.filter.And(
+                ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.tag,
+                    ast.filter.All(ns.bse.label,
+                        ast.filter.Or(
+                            ast.filter.Equals('hello'),
+                            ast.filter.Equals('world'),
+                            ast.filter.StartsWith('foo'),
+                            ast.filter.EndsWith('bar'),
+                            )
+                        )
+                    ),
+                ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.iso,
+                    ast.filter.And(
+                        ast.filter.GreaterThan(100, strict=True),
+                        ast.filter.LessThan(200, strict=False),
+                        )
+                    ),
+                ast.filter.Any(ast.filter.OneOf(ns.bse.featureA, ns.bse.featureB),
+                    ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 1)
+                    ),
+                ),
+            # reference
+            ast.filter.And(
+                ast.filter.Any(Any(),
+                    ast.filter.All(Partial(ast.filter.Predicate, reverse=False),
+                        ast.filter.Or(
+                            Partial(ast.filter.StartsWith),
+                            ast.filter.EndsWith('bar'),
+                            Rest(Partial(ast.filter.Equals)),
+                            )
+                        )
+                    ),
+                ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.iso,
+                    ast.filter.And(
+                        Partial(ast.filter.GreaterThan, strict=True),
+                        Any(),
+                        Rest(),
+                        )
+                    ),
+                ast.filter.Any(ast.filter.OneOf(Rest()),
+                    Partial(ast.filter.Distance)
+                    ),
+                ),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match(
+            # query
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.tag,
+                ast.filter.And(
+                    ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.label, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+                    ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.collection, ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/col#123')),
+                    ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.label)),
+                    )
+                ),
+            # reference
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.tag,
+                ast.filter.And(
+                    Any(),
+                    ast.filter.Any(Partial(ast.filter.Predicate, reverse=True), # reverse mismatch
+                        Partial(ast.filter.Is)),
+                    ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Has(Any(), Any())),
+                    )
+                )
+            ))
+
+    def test_parse_filter_expression(self):
+        # Any matches every filter expression
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_filter_expression(
+            ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.FilterExpression()), Any()))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_filter_expression(
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filename), Any()))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_filter_expression(
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 1.0), Any()))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_filter_expression(
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')), Any()))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_filter_expression(
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')), Any()))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_filter_expression(
+            ast.filter.And(ast.filter.Equals('hello')), Any()))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_filter_expression(
+            ast.filter.Or(ast.filter.Equals('hello')), Any()))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_filter_expression(
+            ast.filter.Equals('hello'), Any()))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_filter_expression(
+            ast.filter.Substring('hello'), Any()))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_filter_expression(
+            ast.filter.StartsWith('hello'), Any()))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_filter_expression(
+            ast.filter.EndsWith('hello'), Any()))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_filter_expression(
+            ast.filter.Is('hello'), Any()))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_filter_expression(
+            ast.filter.LessThan(3), Any()))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_filter_expression(
+            ast.filter.GreaterThan(3), Any()))
+        # Any matches invalid filter expressions
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_filter_expression(
+            ast.filter.FilterExpression(), Any()))
+        # node must be an appropriate filter expression
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.match._parse_filter_expression,
+            ast.filter.FilterExpression(), ast.filter.FilterExpression())
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.match._parse_filter_expression,
+            1234, ast.filter.FilterExpression())
+
+    def test_parse_predicate_expression(self):
+        # Any matches every predicate expression
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_predicate_expression(
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename), Any()))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_predicate_expression(
+            ast.filter.OneOf(ns.bse.filename), Any()))
+        # Any matches invalid predicate expression
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._parse_predicate_expression(
+            ast.filter.FilterExpression(), Any()))
+        # node must be an appropriate predicate expression
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.match._parse_predicate_expression,
+            ast.filter.PredicateExpression(), ast.filter.PredicateExpression())
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.match._parse_predicate_expression,
+            1234, ast.filter.PredicateExpression())
+
+    def test_predicate(self):
+        # identical expressions match
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._predicate(
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename, reverse=False),
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename, reverse=False),
+            ))
+        # _predicate respects type
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._predicate(
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename, reverse=False),
+            ast.filter.FilterExpression(),
+            ))
+        # _predicate respects predicate
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._predicate(
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename, reverse=False),
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filesize, reverse=False),
+            ))
+        # _predicate respects reverse
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._predicate(
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename, reverse=False),
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename, reverse=True),
+            ))
+        # Partial requires ast.filter.Predicate
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._predicate(
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename, reverse=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Equals),
+            ))
+        # predicate and reverse can be specified
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._predicate(
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename, reverse=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Predicate, predicate=ns.bse.filename, reverse=False),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._predicate(
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename, reverse=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Predicate, predicate=ns.bse.filesize, reverse=False),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._predicate(
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename, reverse=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Predicate, predicate=ns.bse.filename, reverse=True),
+            ))
+        # predicate can remain unspecified
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._predicate(
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename, reverse=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Predicate, reverse=False),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._predicate(
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filesize, reverse=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Predicate, reverse=False),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._predicate(
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filesize, reverse=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Predicate, reverse=True),
+            ))
+        # reverse can remain unspecified
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._predicate(
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename, reverse=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Predicate, predicate=ns.bse.filename),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._predicate(
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename, reverse=True),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Predicate, predicate=ns.bse.filename),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._predicate(
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename, reverse=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Predicate, predicate=ns.bse.filesize),
+            ))
+
+    def test_one_of(self):
+        A = ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename)
+        B = ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filesize)
+        C = ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename, reverse=True)
+        # identical expressions match
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._one_of(
+            ast.filter.OneOf(A, B),
+            ast.filter.OneOf(A, B),
+            ))
+        # _one_of respects type
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._one_of(
+            ast.filter.OneOf(A, B),
+            ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filesize, reverse=True),
+            ))
+        # _one_of respects child expressions
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._one_of(
+            ast.filter.OneOf(A, B),
+            ast.filter.OneOf(A, C),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._one_of(
+            ast.filter.OneOf(A, B),
+            ast.filter.OneOf(A),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._one_of(
+            ast.filter.OneOf(A, B),
+            ast.filter.OneOf(A, B, C),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._one_of(
+            ast.filter.OneOf(A, B),
+            ast.filter.OneOf(B, A),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._one_of(
+            ast.filter.OneOf(A, B),
+            ast.filter.OneOf(A, Any()),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._one_of(
+            ast.filter.OneOf(A, B),
+            ast.filter.OneOf(B, Rest()),
+            ))
+
+    def test_branch(self):
+        # identical expressions match
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ))
+        # _agg respects type
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Equals('hello'),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Equals('hello'),
+            ))
+        # _agg respects predicate expression
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Any(ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename), ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.All(ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename), ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Any(ast.filter.OneOf(ns.bse.filename), ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.All(ast.filter.OneOf(ns.bse.filename), ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Any(ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename, reverse=True), ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.All(ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.filename, reverse=True), ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Any(Any(), ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.All(Any(), ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Any(Partial(ast.filter.Predicate), ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.All(Partial(ast.filter.Predicate), ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ))
+        # _agg respects filter expression
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Substring('hello')),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Substring('hello')),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Any(Any(), Any())),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.All(Any(), Any())),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, Any()),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, Any()),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, Partial(ast.filter.Equals)),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, Partial(ast.filter.Equals)),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filename, Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='world')),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._branch(
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.All(ns.bse.filename, Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='world')),
+            ))
+
+    def test_agg(self):
+        A = ast.filter.Equals('hello')
+        B = ast.filter.Equals('world')
+        C = ast.filter.Equals('foobar')
+        # identical expressions match
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.Or(A, B),
+            ast.filter.Or(A, B),
+            ))
+        # _agg respects type
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B),
+            ast.filter.Or(A, B),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.Or(A, B),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B),
+            ast.filter.Equals('hello'),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.Or(A, B),
+            ast.filter.Equals('hello'),
+            ))
+        # _agg respects child expressions
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B),
+            ast.filter.And(A, ast.filter.Equals('bar')),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.Or(A, B),
+            ast.filter.Or(A, ast.filter.Equals('bar')),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B),
+            ast.filter.And(A),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.Or(A, B),
+            ast.filter.Or(A),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B),
+            ast.filter.And(A, B, C),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.Or(A, B),
+            ast.filter.Or(A, B, C),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B),
+            ast.filter.And(B, A),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.Or(A, B),
+            ast.filter.Or(B, A),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B),
+            ast.filter.And(A, Any()),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.Or(A, B),
+            ast.filter.Or(A, Any()),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.And(A, B),
+            ast.filter.And(B, Rest()),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._agg(
+            ast.filter.Or(A, B),
+            ast.filter.Or(B, Rest()),
+            ))
+
+    def test_not(self):
+        # identical expressions match
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._not(
+            ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ))
+        # _not respects type
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._not(
+            ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Equals('hello'),
+            ))
+        # _not respects child expression
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._not(
+            ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Equals('world')),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._not(
+            ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Substring('hello')),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._not(
+            ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Equals('hello')),
+            ast.filter.Not(Any()),
+            ))
+
+    def test_has(self):
+        # identical expressions match
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._has(
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filesize),
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filesize),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._has(
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.LessThan(3)),
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.LessThan(3)),
+            ))
+        # _has respects type
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._has(
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filesize),
+            ast.filter.Equals('hello'),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._has(
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filesize),
+            ast.filter.Equals('hello'),
+            ))
+        # _has respects predicate
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._has(
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.LessThan(3)),
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.iso, ast.filter.LessThan(3)),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._has(
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.LessThan(3)),
+            ast.filter.Has(Any(), ast.filter.LessThan(3)),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._has(
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.LessThan(3)),
+            ast.filter.Has(Partial(ast.filter.Predicate), ast.filter.LessThan(3)),
+            ))
+        # _has respects count
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._has(
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.LessThan(3)),
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.GreaterThan(3)),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._has(
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.LessThan(3)),
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.LessThan(5)),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._has(
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.LessThan(3)),
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filesize, Any()),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._has(
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.LessThan(3)),
+            ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.filesize, Partial(ast.filter.LessThan)),
+            ))
+
+    def test_distance(self):
+        # identical expressions match
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._distance(
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 5, True),
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 5, True),
+            ))
+        # _distance respects type
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._distance(
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 5, True),
+            ast.filter.Equals('hello'),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._distance(
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 5, True),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Equals),
+            ))
+        # _distance respects reference value
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._distance(
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 5, True),
+            ast.filter.Distance([3,2,1], 5, True),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._distance(
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 5, True),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Distance, threshold=5, strict=True),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._distance(
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 5, True),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Distance, reference=[1,2,3], threshold=5, strict=True),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._distance(
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 5, True),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Distance, reference=[3,2,1], threshold=5, strict=True),
+            ))
+        # _distance respects threshold
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._distance(
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 5, True),
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 8, True),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._distance(
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 5, True),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Distance, reference=[1,2,3], strict=True),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._distance(
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 5, True),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Distance, reference=[1,2,3], threshold=5, strict=True),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._distance(
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 5, True),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Distance, reference=[1,2,3], threshold=8, strict=True),
+            ))
+        # _distance respects strict
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._distance(
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 5, True),
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 5, False),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._distance(
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 5, True),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Distance, reference=[1,2,3], threshold=5),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._distance(
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 5, True),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Distance, reference=[1,2,3], threshold=5, strict=True),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._distance(
+            ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3], 5, True),
+            Partial(ast.filter.Distance, reference=[1,2,3], threshold=5, strict=False),
+            ))
+
+    def test_value(self):
+        # identical expressions match
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._value(ast.filter.Equals('hello'), ast.filter.Equals('hello')))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._value(ast.filter.Substring('hello'), ast.filter.Substring('hello')))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._value(ast.filter.StartsWith('hello'), ast.filter.StartsWith('hello')))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._value(ast.filter.EndsWith('hello'), ast.filter.EndsWith('hello')))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._value(ast.filter.Is('hello'), ast.filter.Is('hello')))
+        # _value respects type
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.Equals('hello'), ast.filter.Is('hello')))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.Substring('hello'), ast.filter.Is('hello')))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.StartsWith('hello'), ast.filter.Is('hello')))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.EndsWith('hello'), ast.filter.Is('hello')))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.Is('hello'), ast.filter.Equals('hello')))
+        # _value respects value
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.Equals('hello'), ast.filter.Equals('world')))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.Substring('hello'), ast.filter.Substring('world')))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.StartsWith('hello'), ast.filter.StartsWith('world')))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.EndsWith('hello'), ast.filter.EndsWith('world')))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.Is('hello'), ast.filter.Is('world')))
+        # Partial requires correct type
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.Equals('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.Is)))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.Substring('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.Is)))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.StartsWith('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.Is)))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.EndsWith('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.Is)))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.Is('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.Equals)))
+        # value can be specified
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._value(ast.filter.Equals('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='hello')))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.Equals('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.Equals, value='world')))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._value(ast.filter.Substring('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.Substring, value='hello')))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.Substring('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.Substring, value='world')))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._value(ast.filter.StartsWith('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.StartsWith, value='hello')))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.StartsWith('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.StartsWith, value='world')))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._value(ast.filter.EndsWith('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.EndsWith, value='hello')))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.EndsWith('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.EndsWith, value='world')))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._value(ast.filter.Is('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.Is, value='hello')))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._value(ast.filter.Is('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.Is, value='world')))
+        # value can remain unspecified
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._value(ast.filter.Equals('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.Equals)))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._value(ast.filter.Substring('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.Substring)))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._value(ast.filter.StartsWith('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.StartsWith)))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._value(ast.filter.EndsWith('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.EndsWith)))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._value(ast.filter.Is('hello'), Partial(ast.filter.Is)))
+
+    def test_bounded(self):
+        # identical expressions match
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.LessThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            ast.filter.LessThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.GreaterThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            ast.filter.GreaterThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            ))
+        # _bounded respects type
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.LessThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            ast.filter.GreaterThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.GreaterThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            ast.filter.LessThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            ))
+        # _bounded respects threshold
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.LessThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            ast.filter.LessThan(threshold=4, strict=False),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.GreaterThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            ast.filter.GreaterThan(threshold=4, strict=False),
+            ))
+        # _bounded respects strict
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.LessThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            ast.filter.LessThan(threshold=3, strict=True),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.GreaterThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            ast.filter.GreaterThan(threshold=3, strict=True),
+            ))
+        # Partial requires correct type
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.LessThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.GreaterThan),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.GreaterThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan),
+            ))
+        # threshold and strict can be specified
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.LessThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=False),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.GreaterThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.GreaterThan, threshold=3, strict=False),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.LessThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=4, strict=False),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.GreaterThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.GreaterThan, threshold=4, strict=False),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.LessThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3, strict=True),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.GreaterThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.GreaterThan, threshold=3, strict=True),
+            ))
+        # threshold can remain unspecified
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.LessThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, strict=False),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.GreaterThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.GreaterThan, strict=False),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.LessThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, strict=True),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.GreaterThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.GreaterThan, strict=True),
+            ))
+        # strict can remain unspecified
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.LessThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=3),
+            ))
+        self.assertTrue(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.GreaterThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.GreaterThan, threshold=3),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.LessThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.LessThan, threshold=4),
+            ))
+        self.assertFalse(self.match._bounded(
+            ast.filter.GreaterThan(threshold=3, strict=False),
+            Partial(ast.filter.GreaterThan, threshold=4),
+            ))
+
+
+## main ##
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()
+
+## EOF ##
diff --git a/test/query/test_validator.py b/test/query/test_validator.py
index dc9d913..fec3d23 100644
--- a/test/query/test_validator.py
+++ b/test/query/test_validator.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ from bsfs.query import ast
 from bsfs.utils import errors
 
 # objects to test
-from bsfs.query.validator import Filter
+from bsfs.query.validator import Filter, Fetch
 
 
 ## code ##
@@ -286,6 +286,219 @@ class TestFilter(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIsNone(self.validate._distance(self.schema.literal(ns.bsfs.Colors), ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3,4,5], 1, False)))
 
 
+class TestFetch(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.schema = _schema.from_string('''
+            prefix rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#>
+            prefix xsd: <http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#>
+
+            prefix bsfs: <http://bsfs.ai/schema/>
+            prefix bse: <http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity#>
+
+            bsfs:Entity rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Node .
+            bsfs:Tag rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Node .
+            xsd:string rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Literal .
+
+            bse:filename rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Node ;
+                rdfs:range xsd:string .
+
+            bse:tag rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Entity ;
+                rdfs:range bsfs:Tag .
+
+            bse:label rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Tag ;
+                rdfs:range xsd:string .
+
+            ''')
+        self.validate = Fetch(self.schema)
+
+    def test_call(self):
+        # call accepts correct expressions
+        self.assertTrue(self.validate(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Fetch(ns.bse.tag, ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.label, 'value'))))
+        self.assertTrue(self.validate(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Fetch(ns.bse.tag, ast.fetch.This('this'))))
+        self.assertTrue(self.validate(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.This('this')))
+        self.assertTrue(self.validate(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.All(ast.fetch.This('this'), ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.tag, 'node'), ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.filename, 'value'))))
+        # type must be a Node
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, self.validate, 1234, ast.fetch.This('this'))
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, self.validate, 'foobar', ast.fetch.This('this'))
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, self.validate, self.schema.literal(ns.bsfs.Literal), ast.fetch.This('this'))
+        # type must be in the schema
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node).child(ns.bsfs.Invalid),
+            ast.fetch.FetchExpression())
+        # expression must be a fetch expression
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, self.validate, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), 1234)
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, self.validate, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), 'hello')
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, self.validate, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.FilterExpression())
+        # expression must be valid
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Fetch(ns.bse.tag, ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.label, 'node')))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.tag, 'value'))
+
+    def test_routing(self):
+        # Node passes _branch, _named, and _node checks
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._parse_fetch_expression, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node),
+            ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.tag, 'node')) # fails in _branch
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.validate._parse_fetch_expression, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.tag, '')) # fails in _named
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._parse_fetch_expression, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.label, 'node')) # fails in _node
+        # Value passes _branch, _named, and _value checks
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._parse_fetch_expression, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.label, 'value')) # fails in _branch
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.validate._parse_fetch_expression, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.filename, '')) # fails in _named
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._parse_fetch_expression, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.tag, 'value')) # fails in _value
+        # Fetch passes _branch and _fetch checks
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._parse_fetch_expression, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node),
+            ast.fetch.Fetch(ns.bse.tag, ast.fetch.This('this'))) # fails in _branch
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._parse_fetch_expression, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node),
+            ast.fetch.Fetch(ns.bse.filename, ast.fetch.This('this'))) # fails in _fetch
+        # invalid expressions cannot be parsed
+        type_ = self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node)
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.validate._parse_fetch_expression, type_,
+            ast.filter.FilterExpression())
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.validate._parse_fetch_expression, type_,
+            1234)
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.validate._parse_fetch_expression, type_,
+            'hello world')
+
+    def test_all(self):
+        # all accepts correct expressions
+        self.assertIsNone(self.validate._all(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.All(ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.filename, 'value'), ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.tag, 'node'))))
+        # child expressions must be valid
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._all, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.All(ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.tag, 'value')))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._all, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.All(ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.filename, 'value'), ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.filename, 'node')))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._all, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.All(ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.tag, 'value'), ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.tag, 'node')))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._all, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.All(ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.tag, 'value'), ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.filename, 'node')))
+
+    def test_branch(self):
+        # branch accepts correct expressions
+        self.assertIsNone(self.validate._branch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch._Branch(ns.bse.filename)))
+        self.assertIsNone(self.validate._branch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Fetch(ns.bse.tag, ast.fetch.This('this'))))
+        self.assertIsNone(self.validate._branch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.filename, 'value')))
+        self.assertIsNone(self.validate._branch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.tag, 'node')))
+        # type must be a node
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.literal(ns.bsfs.Literal),
+            ast.fetch._Branch(ns.bse.filename))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.literal(ns.bsfs.Literal),
+            ast.fetch.Fetch(ns.bse.tag, ast.fetch.This('this')))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.literal(ns.bsfs.Literal),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.filename, 'value'))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.literal(ns.bsfs.Literal),
+            ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.tag, 'node'))
+        # type must be in the schema
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node).child(ns.bsfs.Invalid),
+            ast.fetch._Branch(ns.bse.filename))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node).child(ns.bsfs.Invalid),
+            ast.fetch.Fetch(ns.bse.tag, ast.fetch.This('this')))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node).child(ns.bsfs.Invalid),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.filename, 'value'))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node).child(ns.bsfs.Invalid),
+            ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.tag, 'node'))
+        # predicate must be in the schema
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch._Branch(ns.bse.invalid))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Fetch(ns.bse.invalid, ast.fetch.This('this')))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.invalid, 'value'))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.invalid, 'node'))
+        # predicate's domain must be related to the type
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch._Branch(ns.bse.label))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Fetch(ns.bse.label, ast.fetch.This('this')))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.label, 'node'))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.label, 'value'))
+        # predicate's domain cannot be a supertype
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node),
+            ast.fetch._Branch(ns.bse.tag))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node),
+            ast.fetch.Fetch(ns.bse.tag, ast.fetch.This('this')))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node),
+            ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.tag, 'node'))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._branch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.tag, 'value'))
+        # predicate's domain can be a subtype
+        self.assertIsNone(self.validate._branch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch._Branch(ns.bse.filename)))
+        self.assertIsNone(self.validate._branch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.filename, 'value')))
+
+    def test_fetch(self):
+        # fetch accepts correct expressions
+        self.assertIsNone(self.validate._fetch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node),
+            ast.fetch.Fetch(ns.bse.tag, ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.label, 'value'))))
+        # range must be a node
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._fetch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node),
+            ast.fetch.Fetch(ns.bse.filename, ast.fetch.This('this')))
+        # child expression must be valid
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._fetch, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node),
+            ast.fetch.Fetch(ns.bse.tag, ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.label, 'node')))
+
+    def test_named(self):
+        # named accepts correct expressions
+        self.assertIsNone(self.validate._named(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.tag, 'node')))
+        self.assertIsNone(self.validate._named(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.filename, 'value')))
+        # name must be non-empty
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.validate._named, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.tag, ''))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.validate._named, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.filename, ''))
+
+    def test_node(self):
+        # node accepts correct expressions
+        self.assertIsNone(self.validate._node(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.tag, 'node')))
+        # range must be a node
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._node, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.filename, 'node'))
+
+    def test_value(self):
+        # value accepts correct expressions
+        self.assertIsNone(self.validate._value(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.filename, 'value')))
+        # range must be a literal
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._value, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.tag, 'value'))
+
+    def test_this(self):
+        # this accepts correct expressions
+        self.assertIsNone(self.validate._this(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.fetch.This('this')))
+        # type must be a node
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._this, self.schema.literal(ns.bsfs.Literal),
+            ast.fetch.This('this'))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._this, self.schema.predicate(ns.bsfs.Predicate),
+            ast.fetch.This('this'))
+        # type must be in the schema
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.validate._this, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node).child(ns.bsfs.Invalid),
+            ast.fetch.This('this'))
+        # name must be non-empty
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.validate._this, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.fetch.This(''))
+
+
 ## main ##
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/test/schema/test_schema.py b/test/schema/test_schema.py
index 32dbc93..414e542 100644
--- a/test/schema/test_schema.py
+++ b/test/schema/test_schema.py
@@ -66,13 +66,14 @@ class TestSchema(unittest.TestCase):
         # literals
         self.l_root = types.ROOT_LITERAL
         self.l_number = types.ROOT_NUMBER
+        self.l_blob = types.ROOT_BLOB
         self.l_array = types.ROOT_ARRAY
         self.l_time = types.ROOT_TIME
         self.l_string = self.l_root.child(ns.xsd.string)
         self.l_integer = self.l_root.child(ns.xsd.integer)
         self.l_unused = self.l_root.child(ns.xsd.boolean)
         self.f_root = types.ROOT_FEATURE
-        self.literals = [self.l_root, self.l_array, self.f_root, self.l_number, self.l_time, self.l_string, self.l_integer, self.l_unused]
+        self.literals = [self.l_root, self.l_array, self.f_root, self.l_number, self.l_time, self.l_string, self.l_integer, self.l_unused, self.l_blob]
 
         # predicates
         self.p_root = types.ROOT_PREDICATE
@@ -85,13 +86,13 @@ class TestSchema(unittest.TestCase):
         # no args yields a minimal schema
         schema = Schema()
         self.assertSetEqual(set(schema.nodes()), {self.n_root})
-        self.assertSetEqual(set(schema.literals()), {self.l_root, self.l_number, self.l_array, self.l_time, self.f_root})
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(schema.literals()), {self.l_root, self.l_number, self.l_array, self.l_time, self.f_root, self.l_blob})
         self.assertSetEqual(set(schema.predicates()), {self.p_root})
 
         # nodes and literals are optional
         schema = Schema(self.predicates)
         self.assertSetEqual(set(schema.nodes()), {self.n_root, self.n_ent, self.n_img, self.n_tag})
-        self.assertSetEqual(set(schema.literals()), {self.l_root, self.l_string, self.l_number, self.l_time, self.l_array, self.f_root})
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(schema.literals()), {self.l_root, self.l_string, self.l_number, self.l_time, self.l_array, self.f_root, self.l_blob})
         self.assertSetEqual(set(schema.predicates()), set(self.predicates))
 
         # predicates, nodes, and literals are respected
@@ -112,13 +113,13 @@ class TestSchema(unittest.TestCase):
 
         # literals are complete
         schema = Schema(self.predicates, self.nodes, None)
-        self.assertSetEqual(set(schema.literals()), {self.l_root, self.l_string, self.l_number, self.l_array, self.l_time, self.f_root})
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(schema.literals()), {self.l_root, self.l_string, self.l_number, self.l_array, self.l_time, self.f_root, self.l_blob})
         schema = Schema(self.predicates, self.nodes, [])
-        self.assertSetEqual(set(schema.literals()), {self.l_root, self.l_string, self.l_number, self.l_array, self.l_time, self.f_root})
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(schema.literals()), {self.l_root, self.l_string, self.l_number, self.l_array, self.l_time, self.f_root, self.l_blob})
         schema = Schema(self.predicates, self.nodes, [self.l_string])
-        self.assertSetEqual(set(schema.literals()), {self.l_root, self.l_string, self.l_number, self.l_array, self.l_time, self.f_root})
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(schema.literals()), {self.l_root, self.l_string, self.l_number, self.l_array, self.l_time, self.f_root, self.l_blob})
         schema = Schema(self.predicates, self.nodes, [self.l_integer])
-        self.assertSetEqual(set(schema.literals()), {self.l_root, self.l_string, self.l_integer, self.l_number, self.l_array, self.l_time, self.f_root})
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(schema.literals()), {self.l_root, self.l_string, self.l_integer, self.l_number, self.l_array, self.l_time, self.f_root, self.l_blob})
         schema = Schema(self.predicates, self.nodes, [self.l_integer, self.l_unused])
         self.assertSetEqual(set(schema.literals()), set(self.literals))
 
@@ -178,13 +179,13 @@ class TestSchema(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(str(Schema(self.predicates, self.nodes, self.literals)), 'Schema()')
         # repr conversion with only default nodes, literals, and predicates
         n = [ns.bsfs.Node]
-        l = [ns.bsfs.Array, ns.bsfs.Feature, ns.bsfs.Literal, ns.bsfs.Number, ns.bsfs.Time]
+        l = [ns.bsfs.Array, ns.bsfs.BinaryBlob, ns.bsfs.Feature, ns.bsfs.Literal, ns.bsfs.Number, ns.bsfs.Time]
         p = [ns.bsfs.Predicate]
         self.assertEqual(repr(Schema()), f'Schema({n}, {l}, {p})')
         self.assertEqual(repr(Schema([], [], [])), f'Schema({n}, {l}, {p})')
         # repr conversion
         n = [ns.bsfs.Entity, ns.bsfs.Image, ns.bsfs.Node, ns.bsfs.Tag, ns.bsfs.Unused]
-        l = [ns.bsfs.Array, ns.bsfs.Feature, ns.bsfs.Literal, ns.bsfs.Number, ns.bsfs.Time, ns.xsd.boolean, ns.xsd.integer, ns.xsd.string]
+        l = [ns.bsfs.Array, ns.bsfs.BinaryBlob, ns.bsfs.Feature, ns.bsfs.Literal, ns.bsfs.Number, ns.bsfs.Time, ns.xsd.boolean, ns.xsd.integer, ns.xsd.string]
         p = [ns.bse.comment, ns.bse.group, ns.bse.tag, ns.bsfs.Predicate]
         self.assertEqual(repr(Schema(self.predicates, self.nodes, self.literals)), f'Schema({n}, {l}, {p})')
 
diff --git a/test/triple_store/sparql/test_parse_fetch.py b/test/triple_store/sparql/test_parse_fetch.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0961789
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/triple_store/sparql/test_parse_fetch.py
@@ -0,0 +1,263 @@
+"""
+
+Part of the bsfs test suite.
+A copy of the license is provided with the project.
+Author: Matthias Baumgartner, 2022
+"""
+# imports
+import rdflib
+import unittest
+
+# bsie imports
+from bsfs import schema
+from bsfs.namespace import Namespace, ns
+from bsfs.query import ast
+from bsfs.utils import errors, URI
+
+# objects to test
+from bsfs.triple_store.sparql.parse_fetch import Fetch
+
+
+## code ##
+
+bsfs = Namespace('http://bsfs.ai/schema', fsep='/')
+bse = Namespace('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity')
+bst = Namespace('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Tag')
+bsc = Namespace('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Collection')
+
+class TestParseFetch(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.schema = schema.from_string('''
+            prefix rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#>
+            prefix xsd: <http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#>
+
+            prefix bsfs: <http://bsfs.ai/schema/>
+            prefix bse: <http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity#>
+            prefix bst: <http://bsfs.ai/schema/Tag#>
+            prefix bsc: <http://bsfs.ai/schema/Collection#>
+
+            # nodes
+            bsfs:Entity rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Node .
+            bsfs:Tag rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Node .
+            bsfs:Collection rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Node .
+
+            # literals
+            xsd:integer rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Literal .
+            xsd:string rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Literal .
+
+            # predicates
+            bse:tag rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Entity ;
+                rdfs:range bsfs:Tag .
+
+            bse:collection rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Entity ;
+                rdfs:range bsfs:Collection .
+
+            bse:filename rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Entity ;
+                rdfs:range xsd:string .
+
+            bse:rank rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Entity ;
+                rdfs:range xsd:integer .
+
+            bst:main rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Tag ;
+                rdfs:range bsfs:Entity .
+
+            bst:label rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Tag ;
+                rdfs:range xsd:string .
+
+            bsc:tag rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Collection ;
+                rdfs:range bsfs:Tag .
+
+            bsc:label rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Collection ;
+                rdfs:range xsd:string .
+
+            bsc:rating rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Collection ;
+                rdfs:range xsd:integer .
+
+            ''')
+
+        # graph to test queries
+        self.graph = rdflib.Graph()
+        # schema hierarchies
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity'), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Node')))
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Collection'), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Node')))
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Tag'), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Node')))
+        # entities
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.RDF.type, rdflib.URIRef('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity')))
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), rdflib.RDF.type, rdflib.URIRef('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity')))
+        # tags
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#1234'), rdflib.RDF.type, rdflib.URIRef('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Tag')))
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#4321'), rdflib.RDF.type, rdflib.URIRef('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Tag')))
+        # collections
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/collection#1234'), rdflib.RDF.type, rdflib.URIRef('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Collection')))
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/collection#4321'), rdflib.RDF.type, rdflib.URIRef('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Collection')))
+        # entity literals
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.URIRef(bse.rank), rdflib.Literal('1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.integer)))
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.URIRef(bse.filename), rdflib.Literal('filename_1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)))
+        #self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), rdflib.URIRef(bse.rank), rdflib.Literal('4321', datatype=rdflib.XSD.integer)))
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), rdflib.URIRef(bse.filename), rdflib.Literal('filename_4321', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)))
+        # tag literals
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#1234'), rdflib.URIRef(bst.label), rdflib.Literal('tag_label_1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)))
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#4321'), rdflib.URIRef(bst.label), rdflib.Literal('tag_label_4321', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)))
+        # collection literals
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/collection#1234'), rdflib.URIRef(bsc.label), rdflib.Literal('collection_label_1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)))
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/collection#1234'), rdflib.URIRef(bsc.rating), rdflib.Literal('1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.integer)))
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/collection#4321'), rdflib.URIRef(bsc.label), rdflib.Literal('collection_label_4321', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)))
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/collection#4321'), rdflib.URIRef(bsc.rating), rdflib.Literal('4321', datatype=rdflib.XSD.integer)))
+        # entity-tag links
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.URIRef(bse.tag), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#1234')))
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), rdflib.URIRef(bse.tag), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#4321')))
+        # entity-collection links
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.URIRef(bse.collection), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/collection#1234')))
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), rdflib.URIRef(bse.collection), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/collection#4321')))
+        # collection-tag links
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/collection#1234'), rdflib.URIRef(bsc.tag), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#1234')))
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/collection#4321'), rdflib.URIRef(bsc.tag), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#4321')))
+        # tag-entity links # NOTE: cross-over
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#1234'), rdflib.URIRef(bst.main), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321')))
+        self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#4321'), rdflib.URIRef(bst.main), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234')))
+
+        # default parser
+        self.parser = Fetch(self.schema)
+        self.ent = self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity)
+
+
+    def test_call(self):
+        # NOTE: The individual ast components are considered in the respective tests. Here, we test __call__ specifics.
+
+        # __call__ requires a valid root type
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.parser, self.schema.literal(ns.bsfs.Literal), ast.fetch.This('this'))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.parser, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node).child(ns.bsfs.Invalid), ast.fetch.This('this'))
+        # __call__ requires a parseable root
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.parser, self.ent, ast.filter.FilterExpression())
+        # __call__ returns an executable query
+        q = self.parser(self.ent, ast.fetch.Fetch(bse.tag, ast.fetch.Value(bst.label, 'label')))
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(q(self.graph)), {
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.Literal('tag_label_1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)),
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), rdflib.Literal('tag_label_4321', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)),
+            })
+
+
+    def test_routing(self):
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.parser._parse_fetch_expression, self.ent, ast.fetch.FetchExpression(), '?head')
+
+
+    def test_all(self):
+        # multiple values query
+        q = self.parser(self.ent, ast.fetch.All(
+            ast.fetch.Value(bse.filename, name='filename'),
+            ast.fetch.Value(bse.rank, name='rank')),
+            )
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(q.names), {'filename', 'rank'})
+        if q.names == ('filename', 'rank'):
+            self.assertSetEqual(set(q(self.graph)), {
+                (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.Literal('filename_1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string), rdflib.Literal('1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.integer)),
+                (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), rdflib.Literal('filename_4321', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string), None),
+                })
+        else:
+            self.assertSetEqual(set(q(self.graph)), {
+                (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.Literal('1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.integer), rdflib.Literal('filename_1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)),
+                (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), None,                                                rdflib.Literal('filename_4321', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)),
+                })
+        # mixed values and node query
+        q = self.parser(self.ent, ast.fetch.All(
+            ast.fetch.Value(bse.filename, name='filename'),
+            ast.fetch.Node(bse.tag, name='tag'),
+            ))
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(q.names), {'filename', 'tag'})
+        if q.names == ('filename', 'tag'):
+            self.assertSetEqual(set(q(self.graph)), {
+                (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.Literal('filename_1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#1234')),
+                (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), rdflib.Literal('filename_4321', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#4321')),
+                })
+        else:
+            self.assertSetEqual(set(q(self.graph)), {
+                (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#1234'), rdflib.Literal('filename_1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)),
+                (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#4321'), rdflib.Literal('filename_4321', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)),
+                })
+        # multiple values and second hop
+        q = self.parser(self.ent, ast.fetch.Fetch(bse.tag, ast.fetch.All(
+            ast.fetch.This(name='tag'),
+            ast.fetch.Value(bst.label, name='label'),
+            )))
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(q.names), {'tag', 'label'})
+        if q.names == ('tag', 'label'):
+            self.assertSetEqual(set(q(self.graph)), {
+                (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#1234'), rdflib.Literal('tag_label_1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)),
+                (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#4321'), rdflib.Literal('tag_label_4321', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)),
+                })
+        else:
+            self.assertSetEqual(set(q(self.graph)), {
+                (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.Literal('tag_label_1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#1234')),
+                (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), rdflib.Literal('tag_label_4321', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#4321')),
+                })
+
+
+
+    def test_fetch(self):
+        # two-hop query
+        q = self.parser(self.ent, ast.fetch.Fetch(bse.tag, ast.fetch.Value(bst.label, 'tag_label')))
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(q(self.graph)), {
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.Literal('tag_label_1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)),
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), rdflib.Literal('tag_label_4321', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)),
+            })
+        # three-hop-query
+        q = self.parser(self.ent, ast.fetch.Fetch(bse.tag, ast.fetch.Fetch(bst.main, ast.fetch.Value(bse.rank, 'entity_rank'))))
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(q(self.graph)), {
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), None),
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), rdflib.Literal('1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.integer)),
+            })
+
+
+    def test_node(self):
+        # cannot use the internal hop name
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.parser, self.ent, ast.fetch.Node(bse.tag, self.parser.ngen.prefix[1:] + '123'))
+        # a simple Node statement
+        q = self.parser(self.ent, ast.fetch.Node(bse.tag, 'tag'))
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(q.names), {'tag'})
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(q(self.graph)), {
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#1234')),
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/tag#4321')),
+            })
+
+
+    def test_value(self):
+        # cannot use the internal hop name
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.parser, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.fetch.Value(bse.filename, self.parser.ngen.prefix[1:] + '123'))
+        # a simple Value statement
+        q = self.parser(self.ent, ast.fetch.Value(bse.filename, 'filename'))
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(q.names), {'filename'})
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(q(self.graph)), {
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.Literal('filename_1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)),
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), rdflib.Literal('filename_4321', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)),
+            })
+
+
+    def test_this(self):
+        # cannot use the internal hop name
+        self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.parser, self.ent, ast.fetch.This(self.parser.ngen.prefix[1:] + '123'))
+        # a simple This statement
+        self.assertEqual(self.parser._this(self.ent, ast.fetch.This('this'), '?head'),
+            ({('?head', 'this')}, ''))
+        q = self.parser(self.ent, ast.fetch.This('this'))
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(q(self.graph)), {
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234')),
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321')),
+            })
+
+
+## main ##
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()
+
+## EOF ##
diff --git a/test/triple_store/sparql/test_parse_filter.py b/test/triple_store/sparql/test_parse_filter.py
index 8764535..6fa0cd3 100644
--- a/test/triple_store/sparql/test_parse_filter.py
+++ b/test/triple_store/sparql/test_parse_filter.py
@@ -149,13 +149,13 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
             ast.filter.Or(
                 ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'),
                 ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/entity#5678')))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)}, {'http://example.com/entity#1234'})
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)}, {'http://example.com/entity#1234'})
         # root is optional
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#1234', 'http://example.com/image#4321'})
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Tag))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/tag#1234', 'http://example.com/tag#4321'})
 
 
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.parser._is, self.schema.literal(ns.bsfs.Literal), ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'), '?ent')
         # a single Is statement
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234'})
         # an aggregate of Is statements
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
                 ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'),
                 ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/entity#4321'),
                 ))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321'})
         # combined with other filters
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
@@ -185,12 +185,12 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
                     ast.filter.Equals('Me, Myself, and I')
                     ),
                 ))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234'})
         # as argument of Any/All
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.tag, ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/tag#1234')))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
 
 
@@ -199,15 +199,15 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.parser._equals, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Equals('hello world'), '?ent')
         # a single Equals statement
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('hello world')))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321'})
         # a single Equals statement that includes subtypes
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('Me, Myself, and I')))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         # an Equals statement on an integer
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.Equals(4321)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#4321'})
 
 
@@ -216,18 +216,18 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.parser._substring, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Substring('hello world'), '?ent')
         # a single Substring statement
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Substring('hello')))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321'})
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Substring('lo wo')))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321'})
         # a single Substring statement that includes subtypes
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Substring('Myself')))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         # an Substring statement on an integer
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.Substring('32')))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#4321'})
 
 
@@ -236,15 +236,15 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.parser._starts_with, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.StartsWith('hello world'), '?ent')
         # a single StartsWith statement
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.StartsWith('hello')))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321'})
         # a single StartsWith statement that includes subtypes
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.StartsWith('Me, Mys')))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         # an StartsWith statement on an integer
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.StartsWith(432)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#4321'})
 
 
@@ -253,15 +253,15 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.parser._ends_with, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.EndsWith('hello world'), '?ent')
         # a single EndsWith statement
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.EndsWith('orld')))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321'})
         # a single EndsWith statement that includes subtypes
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.EndsWith('and I')))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         # an EndsWith statement on an integer
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.EndsWith(321)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#4321'})
 
 
@@ -270,22 +270,22 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.parser._less_than, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.LessThan(2000), '?ent')
         # a single LessThan statement
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Image), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.iso, ast.filter.LessThan(2000)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         # _less_than respects boundary
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Image), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.iso, ast.filter.LessThan(1234, strict=True)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)}, set())
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)}, set())
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Image), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.iso, ast.filter.LessThan(1234, strict=False)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         # a single LessThan statement that includes subtypes
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.LessThan(2000)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         # an LessThan statement on a string
         # always negative; note that http://example.com/tag#4321 is also not returned although its comment is a pure number
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.LessThan(10_000)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)}, set())
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)}, set())
 
 
     def test_greater_than(self):
@@ -293,22 +293,22 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertRaises(errors.BackendError, self.parser._greater_than, self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.GreaterThan(2000), '?ent')
         # a single GreaterThan statement
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Image), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.iso, ast.filter.GreaterThan(2000)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/image#4321'})
         # _greater_than respects boundary
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Image), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.iso, ast.filter.GreaterThan(4321, strict=True)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)}, set())
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)}, set())
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Image), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.iso, ast.filter.GreaterThan(4321, strict=False)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/image#4321'})
         # a single GreaterThan statement that includes subtypes
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.GreaterThan(2000)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#4321'})
         # an GreaterThan statement on a string
         # always positive
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.GreaterThan(0)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
 
 
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.Equals(1234)),
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('Me, Myself, and I')),
                 ))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234'})
         # all conditions have to match
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
@@ -340,21 +340,21 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.Equals(1234)),
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('Me, Myself, and I')),
                 ))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)}, set())
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)}, set())
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.And(
                 ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'),
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.Equals(4321)),
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('Me, Myself, and I')),
                 ))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)}, set())
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)}, set())
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.And(
                 ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'),
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.Equals(1234)),
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('foobar')),
                 ))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)}, set())
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)}, set())
         # And can be nested
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.And(
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
                     ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('Me, Myself, and I')),
                     ),
                 ))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234'})
 
 
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.Equals(4321)),
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('Me, Myself, and I')),
                 ))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
                 {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/image#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#4321'})
         # at least one condition has to match
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
@@ -396,14 +396,14 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.Equals(8765)),
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('foobar')),
                 ))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)}, set())
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)}, set())
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.Or(
                 ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'),
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.Equals(8765)),
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('foobar')),
                 ))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234'})
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.Or(
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.Equals(4321)),
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('foobar')),
                 ))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#4321'})
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.Or(
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.Equals(8765)),
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('Me, Myself, and I')),
                 ))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         # Or can be nested
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
                     ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('Me, Myself, and I')),
                     ),
                 ))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
                 {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/image#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#4321'})
 
 
@@ -451,14 +451,14 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
         # _any returns a valid query
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize, ast.filter.Equals(1234)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         # _any can be nested
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.tag,
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.representative,
                     ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/image#1234'))))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
 
 
@@ -468,12 +468,12 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
         # All Nodes
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.All(ns.bse.tag, ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/tag#1234')))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         # All values
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.All(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('hello world')))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#4321'})
         # All on value within Or branch
         # entity#1234 is selected because all of its comments are in ("hello world", "Me, Myself, and I")
@@ -481,12 +481,12 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
             ast.filter.All(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Or(
                 ast.filter.Equals('hello world'),
                 ast.filter.Equals('Me, Myself, and I'))))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         # All requires at least one predicate/value
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.All(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('Me, Myself, and I')))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         # All within a statement
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
@@ -498,18 +498,18 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
                     ))
                 )
             )
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         # All with reversed Predicate
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Tag),
                 ast.filter.All(ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.tag, reverse=True), ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/entity#4321')))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/tag#4321'})
         # All with multiple predicates
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
                 ast.filter.All(ast.filter.OneOf(ns.bse.tag, ns.bse.buddy), # entity#1234 (tag:tag#1234), entity#1234 (buddy:image#1234), image#1234(tag:tag#1234)
                     ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('Me, Myself, and I')))) # entity#1234, image#1234, tag#1234
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
 
 
@@ -518,22 +518,22 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
         # Not applies on conditions
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/entity#1234')))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/image#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#4321'})
         # Not applies on conditions within branches
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Equals('Me, Myself, and I'))))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321'})
         # Not applies on branches
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('Me, Myself, and I'))))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#4321'})
         # Double Not cancel each other
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'))))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234'})
         # Not works within aggregation (and)
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
                 ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/entity#1234')),
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('hello world')),
                 ))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#4321'})
         # Not works within aggregation (or)
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
                 ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/entity#1234')),
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('Me, Myself, and I')),
                 ))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#1234', 'http://example.com/image#4321'})
         # Not works outside aggregation (and)
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
                     ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/entity#1234'),
                     ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('hello world')),
                 )))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
                 {'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#1234', 'http://example.com/image#4321'})
         # Not works outside aggregation (or)
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
                     ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/entity#4321'),
                     ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Equals('Me, Myself, and I')),
                 )))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/image#4321'})
         # Not mixed with branch, aggregation, id, and value
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
                     ),
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.Not(ast.filter.Equals('foobar'))), # entity#1234, entity#4321, image#1234
                 ))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/image#1234'})
 
 
@@ -590,21 +590,21 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
         # Has with GreaterThan constraint
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.GreaterThan(0)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.GreaterThan(1)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234'})
         # Has with Equals constraint
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.comment, 1))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         # Has with LessThan constraint
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
             ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.comment, ast.filter.LessThan(2)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#1234', 'http://example.com/image#4321'})
         # Has with multiple constraints
         self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.URIRef(ns.bse.comment), rdflib.Literal('extra1', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)))
@@ -616,17 +616,17 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
         self.graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#4321'), rdflib.URIRef(ns.bse.comment), rdflib.Literal('extra2', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)))
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Has(ns.bse.comment,
             ast.filter.And(ast.filter.GreaterThan(1), ast.filter.LessThan(5))))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#4321'})
         # Has with OneOf predicate
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Has(ast.filter.OneOf(ns.bse.tag, ns.bse.buddy),
             ast.filter.GreaterThan(1)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321'})
         # Has with reversed predicate
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Tag), ast.filter.Has(ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.tag, reverse=True),
             ast.filter.GreaterThan(1)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/tag#1234'})
 
 
@@ -643,23 +643,23 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, self.parser._distance, self.schema.literal(ns.bsfs.Colors), ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3,4,5], 1), '')
         # _distance respects threshold
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.colors, ast.filter.Distance([2,4,3,1], 4)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.colors, ast.filter.Distance([2,4,3,1], 3)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#4321', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.colors, ast.filter.Distance([2,4,3,1], 2)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         # result set can be empty
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.colors, ast.filter.Distance([2,4,3,1], 1)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)}, set())
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)}, set())
         # _distance respects strict
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.colors, ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3,4], 0, False)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234'})
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.colors, ast.filter.Distance([1,2,3,4], 0, True)))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)}, set())
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)}, set())
 
     def test_one_of(self):
         # _one_of expects a node
@@ -725,7 +725,7 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
             ast.filter.Any(ast.filter.OneOf(ns.bse.tag, ns.bse.buddy),
                 ast.filter.Any(ast.filter.OneOf(ns.bse.comment),
                     ast.filter.Equals('Me, Myself, and I'))))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
 
 
@@ -757,13 +757,13 @@ class TestParseFilter(unittest.TestCase):
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.representative,
                     ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize,
                         ast.filter.Equals(1234)))))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/image#1234'})
         q = self.parser(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Tag),
             ast.filter.Any(ast.filter.Predicate(ns.bse.tag, reverse=True),
                 ast.filter.Any(ns.bse.filesize,
                     ast.filter.LessThan(2000))))
-        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in self.graph.query(q)},
+        self.assertSetEqual({str(guid) for guid, in q(self.graph)},
             {'http://example.com/tag#1234'})
 
 
diff --git a/test/triple_store/sparql/test_sparql.py b/test/triple_store/sparql/test_sparql.py
index 7fbfb65..30876f2 100644
--- a/test/triple_store/sparql/test_sparql.py
+++ b/test/triple_store/sparql/test_sparql.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ class TestSparqlStore(unittest.TestCase):
             bsfs:User rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Node .
             xsd:string rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Literal .
             bsfs:Number rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Literal .
+            bsfs:BinaryBlob rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Literal .
             xsd:integer rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Number .
 
             # non-unique literal
@@ -60,6 +61,11 @@ class TestSparqlStore(unittest.TestCase):
                 rdfs:range bsfs:User ;
                 bsfs:unique "true"^^xsd:boolean .
 
+            # binary range
+            bse:asset rdfs:subClassOf bsfs:Predicate ;
+                rdfs:domain bsfs:Entity ;
+                rdfs:range bsfs:BinaryBlob .
+
             ''')
         self.schema_triples = {
             # schema hierarchy
@@ -68,6 +74,7 @@ class TestSparqlStore(unittest.TestCase):
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.User), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Node)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.xsd.string), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Literal)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Array), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Literal)),
+            (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.BinaryBlob), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Literal)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Feature), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Array)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Number), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Literal)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Time), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Literal)),
@@ -76,6 +83,7 @@ class TestSparqlStore(unittest.TestCase):
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bse.filesize), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Predicate)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bse.tag), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Predicate)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bse.author), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Predicate)),
+            (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bse.asset), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Predicate)),
             }
 
     def test_essentials(self):
@@ -358,6 +366,7 @@ class TestSparqlStore(unittest.TestCase):
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.User), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Node)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.xsd.boolean), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Literal)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Array), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Literal)),
+            (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.BinaryBlob), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Literal)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Feature), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Array)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Number), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Literal)),
             (rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Time), rdflib.RDFS.subClassOf, rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.Literal)),
@@ -556,6 +565,76 @@ class TestSparqlStore(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertSetEqual(set(q), tag_ids)
 
 
+    def test_fetch(self):
+        # store setup
+        store = SparqlStore.Open()
+        store.schema = self.schema
+        # add instances
+        ent_type = self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity)
+        tag_type = self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Tag)
+        ent_ids = {URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'), URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321')}
+        tag_ids = {URI('http://example.com/me/tag#1234'), URI('http://example.com/me/tag#4321')}
+        store.create(ent_type, ent_ids)
+        store.create(tag_type, tag_ids)
+        store.set(ent_type, ent_ids, self.schema.predicate(ns.bse.tag), tag_ids)
+        store.set(ent_type, {URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}, self.schema.predicate(ns.bse.filesize), {1234})
+        store.set(ent_type, {URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321')}, self.schema.predicate(ns.bse.filesize), {4321})
+        store.set(ent_type, {URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234')}, self.schema.predicate(ns.bse.comment), {'hello world'})
+        # node_type must be a node from the schema
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, list, store.fetch(self.schema.literal(ns.bsfs.Literal),
+            ast.filter.FilterExpression(), ast.fetch.FetchExpression()))
+        self.assertRaises(errors.ConsistencyError, list, store.fetch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Node).child(ns.bsfs.Invalid),
+            ast.filter.FilterExpression(), ast.fetch.FetchExpression()))
+        # requires a filter and a fetch query
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, list, store.fetch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), None, ast.fetch.FetchExpression()))
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, list, store.fetch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), 1234, ast.fetch.FetchExpression()))
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, list, store.fetch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), 'hello', ast.fetch.FetchExpression()))
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, list, store.fetch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.FilterExpression(), None))
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, list, store.fetch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.FilterExpression(), 1234))
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, list, store.fetch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.FilterExpression(), 'hello'))
+        # fetch emits triples
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(store.fetch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.filesize, 'filesize'),
+            )), {
+            (URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'), 'filesize', 1234),
+            })
+        # fetch respects filter query
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(store.fetch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.filter.IsIn('http://example.com/me/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/me/entity#4321'),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.filesize, 'filesize'),
+            )), {
+            (URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'), 'filesize', 1234),
+            (URI('http://example.com/me/entity#4321'), 'filesize', 4321),
+            })
+        # fetch ignores missing data
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(store.fetch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.filter.IsIn('http://example.com/me/entity#1234', 'http://example.com/me/entity#4321'),
+            ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.comment, 'comment'),
+            )), {
+            (URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'), 'comment', 'hello world'),
+            })
+        # fetch emits all triples
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(store.fetch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity),
+            ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'),
+            ast.fetch.All(
+                ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.filesize, 'filesize'),
+                ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.tag, 'tag'),
+                )
+            )), {
+            (URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'), 'filesize', 1234),
+            (URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'), 'tag', URI('http://example.com/me/tag#1234')),
+            (URI('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'), 'tag', URI('http://example.com/me/tag#4321')),
+            })
+        # triples do not repeat
+        triples = list(store.fetch(self.schema.node(ns.bsfs.Entity), ast.filter.Is('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'),
+            ast.fetch.All(
+                ast.fetch.Value(ns.bse.filesize, 'filesize'),
+                ast.fetch.Node(ns.bse.tag, 'tag'),
+                )
+            ))
+        self.assertEqual(len(triples), 3)
+
     def test_exists(self):
         # store setup
         store = SparqlStore.Open()
@@ -861,6 +940,23 @@ class TestSparqlStore(unittest.TestCase):
         # inexistent guids
         self.assertRaises(errors.InstanceError, store.set, ent_type, {URI('http://example.com/me/entity#foobar')}, p_comment, {'xyz'})
 
+        # BinaryBlob values are base64 encoded
+        p_asset = store.schema.predicate(ns.bse.asset)
+        store.set(ent_type, ent_ids, p_asset, {bytes(range(128)), bytes(range(128, 256))})
+        blob1 = rdflib.Literal('AAECAwQFBgcICQoLDA0ODxAREhMUFRYXGBkaGxwdHh8gISIjJCUmJygpKissLS4vMDEyMzQ1Njc4OTo7PD0+P0BBQkNERUZHSElKS0xNTk9QUVJTVFVWV1hZWltcXV5fYGFiY2RlZmdoaWprbG1ub3BxcnN0dXZ3eHl6e3x9fn8=',
+            datatype=rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.BinaryBlob))
+        blob2 = rdflib.Literal('gIGCg4SFhoeIiYqLjI2Oj5CRkpOUlZaXmJmam5ydnp+goaKjpKWmp6ipqqusra6vsLGys7S1tre4ubq7vL2+v8DBwsPExcbHyMnKy8zNzs/Q0dLT1NXW19jZ2tvc3d7f4OHi4+Tl5ufo6err7O3u7/Dx8vP09fb3+Pn6+/z9/v8=',
+            datatype=rdflib.URIRef(ns.bsfs.BinaryBlob))
+        self.assertTrue(set(store._graph).issuperset({
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'), rdflib.URIRef(p_asset.uri), blob1),
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/me/entity#1234'), rdflib.URIRef(p_asset.uri), blob2),
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/me/entity#4321'), rdflib.URIRef(p_asset.uri), blob1),
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/me/entity#4321'), rdflib.URIRef(p_asset.uri), blob2),
+            }))
+        # lit.value returns the original bytes value
+        self.assertSetEqual({lit.value for lit in store._graph.objects(None, rdflib.URIRef(p_asset.uri))},
+            {bytes(range(128)), bytes(range(128, 256))})
+
 
 ## main ##
 
diff --git a/test/triple_store/sparql/test_utils.py b/test/triple_store/sparql/test_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..073b8f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/triple_store/sparql/test_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,155 @@
+"""
+
+Part of the bsfs test suite.
+A copy of the license is provided with the project.
+Author: Matthias Baumgartner, 2022
+"""
+# standard imports
+import operator
+import re
+import unittest
+
+# external imports
+import rdflib
+
+# bsie imports
+from bsfs.namespace import ns
+
+# objects to test
+from bsfs.triple_store.sparql.utils import GenHopName, Query
+
+
+## code ##
+
+class TestGenHopName(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_next(self):
+        # baseline
+        self.assertEqual(next(GenHopName(prefix='?foo', start=123)), '?foo123')
+        # respects prefix
+        self.assertEqual(next(GenHopName(prefix='?bar', start=123)), '?bar123')
+        # respects start
+        self.assertEqual(next(GenHopName(prefix='?foo', start=321)), '?foo321')
+        # counts up
+        cnt = GenHopName(prefix='?foo', start=998)
+        self.assertEqual(next(cnt), '?foo998')
+        self.assertEqual(next(cnt), '?foo999')
+        self.assertEqual(next(cnt), '?foo1000')
+        self.assertEqual(next(cnt), '?foo1001')
+
+    def test_essentials(self):
+        # can get the prefix
+        self.assertEqual(GenHopName(prefix='?foo', start=123).prefix, '?foo')
+        # can get the counter
+        self.assertEqual(GenHopName(prefix='?foo', start=123).curr, 122)
+
+
+class TestQuery(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.root_type = 'http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity'
+        self.root_head = '?root'
+        self.select = (('?head', 'name'), )
+        self.where = f'?root <{ns.bse.tag}> ?head'
+
+    def test_essentials(self):
+        # can access members
+        q = Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, self.select, self.where)
+        self.assertEqual(q.root_type, self.root_type)
+        self.assertEqual(q.root_head, self.root_head)
+        self.assertEqual(q.select, self.select)
+        self.assertEqual(q.where, self.where)
+        # comparison
+        self.assertEqual(q, Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, self.select, self.where))
+        self.assertEqual(hash(q), hash(Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, self.select, self.where)))
+        # comparison respects root_type
+        self.assertNotEqual(q, Query('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Tag', self.root_head, self.select, self.where))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(q), hash(Query('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Tag', self.root_head, self.select, self.where)))
+        # comparison respects root_head
+        self.assertNotEqual(q, Query(self.root_type, '?foo', self.select, self.where))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(q), hash(Query(self.root_type, '?foo', self.select, self.where)))
+        # comparison respects select
+        self.assertNotEqual(q, Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, (('?head', 'foo'), ), self.where))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(q), hash(Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, (('?head', 'foo'), ), self.where)))
+        # comparison respects where
+        self.assertNotEqual(q, Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, self.select, '?root bse:filename ?head'))
+        self.assertNotEqual(hash(q), hash(Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, self.select, '?root bse:filename ?head')))
+        # string conversion
+        self.assertEqual(str(q), q.query)
+        self.assertEqual(repr(q), "Query(http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity, ?root, (('?head', 'name'),), ?root <http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity#tag> ?head)")
+
+    def test_add(self):
+        q = Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, self.select, self.where)
+        # can only add a query
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, operator.add, q, 1234)
+        self.assertRaises(TypeError, operator.add, q, 'foobar')
+        # root type and head must match
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, operator.add, q, Query('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Tag', self.root_head))
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, operator.add, q, Query(self.root_type, '?foobar'))
+        # select and were are combined
+        combo = q + Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, (('?foo', 'bar'), ), f'?root <{ns.bse.filename}> ?foo')
+        self.assertEqual(combo.select, (('?head', 'name'), ('?foo', 'bar')))
+        self.assertEqual(combo.where, f'?root <{ns.bse.tag}> ?head . ?root <{ns.bse.filename}> ?foo')
+        # select can be empty
+        combo = q + Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, None, f'?root <{ns.bse.filename}> ?foo')
+        self.assertEqual(combo.select, (('?head', 'name'), ))
+        combo = Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, None, f'?root <{ns.bse.filename}> ?foo') + q
+        self.assertEqual(combo.select, (('?head', 'name'), ))
+        combo = Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, None, self.where) + Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, None, f'?root <{ns.bse.filename}> ?foo')
+        self.assertEqual(combo.select, tuple())
+        # where can be empty
+        combo = q + Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, (('?foo', 'bar'), ))
+        self.assertEqual(combo.where, self.where)
+        combo = Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, (('?foo', 'bar'), )) + q
+        self.assertEqual(combo.where, self.where)
+        combo = Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, self.select) + Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, (('?foo', 'bar'), ))
+        self.assertEqual(combo.where, '')
+
+    def test_names(self):
+        self.assertEqual(Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, (('?head', 'name'), ), self.where).names,
+            ('name', ))
+        self.assertEqual(Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, (('?head', 'name'), ('?foo', 'bar')), self.where).names,
+            ('name', 'bar'))
+
+    def test_query(self):
+        def normalize(value):
+            value = value.strip()
+            value = value.lower()
+            value = value.replace(r'\n', ' ')
+            value, _ = re.subn('\s\s+', ' ', value)
+            return value
+        # query composes a valid query
+        q = Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, self.select, self.where)
+        self.assertEqual(normalize(q.query), normalize(f'select ?root (?head as ?name) where {{ ?root <{ns.rdf.type}>/<{ns.rdfs.subClassOf}>* <http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity> . ?root <{ns.bse.tag}> ?head }}'))
+        # select and where are optional
+        q = Query(self.root_type, self.root_head)
+        self.assertEqual(normalize(q.query), normalize(f'select ?root where {{ ?root <{ns.rdf.type}>/<{ns.rdfs.subClassOf}>* <http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity> . }}'))
+        # select and where need not to correspond
+        q = Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, (('?head', 'name'), ))
+        self.assertEqual(normalize(q.query), normalize(f'select ?root (?head as ?name) where {{ ?root <{ns.rdf.type}>/<{ns.rdfs.subClassOf}>* <http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity> . }}'))
+        # query is used for string representation
+        self.assertEqual(str(q), q.query)
+
+    def test_call(self):
+        graph = rdflib.Graph()
+        # schema
+        graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Document'), rdflib.URIRef(ns.rdfs.subClassOf), rdflib.URIRef('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity')))
+        # nodes
+        graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.URIRef(ns.rdf.type), rdflib.URIRef('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Entity')))
+        graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/doc#1234'), rdflib.URIRef(ns.rdf.type), rdflib.URIRef('http://bsfs.ai/schema/Document')))
+        # links
+        graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.URIRef(ns.bse.tag), rdflib.Literal('tag#1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)))
+        graph.add((rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/doc#1234'), rdflib.URIRef(ns.bse.tag), rdflib.Literal('tag#1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)))
+        # run query on a given graph
+        query = Query(self.root_type, self.root_head, self.select, self.where)
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(query(graph)), {
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/entity#1234'), rdflib.Literal('tag#1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)),
+            (rdflib.URIRef('http://example.com/doc#1234'), rdflib.Literal('tag#1234', datatype=rdflib.XSD.string)),
+            })
+        # query actually considers the passed graph
+        self.assertSetEqual(set(query(rdflib.Graph())), set())
+
+## main ##
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()
+
+## EOF ##
diff --git a/test/triple_store/test_base.py b/test/triple_store/test_base.py
index a0c3260..56a2539 100644
--- a/test/triple_store/test_base.py
+++ b/test/triple_store/test_base.py
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ class DummyBase(TripleStoreBase):
     def get(self, node_type, query):
         pass
 
+    def fetch(self, node_type, filter, fetch):
+        pass
+
     def exists(self, node_type, guids):
         pass
 
diff --git a/test/utils/test_uuid.py b/test/utils/test_uuid.py
index 0de96ed..804b063 100644
--- a/test/utils/test_uuid.py
+++ b/test/utils/test_uuid.py
@@ -83,6 +83,16 @@ class TestUCID(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_from_path(self):
         self.assertEqual(UCID.from_path(self._path), self._checksum)
 
+    def test_from_buffer(self):
+        with open(self._path, 'rb') as ifile:
+            self.assertEqual(UCID.from_buffer(ifile), self._checksum)
+        with open(self._path) as ifile:
+            self.assertEqual(UCID.from_buffer(ifile), self._checksum)
+
+    def test_from_bytes(self):
+        with open(self._path, 'rb') as ifile:
+            self.assertEqual(UCID.from_bytes(ifile.read()), self._checksum)
+
     def test_from_dict(self):
         self.assertEqual(UCID.from_dict({'hello': 'world', 'foo': 1234, 'bar': False}),
             '8d2544395a0d2827e3d9ce8cd619d5e3f801e8126bf3f93ee5abd38158959585')