Boolean

Using Technology in Your Leadership Role

Boolean Operators

Boolean operators are used the same way the plus and minus signs are used. The AND Boolean operator is similar to the plus sign and the NOT Boolean operator is similar to the minus sign. The OR Boolean operator tells the search engine to retrieve one term or the other. The Near phrase indicates to the search tools that those terms must be located within a certain number of words. The results may vary depending on the search tool.

For example: Technology AND lesson plans
Results: locate all documents in the databases that have both of these words
For example: Technology NOT Computers
Results: will provide a list of links that has the word "technology"in the document but will not include any document that has the word "computers" in the document
For example: Technology OR Computers
Results: will provide a list of links that has the phrase technology or computers in the document
For example: Technology AND NOT Computers
Results: retrieve information with the key word "technology" and not "computers"
For example: Technology AND Computers NOT Internet
Results: the sites that have "technology" and "computers" but not "Internet"
For example: Technology NEAR lesson plans
Results: one term must be located within a certain number of words
For example: Technology NEAR/10 lesson plans
Results: locate all documents that have the word technology and lesson plans within 10 words of each other

Currently, AOL Search, Alta Vista, Lycos, and Webcrawler support this feature. Read the specific search tool tips for more detail information.

Nesting Nesting allows the user to perform multiple tasks and build a complex search. The parentheses are used to group the key words and Boolean operators together. This is an excellent technique for complex searching.

For example: Technology AND(Internet OR World Wide Web)
Results: locate all documents that have the words "Technology" and "Internet" Or "Technology" and "World Wide Web"

Pipe Symbol The Pipe (|)symbol, located on most keyboards on the right-hand side between the delete and return key will assist with narrowing down results within a broad category.

For example: Technology|Computers
Results: retrieve all documents in the broad category of "technology" dealing with "computers"

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