Boolean operators connect your search terms to either narrow or broaden your search results. You should use them to focus a search, particularly when your topic contains multiple search terms. Commonly used Boolean operators are: AND, OR, and NOT.
Burger AND Fries
Search results will contain both burger and fries. Using AND returns all search words.
Burger OR Fries
Search results will contain either burger, fries, or both. Using OR returns any of the search words.
Burger NOT Fries
Search results will contain burger but not fries. Using NOT ensures that the term that follows NOT will not appear in search results.
Unlike Google, a database does not assume what and how you want to search. It only returns results based on how you have used the search commands ( AND, OR, NOT). Therefore, it is important to know the logical order in which you connect your search terms.
Can you use multiple connectors or a combination of AND and OR operators in a single search string?
How does this work?
How do you avoid that?
Watch this tutorial to learn simple search strategies.
Click on the link below and move your cursor over the search operators-AND, OR, NOT- to see how each one works.
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