Mini-Lesson: What Are Boolean Search Operators?

Boolean search operators are like secret codes that help you tell search engines exactly what you want.

The Four Operators You Need:

• AND - Use this to include multiple terms. Example: "cats" AND "dogs" ... "cats" & "dogs"
• OR - Use this to include either term. Example: "cats" OR "dogs" ... "cats" | "dogs"
• NOT - Use this to exclude a term. Example: "cats" NOT "dogs" ... "cats" -"dogs"
• " " (Quotation Marks) - Use these to search for an exact phrase. Example: "cute cats"

Why Use Them?

• Get more relevant results
• Save time by filtering out unwanted information
• Find specific information that might be buried in a sea of results

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