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Building a Database Search

This guide will help you to build an efficient search for your research.

What are boolean operators?

Boolean operators form the basis of database logic.

  • They connect your search words together to either narrow or broaden your set of results.
  • The three basic boolean operators are: AND, OR, and NOT.

Why use Boolean operators?

  • To focus a search, particularly when your topic contains multiple search terms.
  • To connect various pieces of information to find exactly what you're looking for.

AND

The boolean operator AND is used when you have multiple search terms that you need to appear together. This helps you make your search more specific. 

    

OR

The boolean operator OR is used when you have multiple search terms and want to explore results that use either one of them. This helps you make your search more broad. 

  

NOT

The boolean operator NOT is used when you want to exclude certain terms from your search. This helps you make your search more narrow.