> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.clearcue.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Boolean Search

> Use Boolean operators to build precise search queries and find exactly the signals, people, and companies you need.

Boolean search uses logical operators to combine or exclude search terms, giving you precise control over your results. Instead of relying on simple keyword matching, you can build complex queries that find exactly what you're looking for.

## Core Operators

### AND

Finds results containing **both** terms.

```
sales AND marketing
```

| Content                         | Matches? |
| ------------------------------- | :------: |
| "I work in sales and marketing" |    Yes   |
| "Sales is my passion"           |    No    |
| "Marketing tips for startups"   |    No    |

<Note>
  Many search systems treat spaces as implicit AND, so `sales marketing` may work the same as `sales AND marketing`.
</Note>

### OR

Finds results containing **either** term (or both).

```
CEO OR founder
```

| Content                            | Matches? |
| ---------------------------------- | :------: |
| "I'm the CEO of a startup"         |    Yes   |
| "As a founder, I learned..."       |    Yes   |
| "The CEO and founder announced..." |    Yes   |
| "I'm a software engineer"          |    No    |

**Use case:** Capture variations, synonyms, or alternatives.

### NOT (or -)

**Excludes** results containing the term.

```
developer NOT junior
```

or

```
developer -junior
```

| Content                          | Matches? |
| -------------------------------- | :------: |
| "Senior developer position open" |    Yes   |
| "Looking for a junior developer" |    No    |

## Grouping and Phrases

### Parentheses ( )

Group terms together to control logic order.

```
(CEO OR founder) AND startup
```

This means: must be CEO or founder, AND must include startup.

| Content                | Matches? |
| ---------------------- | :------: |
| "CEO of a startup"     |    Yes   |
| "Founder of a startup" |    Yes   |
| "CEO of a corporation" |    No    |
| "Startup tips"         |    No    |

<Warning>
  Without parentheses, `CEO OR founder AND startup` might be interpreted as `CEO OR (founder AND startup)` — a different meaning entirely.
</Warning>

### Quotes " "

Search for an **exact phrase**.

```
"looking for recommendations"
```

| Content                                 | Matches? |
| --------------------------------------- | :------: |
| "I'm looking for recommendations on..." |    Yes   |
| "Looking for some recommendations"      |    No    |
| "Recommendations I'm looking for"       |    No    |

**Key difference:**

| Query                           | What it finds                              |
| ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| `looking for recommendations`   | All 3 words anywhere, any order            |
| `"looking for recommendations"` | Exact phrase, words together in that order |

### Quotes on Single Words

**With quotes** — exact match only:

```
"hiring"
```

**Without quotes** — includes stemmed variations:

```
hiring
```

May match: hiring, hire, hired, hires, etc.

| Query       | Potential matches                                       |
| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| `"app"`     | app                                                     |
| `app`       | app, apps, application, applications                    |
| `"develop"` | develop                                                 |
| `develop`   | develop, developer, developers, development, developing |

## Combine Operators

### Basic combination

```
(sales OR marketing) AND (manager OR director)
```

Finds: sales manager, sales director, marketing manager, marketing director.

### Multiple OR groups

```
(AI OR "artificial intelligence" OR "machine learning") AND (agency OR consultant OR freelancer)
```

Finds content about AI services from agencies, consultants, or freelancers.

### With exclusions

```
(developer OR engineer) AND (senior OR lead) NOT (junior OR intern OR entry)
```

Finds senior/lead developers, excludes junior positions.

### Nested parentheses

```
((CEO OR founder) AND startup) OR ((VP OR director) AND enterprise)
```

Finds: startup CEOs/founders OR enterprise VPs/directors.

## Operator Precedence

Without parentheses, operators are evaluated in this order:

1. `" "` (phrases) — highest priority
2. `NOT` / `-`
3. `AND`
4. `OR` — lowest priority

**Example:**

```
sales OR marketing AND manager
```

Is interpreted as:

```
sales OR (marketing AND manager)
```

Not as:

```
(sales OR marketing) AND manager
```

<Tip>
  Always use parentheses to make your intent clear.
</Tip>

## Common Mistakes

### Lowercase operators

Lowercase `and` may be treated as a search term, not an operator.

| Query                 | Result       |
| --------------------- | ------------ |
| `sales and marketing` | May not work |
| `sales AND marketing` | Correct      |

### Missing parentheses

| Query                          | Result             |
| ------------------------------ | ------------------ |
| `CEO OR founder AND startup`   | Unexpected results |
| `(CEO OR founder) AND startup` | Correct            |

### Quotes on every word

Only use quotes for exact phrases or when you need exact word match.

| Query                      | Result             |
| -------------------------- | ------------------ |
| `"looking" "for" "agency"` | Overly restrictive |
| `"looking for" agency`     | Correct            |

### Over-complicated queries

Start simple, add terms only if needed.

| Query                                                      | Result                    |
| ---------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------- |
| Complex query with 20+ OR terms                            | Hard to debug, slow       |
| `("looking for" OR "recommend") AND ("AI" OR "AI agency")` | Simpler, easier to refine |

### Forgetting stemming

If you search `develop`, you'll get developer, development, etc. Use quotes `"develop"` if you only want that exact word.

## Build Your Query Step by Step

<Steps>
  <Step title="Identify your core concept">
    What are you looking for?

    Example: "People asking for AI agency recommendations"
  </Step>

  <Step title="List key terms">
    Break down into categories:

    * **Intent:** looking for, recommend, anyone know, suggestions
    * **Topic:** AI, artificial intelligence, machine learning
    * **Type:** agency, developer, consultant, company
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start simple">
    ```
    "looking for" AND "AI agency"
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Expand with OR">
    ```
    ("looking for" OR "recommend") AND ("AI agency" OR "AI developer")
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add exclusions if needed">
    ```
    ("looking for" OR "recommend") AND ("AI agency" OR "AI developer") NOT job
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test and refine">
    * Too many results? Add more specific terms.
    * Too few results? Remove restrictive terms or add OR alternatives.
    * Wrong results? Add NOT exclusions.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Quick Reference

### Operators

| Operator    | Syntax              | What it does          |
| ----------- | ------------------- | --------------------- |
| AND         | `A AND B`           | Both terms required   |
| OR          | `A OR B`            | Either term (or both) |
| NOT         | `A NOT B` or `A -B` | Exclude term          |
| Quotes      | `"exact phrase"`    | Exact phrase match    |
| Parentheses | `(A OR B) AND C`    | Group terms           |

### Quotes Usage

| Usage           | Effect                                    |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| `word`          | Word + variations (stemming)              |
| `"word"`        | Exact word only                           |
| `word1 word2`   | Both words anywhere, any order + stemming |
| `"word1 word2"` | Exact phrase, together in order           |

## Query Templates

### Service/Agency Search

```
("looking for" OR "recommend" OR "anyone know") AND ("SERVICETYPE" OR "SERVICETYPE agency") AND (agency OR company OR freelancer)
```

### Tool/Software Search

```
("looking for" OR "what tool" OR "best software" OR "recommendations for") AND ("CATEGORY tool" OR "CATEGORY software")
```

### Pain Point Detection

```
("frustrated with" OR "struggling" OR "hate" OR "problem with") AND (TOOL OR CATEGORY)
```

### Competitor Dissatisfaction

```
("switching from" OR "alternative to" OR "leaving" OR "disappointed with") AND COMPETITOR
```

### Buying Intent

```
("evaluating" OR "comparing" OR "budget for" OR "planning to buy") AND (PRODUCT OR CATEGORY)
```