Glossary of terms

Query

A query is a key element in a user’s interaction with a search engine or database. It is a specific request for information that can contain words, phrases, symbols, and operators to precisely formulate a search query. A query can be simple if the user is looking for a specific word or phrase, or complex if it includes logical operators, sorting parameters, and other criteria. When composing a query, it is important to take into account the correct spelling of words, the use of logical operators (AND, OR, NOT) to increase the accuracy of results, and the exclusion of unnecessary words or phrases. A well-crafted query helps you find the information you need quickly and efficiently, ensuring the accuracy and relevance of your search results.

Query in the context of search engines and databases is a key concept that defines users of information systems and directs their efforts to find the necessary information. A query consists of words, phrases, symbols, and special operators and defines what kind of data should be displayed as a result of a search.

The principle of a query is to combine all the necessary search criteria into one logical query. The user can use various special operators, for example:

  • “AND” to include in the results only those documents that contain all the words specified in the query;
  • “OR” to include documents containing at least one of the specified words;
  • “NOT” to exclude documents containing a certain word.


In addition, the query can contain phrases in quotation marks to find an exact match, as well as wildcards (* or ?) to search for a word with some variation.

Some other techniques are also used to improve search results. For example, the ability to specify an exact phrase in double quotes to search for a specific sequence of words. It is also possible to use certain commands or operators that allow you to specify the location of words in the document (for example, “intitle:” to search for words in the title).

Query features include the ability to create complex queries with multiple conditions and use context-sensitive queries to pinpoint the information you need. The query can also be adapted to the specific environment where it is used to provide the most accurate and relevant results.

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