Search Operators

Learn how to use character operators and drop down options to build highly targeted searches.

Character Operators

AND
Character: (Space)
Example: green tea
Retrieves: green AND tea

A space between words implies AND. Your search will retrieve records with both the word "green" and the word "tea" in the field you are searching on, but not necessarily next to each other.

OR
Character: | (Pipe symbol)
Example: tea|coffee
Retrieves: tea OR coffee

A pipe symbol between words indicates OR. Your search will retrieve records with the word tea OR records with the word coffee in the field you are searching on, but not necessarily both words.

NOT
Character: - (Dash)
Example: -tea
Retrieves: NOT tea

A dash before a word indicates NOT. Your search will retrieve records which do not contain the word ‘tea’ in the field you are searching on. Stemming occurs automatically.

EXACT WORD
Character: = (Equals sign)
Example: =roast
Retrieves: roast (no stemming)

Use the equals sign to perform an exact word search. Your search will retrieve records with this word exactly anywhere in the field you are searching on, with no stemming (ie. =roast will NOT retrieve: roasted, roaster, roasting, roasts, etc.). Equals is the only operator that disables stemming, which otherwise occurs by default.

PHRASE
Character: " " (Double quote marks)
Example: "loose leaf tea"
Retrieves: The exact phrase "loose leaf tea"

Use double quote marks to perform a phrasal search. Your search will retrieve records with this phrase exactly, ie. with all the words in the same order as specified. Stemming occurs automatically.

BEGINS WITH
Character: ^ (Caret symbol)
Example: ^tea
Retrieves: Value beginning with 'tea'

The caret symbol indicates "begins with". Your search will retrieve records beginning with the word "tea" in the field you are searching on.

ENDS WITH
Character: $ (Dollar sign)
Example: tea$
Retrieves: Value ending with 'tea'

The dollar sign indicates "ends with". Your search will retrieve records ending with the word "tea". Put the $ after your keyword.

QUORUM
Example: "Mammut Rock Climbing Rider Helmet"/4
Retrieves: Products containing at least 4 of the 5 terms used in the search

Your search will retrieve records matching 4 of the 5 words used in the search. IMPORTANT: Your words must be surrounded by double quotes.

Drop Down Options

contains
If a field contains the words, the record will be retrieved. Stemming occurs automatically.

Examples:
[Product Name] contains pet bed - retrieves records that contain both "pet" AND "bed"
[Product Name] contains pet|bed - retrieves records that contain either "pet" OR "bed"

doesn't contain
If a field contains the words, the record will not be retrieved. Stemming occurs automatically.

Examples:
[Product Name] doesn't contain pet bed - skips records that contain both "pet" AND "bed"
[Product Name] doesn't contain pet|bed - skips records that contain either "pet" OR "bed"

starts with
If a field begins with this word, the record will be retrieved. Stemming occurs automatically.

ends with
If a field ends with this word, the record will be returned. Stemming occurs automatically.

matches
This allows you to build your own query using any or all character operators:

space (AND)
|
-
=
" "
^
$

is
This wraps a ^ (caret) and a $ (dollar sign) around your search. If you search only one word, a field must begin and end with that word in order for the record to be retrieved. Stemming occurs automatically.

Examples:
[Brand] is Kong - retrieves records where the brand is "Kong" exactly, but excludes records where the brand is Kong Company or The Kong Company.

[Product Name] is Kong toy - retrieves records where the Product Name field begins with "Kong" and ends with "toy" (KONG Classic Treat Dispensing Dog Toy, KONG Extreme Treat Dispensing Dog Toy, KONG Ball Treat Dispensing Dog Toy, etc).