Boolean Searching

The OR and AND RULES

OR

The Boolean OR command is used in order to allow any of the specified search terms to be present on the web pages listed in results. It can also be described as a Match Any search. You use the command like this:

ireland OR eire

Practically all major search engines support the + symbol as a means of doing a Match All search. All search is used by default, even if you don't use the + symbol.

Most of the major search engines support OR, as shown on the Search Features Chart. Of the exceptions, only Google entirely prevents an OR search. That's because at the other exceptions, they will perform an OR search by default. Thus, there's no need to explicitly specify an OR command when using them.

In general, most major search engines default to an OR search, though they will tend to rank pages containing all terms first.

AND

The Boolean AND command is used in order to require that all search terms be present on the web pages listed in results. It can also be described as a Match All search. You use the command like this:

clinton AND dole

Most of the major search engines support AND. All the major search engines, including those that don't support the AND command, also provide AND functionality via the + symbol. The only exception to this is LookSmart.

Several search engines will perform an AND search by default.

Next page Index PageReturn to Table of Contents Page Previous page

This file prepared and presented as an aid to help students understand the web.  Send questions or comments to Royce Shook

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1