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Boolean Search
Practical Law Glossary Item 0-521-1926 (Approx. 3 pages)
Glossary
Boolean Search
In e-discovery, a method to identify documents containing more than one keyword or phrase. Boolean searches use connectors between two or more search terms that indicate a relationship between the terms. Boolean searches may be used:
- In data filtering to identify potentially relevant or responsive documents.
- By counsel when reviewing documents in a document review platform.
Often when Boolean searches are created, the connectors are capitalized so that they are more visible. Common Boolean connectors include "AND," "OR," "NOT," "BUT NOT" and "WITHIN." Different search tools use different nomenclature, so counsel should confirm the appropriate terminology when creating Boolean searches.
Boolean searches employ principles of logic. Below are some examples of Boolean searches:
- "Tax AND return" identifies all documents containing both the terms "tax" and "return" anywhere in the document.
- "Tax WITHIN 2 return" (or "w/2" or "/2") identifies all documents containing the term "tax" within two words of the term "return."
- "Tax BUT NOT return" identifies documents containing the term "tax," which do not also include the term "return."
- "Tax OR return" identifies documents containing either the term "tax" or "return" (or both).