diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index ea38e75..d3bf3da 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Description: Client for 'jq', a 'JSON' processor (<https://stedolan.github.io/jq
     written in C. 'jq' allows the following with 'JSON' data: index into, parse, 
     do calculations, cut up and filter, change key names and values, perform 
     conditionals and comparisons, and more.
-Version: 1.0.0.9140
+Version: 1.0.1.9210
 Depends:
     R (>= 3.1.2)
 License: MIT + file LICENSE
diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index e3aa9bb..2be4d61 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ export(allj)
 export(anyj)
 export(at)
 export(at_)
+export(build_array)
+export(build_array_)
+export(build_object)
+export(build_object_)
 export(combine)
 export(contains)
 export(contains_)
diff --git a/R/actions.R b/R/actions.R
deleted file mode 100644
index 6eea8b7..0000000
--- a/R/actions.R
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-######## hmmmm, these two aren't making sense yet
-array <- function(.data) {
-  array_(.data, dots = "[%s]")
-}
-
-array_ <- function(.data, dots) {
-  structure(list(data=.data, structure(dots, type="array")), class="jqr")
-}
-
-hash <- function(.data) {
-  array_(.data, dots = "{%s}")
-}
-
-hash_ <- function(.data, dots) {
-  structure(list(data=.data, structure(dots, type="hash")), class="jqr")
-}
-#########
diff --git a/R/constructors.R b/R/constructors.R
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5838e48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/constructors.R
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+#' Build arrays and objects
+#' 
+#' @name build
+#' @template args
+#' @examples
+#' ## BUILD ARRAYS
+#' x <- '{"user":"stedolan", "projects": ["jq", "wikiflow"]}' 
+#' jq(x, "[.user, .projects[]]")
+#' x %>% build_array(.user, .projects[])
+#' 
+#' jq('[1, 2, 3]', '[ .[] | . * 2]')
+#' '[1, 2, 3]' %>% build_array(.[] | . * 2)
+#' 
+#' 
+#' ## BUILD OBJECTS
+#' '{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}' %>% build_object(a = .foo) %>% peek
+#' '{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}' %>% build_object(a = .foo)
+#'
+#' # using json dataset, just first element
+#' x <- commits %>% index(0)
+#' x %>%
+#'    build_object(message = .commit.message, name = .commit.committer.name)
+#' x %>% build_object(sha = .commit.tree.sha, author = .author.login)
+#'
+#' # using json dataset, all elements
+#' x <- index(commits)
+#' x %>% build_object(message = .commit.message, name = .commit.committer.name)
+#' x %>% build_object(sha = .sha, name = .commit.committer.name)
+#'
+#' # many JSON inputs
+#' '{"foo": 5, "bar": 7} {"foo": 50, "bar": 7} {"foo": 500, "bar": 7}' %>%
+#'   build_object(hello = .foo)
+
+#' @export
+#' @rdname build
+build_array <- function(.data, ...) {
+  build_array_(.data, .dots = lazyeval::lazy_dots(...))
+}
+
+#' @export
+#' @rdname build
+build_array_ <- function(.data, ..., .dots) {
+  pipe_autoexec(toggle = TRUE)
+  tmp <- lazyeval::all_dots(.dots, ...)
+  tmp <- lapply(tmp, function(x) deparse(x$expr))
+  z <- paste0("[", paste0(tmp, collapse = ", "), "]")
+  dots <- comb(tryargs(.data), structure(z, type = "array"))
+  structure(list(data = getdata(.data), args = dots), class = "jqr")
+}
+
+
+#' @export
+#' @rdname build
+build_object <- function(.data, ...) {
+  build_object_(.data, .dots = lazyeval::lazy_dots(...))
+}
+
+#' @export
+#' @rdname build
+build_object_ <- function(.data, ..., .dots) {
+  pipe_autoexec(toggle = TRUE)
+  tmp <- lazyeval::all_dots(.dots, ...)
+  vals <- unname(Map(function(x,y) {
+    if (nchar(x) == 0) {
+      as.character(y$expr)
+    } else {
+      sprintf("%s: %s", x, as.character(y$expr))
+    }
+  }, names(tmp), tmp))
+  z <- paste0("{", paste0(vals, collapse = ", "), "}")
+  dots <- comb(tryargs(.data), structure(z, type = "object"))
+  structure(list(data = getdata(.data), args = dots), class = "jqr")
+}
diff --git a/R/recurse.R b/R/recurse.R
index 88407c4..5f90ded 100644
--- a/R/recurse.R
+++ b/R/recurse.R
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@
 #'   {"name": "/home", "children": [
 #'     {"name": "/home/stephen", "children": [
 #'       {"name": "/home/stephen/jq", "children": []}]}]}]}'
-#' x %>% recurse(.children[]) %>% select(name)
-#' x %>% recurse(.children[]) %>% select(name) %>% string
+#' x %>% recurse(.children[]) %>% build_object(name)
+#' x %>% recurse(.children[]) %>% build_object(name) %>% string
 recurse <- function(.data, ...) {
   recurse_(.data, .dots = lazyeval::lazy_dots(...))
 }
diff --git a/R/select.R b/R/select.R
index d4eea4a..f330cf1 100644
--- a/R/select.R
+++ b/R/select.R
@@ -1,25 +1,34 @@
-#' Select variables
+#' Select - filtering
+#' 
+#' The function \code{select(foo)} produces its input unchanged if 
+#' \code{foo} returns TRUE for that input, and produces no output otherwise
 #'
 #' @export
 #' @template args
+#' @note this function has changed what it does dramatically. we were 
+#' using this function for object construction, which is now done with 
+#' \code{\link{build_object}}
 #' @examples
-#' '{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}' %>% select(a = .foo) %>% peek
-#' '{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}' %>% select(a = .foo)
-#'
-#' # using json dataset, just first element
-#' x <- commits %>% index(0)
-#' x %>%
-#'    select(message = .commit.message, name = .commit.committer.name)
-#' x %>% select(sha = .commit.tree.sha, author = .author.login)
-#'
-#' # using json dataset, all elements
-#' x <- index(commits)
-#' x %>% select(message = .commit.message, name = .commit.committer.name)
-#' x %>% select(sha = .sha, name = .commit.committer.name)
-#'
-#' # many JSON inputs
-#' '{"foo": 5, "bar": 7} {"foo": 50, "bar": 7} {"foo": 500, "bar": 7}' %>%
-#'   select(hello = .foo)
+#' jq('[1,5,3,0,7]', 'map(select(. >= 2))')
+#' '[1,5,3,0,7]' %>% map(select(. >= 2)) 
+#' 
+#' 
+#' '{"foo": 4, "bar": 7}' %>% select(.foo == 4)
+#' '{"foo": 5, "bar": 7} {"foo": 4, "bar": 7}' %>% select(.foo == 4)
+#' '[{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}, {"foo": 4, "bar": 7}]' %>% index() %>% 
+#'   select(.foo == 4)
+#' '{"foo": 4, "bar": 7} {"foo": 5, "bar": 7} {"foo": 8, "bar": 7}' %>% 
+#'   select(.foo < 6)
+#' 
+#' x <- '{"foo": 4, "bar": 2} {"foo": 5, "bar": 4} {"foo": 8, "bar": 12}'
+#' jq(x, 'select((.foo < 6) and (.bar > 3))')
+#' jq(x, 'select((.foo < 6) or (.bar > 3))')
+#' x %>% select((.foo < 6) && (.bar > 3))
+#' x %>% select((.foo < 6) || (.bar > 3))
+#' 
+#' x <- '[{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}, {"foo": 4, "bar": 7}, {"foo": 4, "bar": 9}]'
+#' jq(x, '.[] | select(.foo == 4) | {user: .bar}')
+#' x %>% index() %>% select(.foo == 4) %>% build_object(user = .bar)
 select <- function(.data, ...) {
   select_(.data, .dots = lazyeval::lazy_dots(...))
 }
@@ -29,14 +38,19 @@ select <- function(.data, ...) {
 select_ <- function(.data, ..., .dots) {
   pipe_autoexec(toggle = TRUE)
   tmp <- lazyeval::all_dots(.dots, ...)
-  vals <- unname(Map(function(x,y) {
-    if (nchar(x) == 0) {
-      as.character(y$expr)
-    } else {
-      sprintf("%s: %s", x, as.character(y$expr))
-    }
-  }, names(tmp), tmp))
-  z <- paste0("{", paste0(vals, collapse = ", "), "}")
-  dots <- comb(tryargs(.data), structure(z, type = "select"))
+  z <- paste0(unlist(lapply(tmp, function(x) {
+    sub_ops_sel(sub_ops(deparse(x$expr)))
+  })), collapse = ", ")
+  dots <- comb(tryargs(.data), structure(sprintf("select(%s)", z), 
+    type = "select"))
   structure(list(data = getdata(.data), args = dots), class = "jqr")
 }
+
+sub_ops_sel <- function(x) {
+  ops <- c("&&", "\\|\\|")
+  use <- c("and", "or")
+  if (base::any(vapply(ops, grepl, logical(1), x = x))) {
+    for (i in seq_along(ops)) x <- gsub(ops[[i]], use[[i]], x)
+  }
+  return(x)
+}
diff --git a/R/vars.R b/R/vars.R
index 7eec70a..b532204 100644
--- a/R/vars.R
+++ b/R/vars.R
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #' x %>% dotstr(posts[])
 #' x %>% dotstr(posts[]) %>% string
 #' x %>% vars(realnames = names) %>% dotstr(posts[]) %>%
-#'    select(title, author = "$names[.author]")
+#'    build_object(title, author = "$names[.author]")
 vars <- function(.data, ...) {
   vars_(.data, .dots = lazyeval::lazy_dots(...))
 }
diff --git a/README.Rmd b/README.Rmd
index 2b3cac2..512a4cd 100644
--- a/README.Rmd
+++ b/README.Rmd
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ Show the query to be used using `peek()`
 x <- '{"user":"stedolan","titles":["JQ Primer", "More JQ"]}'
 jq(x, '{user, title: .titles[]}')
 x %>% index()
-x %>% select(user, title = `.titles[]`)
+x %>% build_object(user, title = `.titles[]`)
 jq(x, '{user, title: .titles[]}') %>% jsonlite::toJSON() %>% jsonlite::validate()
 ```
 
@@ -236,6 +236,28 @@ unique
 '[1,2,5,3,5,3,1,3]' %>% uniquej
 ```
 
+
+#### filter
+
+With filtering via `select()` you can use various operators, like `==`, 
+`&&`, `||`. We translate these internally for you to what `jq` wants 
+to see (`==`, `and`, `or`).
+
+Simple, one condition
+
+```{r}
+'{"foo": 4, "bar": 7}' %>% select(.foo == 4)
+```
+
+More complicated. Combine more than one condition; combine each individual
+filtering task in parentheses
+
+```{r}
+x <- '{"foo": 4, "bar": 2} {"foo": 5, "bar": 4} {"foo": 8, "bar": 12}'
+x %>% select((.foo < 6) && (.bar > 3))
+x %>% select((.foo < 6) || (.bar > 3))
+```
+
 #### types
 
 get type information for each element
@@ -274,18 +296,18 @@ str3 %>% haskey(2)
 str3 %>% haskey(1,2)
 ```
 
-Select variables by name, and rename
+Build an object, selecting variables by name, and rename
 
 ```{r}
-'{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}' %>% select(a = .foo)
+'{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}' %>% build_object(a = .foo)
 ```
 
-More complicated `select()`, using the included dataset `commits`
+More complicated `build_object()`, using the included dataset `commits`
 
 ```{r}
 commits %>%
   index() %>%
-  select(sha = .sha, name = .commit.committer.name)
+  build_object(sha = .sha, name = .commit.committer.name)
 ```
 
 #### Maths
@@ -356,7 +378,7 @@ This outputs a few pieces of JSON
 ```{r}
 (x <- commits %>%
   index() %>%
-  select(sha = .sha, name = .commit.committer.name))
+  build_object(sha = .sha, name = .commit.committer.name))
 ```
 
 Use `combine()` to put them together.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d34ea06..c79cc76 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ jqr
 =======
 
 
+
 [![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/ropensci/jqr.svg?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/ropensci/jqr)
 [![Build status](https://ci.appveyor.com/api/projects/status/tfwpiaotu24sotxg?svg=true)](https://ci.appveyor.com/project/sckott/jqr)
 [![Coverage Status](https://coveralls.io/repos/ropensci/jqr/badge.svg?branch=master)](https://coveralls.io/r/ropensci/jqr?branch=master)
@@ -306,7 +307,7 @@ x %>% index()
 #>         "More JQ"
 #>     ]
 #> ]
-x %>% select(user, title = `.titles[]`)
+x %>% build_object(user, title = `.titles[]`)
 #> [
 #>     {
 #>         "user": "stedolan",
@@ -373,6 +374,14 @@ startswith
 #>     true,
 #>     false
 #> ]
+'["fo", "foo"] ["barfoo", "foobar", "barfoob"]' %>% index %>% startswith(foo)
+#> [
+#>     false,
+#>     true,
+#>     false,
+#>     true,
+#>     false
+#> ]
 ```
 
 endswith
@@ -444,6 +453,52 @@ unique
 #> ]
 ```
 
+
+#### filter
+
+With filtering via `select()` you can use various operators, like `==`, 
+`&&`, `||`. We translate these internally for you to what `jq` wants 
+to see (`==`, `and`, `or`).
+
+Simple, one condition
+
+
+```r
+'{"foo": 4, "bar": 7}' %>% select(.foo == 4)
+#> {
+#>     "foo": 4,
+#>     "bar": 7
+#> }
+```
+
+More complicated. Combine more than one condition; combine each individual
+filtering task in parentheses
+
+
+```r
+x <- '{"foo": 4, "bar": 2} {"foo": 5, "bar": 4} {"foo": 8, "bar": 12}'
+x %>% select((.foo < 6) && (.bar > 3))
+#> {
+#>     "foo": 5,
+#>     "bar": 4
+#> }
+x %>% select((.foo < 6) || (.bar > 3))
+#> [
+#>     {
+#>         "foo": 4,
+#>         "bar": 2
+#>     },
+#>     {
+#>         "foo": 5,
+#>         "bar": 4
+#>     },
+#>     {
+#>         "foo": 8,
+#>         "bar": 12
+#>     }
+#> ]
+```
+
 #### types
 
 get type information for each element
@@ -523,23 +578,23 @@ str3 %>% haskey(1,2)
 #> ]
 ```
 
-Select variables by name, and rename
+Build an object, selecting variables by name, and rename
 
 
 ```r
-'{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}' %>% select(a = .foo)
+'{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}' %>% build_object(a = .foo)
 #> {
 #>     "a": 5
 #> }
 ```
 
-More complicated `select()`, using the included dataset `commits`
+More complicated `build_object()`, using the included dataset `commits`
 
 
 ```r
 commits %>%
   index() %>%
-  select(sha = .sha, name = .commit.committer.name)
+  build_object(sha = .sha, name = .commit.committer.name)
 #> [
 #>     {
 #>         "sha": [
@@ -744,7 +799,7 @@ This outputs a few pieces of JSON
 ```r
 (x <- commits %>%
   index() %>%
-  select(sha = .sha, name = .commit.committer.name))
+  build_object(sha = .sha, name = .commit.committer.name))
 #> [
 #>     {
 #>         "sha": [
diff --git a/man/build.Rd b/man/build.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f4ff07c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/build.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/constructors.R
+\name{build}
+\alias{build}
+\alias{build_array}
+\alias{build_array_}
+\alias{build_object}
+\alias{build_object_}
+\title{Build arrays and objects}
+\usage{
+build_array(.data, ...)
+
+build_array_(.data, ..., .dots)
+
+build_object(.data, ...)
+
+build_object_(.data, ..., .dots)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{.data}{input. This can be JSON input, or an object of class
+\code{jqr} that has JSON and query params combined, which is passed
+from function to function when using the jqr DSL.}
+
+\item{...}{Comma separated list of unquoted variable names}
+
+\item{.dots}{Used to work around non-standard evaluation}
+
+\item{dots}{dots}
+}
+\description{
+Build arrays and objects
+}
+\examples{
+## BUILD ARRAYS
+x <- '{"user":"stedolan", "projects": ["jq", "wikiflow"]}' 
+jq(x, "[.user, .projects[]]")
+x \%>\% build_array(.user, .projects[])
+
+jq('[1, 2, 3]', '[ .[] | . * 2]')
+'[1, 2, 3]' \%>\% build_array(.[] | . * 2)
+
+
+## BUILD OBJECTS
+'{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}' \%>\% build_object(a = .foo) \%>\% peek
+'{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}' \%>\% build_object(a = .foo)
+
+# using json dataset, just first element
+x <- commits \%>\% index(0)
+x \%>\%
+   build_object(message = .commit.message, name = .commit.committer.name)
+x \%>\% build_object(sha = .commit.tree.sha, author = .author.login)
+
+# using json dataset, all elements
+x <- index(commits)
+x \%>\% build_object(message = .commit.message, name = .commit.committer.name)
+x \%>\% build_object(sha = .sha, name = .commit.committer.name)
+
+# many JSON inputs
+'{"foo": 5, "bar": 7} {"foo": 50, "bar": 7} {"foo": 500, "bar": 7}' \%>\%
+  build_object(hello = .foo)
+}
diff --git a/man/recurse.Rd b/man/recurse.Rd
index 0fc9d3a..9c3c8e1 100644
--- a/man/recurse.Rd
+++ b/man/recurse.Rd
@@ -31,6 +31,6 @@ x <- '{"name": "/", "children": [
   {"name": "/home", "children": [
     {"name": "/home/stephen", "children": [
       {"name": "/home/stephen/jq", "children": []}]}]}]}'
-x \%>\% recurse(.children[]) \%>\% select(name)
-x \%>\% recurse(.children[]) \%>\% select(name) \%>\% string
+x \%>\% recurse(.children[]) \%>\% build_object(name)
+x \%>\% recurse(.children[]) \%>\% build_object(name) \%>\% string
 }
diff --git a/man/select.Rd b/man/select.Rd
index aca37b8..18491ba 100644
--- a/man/select.Rd
+++ b/man/select.Rd
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 \name{select}
 \alias{select}
 \alias{select_}
-\title{Select variables}
+\title{Select - filtering}
 \usage{
 select(.data, ...)
 
@@ -21,24 +21,33 @@ from function to function when using the jqr DSL.}
 \item{dots}{dots}
 }
 \description{
-Select variables
+The function \code{select(foo)} produces its input unchanged if 
+\code{foo} returns TRUE for that input, and produces no output otherwise
+}
+\note{
+this function has changed what it does dramatically. we were 
+using this function for object construction, which is now done with 
+\code{\link{build_object}}
 }
 \examples{
-'{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}' \%>\% select(a = .foo) \%>\% peek
-'{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}' \%>\% select(a = .foo)
-
-# using json dataset, just first element
-x <- commits \%>\% index(0)
-x \%>\%
-   select(message = .commit.message, name = .commit.committer.name)
-x \%>\% select(sha = .commit.tree.sha, author = .author.login)
-
-# using json dataset, all elements
-x <- index(commits)
-x \%>\% select(message = .commit.message, name = .commit.committer.name)
-x \%>\% select(sha = .sha, name = .commit.committer.name)
-
-# many JSON inputs
-'{"foo": 5, "bar": 7} {"foo": 50, "bar": 7} {"foo": 500, "bar": 7}' \%>\%
-  select(hello = .foo)
+jq('[1,5,3,0,7]', 'map(select(. >= 2))')
+'[1,5,3,0,7]' \%>\% map(select(. >= 2)) 
+
+
+'{"foo": 4, "bar": 7}' \%>\% select(.foo == 4)
+'{"foo": 5, "bar": 7} {"foo": 4, "bar": 7}' \%>\% select(.foo == 4)
+'[{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}, {"foo": 4, "bar": 7}]' \%>\% index() \%>\% 
+  select(.foo == 4)
+'{"foo": 4, "bar": 7} {"foo": 5, "bar": 7} {"foo": 8, "bar": 7}' \%>\% 
+  select(.foo < 6)
+
+x <- '{"foo": 4, "bar": 2} {"foo": 5, "bar": 4} {"foo": 8, "bar": 12}'
+jq(x, 'select((.foo < 6) and (.bar > 3))')
+jq(x, 'select((.foo < 6) or (.bar > 3))')
+x \%>\% select((.foo < 6) && (.bar > 3))
+x \%>\% select((.foo < 6) || (.bar > 3))
+
+x <- '[{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}, {"foo": 4, "bar": 7}, {"foo": 4, "bar": 9}]'
+jq(x, '.[] | select(.foo == 4) | {user: .bar}')
+x \%>\% index() \%>\% select(.foo == 4) \%>\% build_object(user = .bar)
 }
diff --git a/man/vars.Rd b/man/vars.Rd
index 699d595..42cceb7 100644
--- a/man/vars.Rd
+++ b/man/vars.Rd
@@ -38,5 +38,5 @@ x <- '{
 x \%>\% dotstr(posts[])
 x \%>\% dotstr(posts[]) \%>\% string
 x \%>\% vars(realnames = names) \%>\% dotstr(posts[]) \%>\%
-   select(title, author = "$names[.author]")
+   build_object(title, author = "$names[.author]")
 }
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-dsl.R b/tests/testthat/test-dsl.R
index 583e909..eae9939 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-dsl.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-dsl.R
@@ -160,20 +160,20 @@ test_that("maths", {
 })
 
 
-test_that("select variables", {
-  expect_equal(ac('{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}' %>% select(a = .foo) %>% jq), '{"a":5}')
+test_that("construct objects", {
+  expect_equal(ac('{"foo": 5, "bar": 7}' %>% build_object(a = .foo) %>% jq), '{"a":5}')
 
   # using json dataset, just first element
   x <- commits %>% index(0)
-  expect_equal(ac(x %>% select(message = .commit.message, name = .commit.committer.name) %>% jq),
+  expect_equal(ac(x %>% build_object(message = .commit.message, name = .commit.committer.name) %>% jq),
                '{\"message\":[\"Add wrapping and clamping to jv_array_slice\\n\\nFix #716.  Fix #717.\"],\"name\":[\"Nicolas Williams\"]}')
-  expect_equal(ac(x %>% select(sha = .commit.tree.sha, author = .author.login) %>% jq),
+  expect_equal(ac(x %>% build_object(sha = .commit.tree.sha, author = .author.login) %>% jq),
                '{\"sha\":[\"a52a4b412c3ba4bd2e237f37a5f11fd565e74bae\"],\"author\":[\"tgockel\"]}')
 
   # using json dataset, all elements
   x <- index(commits)
   zz <- x %>%
-     select(message = .commit.message, name = .commit.committer.name)
+     build_object(message = .commit.message, name = .commit.committer.name)
   expect_is(zz, "jqson")
   expect_equal(base::length(zz), 5)
 })