Searchplex ID Retrieval terminology registry

Method

Boolean Retrieval

Canonical ID https://id.searchplex.net/boolean-retrieval/

A retrieval method in which queries are expressed as Boolean combinations of terms or conditions and matching items satisfy the Boolean expression.

Also called

  • Boolean Search

Scope

Boolean retrieval returns matches according to logical conditions rather than necessarily producing a relevance-ranked list. It is distinct from keyword search, exact match, and ranked lexical retrieval, although systems may combine these ideas.

Used for

Not equivalent to

  • Boolean Retrieval is not Exact Match. Exact match is a matching constraint; Boolean retrieval is a query model using Boolean operators over terms or conditions.
  • Boolean Retrieval is not Keyword Search. Boolean retrieval uses logical query expressions; keyword search is a broader practitioner-facing search style.
  • Boolean Retrieval is not Ranking. Boolean retrieval is based on satisfying logical conditions; ranking orders results by estimated relevance or utility.

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ID