Boolean Operators By Jose and Jose
What are they? What the librarian told us.
Operators orandnot
What are they used for?
Or Is used to expand search parameters, to include any documents that satisfy the term before the “or”, and satisfy the term after the “or”. TERM 1TERM 2 TERM 3
An Example If terms 1 and 2 are “or”ed, the search would result in 110 documents. If all the terms are “or”ed, the search would result in 130 documents Individual Search ResultsTerm
and Is used to minimize search parameters. To only include all documents that satisfy both the term before the “and”, and satisfy the term after the “and”. TERM 1TERM 2 TERM 3
An Example If terms 1 and 2 are “and”ed, the search would result in 5 documents. 51 and Individual Search ResultsTerm
not Is used to minimize search parameters. To include any documents that satisfy the term before the “not”, and not satisfy the other terms after the “not”. TERM 1TERM 2 TERM 3
An Example If terms 1 and 2 are “not”ed, the search would result in 8 documents. 81 not Individual Search ResultsTerm
What are they? What we found out.
Quick Comparison Chart: nearN/Acats near dogsNEAR must not contain the words should not contain the words cats -dogscats not dogsNOT all of these words must contain the words +poverty +crimepoverty and crimeAND any of these words can contain the words should contain the words college universitycollege or university OR TemplatesImplied BooleanFull Boolean
Where can we use them?
We can use them when searching for documents in almost every search engine available.
Where to Search: ExaleadExalead | Google [by default] | Ixquick | ProFusionGoogleIxquickProFusionProximity operators AllTheWeb Advanced SearchAllTheWeb Advanced Search | AltaVista Advanced Web Search AOL Advanced Search | Google Advanced Search | MSN Search Search Builder | Teoma Advanced Search | Yahoo Advanced Web SearchAltaVista Advanced Web SearchAOL Advanced SearchGoogle Advanced SearchMSN Search Search BuilderTeoma Advanced Search Yahoo Advanced Web Search Boolean logic using search form terminology +/-Most search engines offer this optionImplied Boolean AlltheWeb Advanced Search | AltaVista Advanced Web Search | Ixquick | MSN Search Full Boolean logic with parentheses, e.g., behavior and (cats or felines) AltaVista Advanced Web SearchAltaVista Advanced Web Search | AllTheWeb Advanced Search | Dogpile | Google [OR only] | Ixquick | ProFusionAllTheWeb Advanced SearchDogpileGoogleIxquickProFusion Boolean operators
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