Documentation

How does the Advanced Search work?

In the Advanced Search you can construct a very specific query by predefining search parameters. There are three types of information needed for constructing a Advanced Search:

Operator

Different search terms are connected using various operators. A list of all the operators and an explanation is found at the end of the page.
Column

These are the metadata categories provided by the database entries. E.g. “Name”, “Collection Year”, “DB Source”. Each search term is associated with one property.
Search term

These are the terms used to construct your query/search. E.g. “SARS-CoV2”, “2019_2022” or “NCBI Virus”.

Constructing a Query

To construct queries see our how to use the advanced search page

List of Operators

Operator	Function	Example
AND	The logical operator “AND” acts as a filter, limiting the search results. It functions akin to an intersection, reducing the number of results by establishing a condition. Only if a record satisfies both query terms will it be included in the output. This helps narrow down the results to those that meet all specified criteria.	Germany[Collection Country] AND 2020[Collection Year]
OR	The logical operator “OR” expands the search results by working as a union. It includes records that fulfill at least one of the conditions defined in the query terms on either side. This allows for a broader search, encompassing records that meet any of the specified criteria.	Germany[Collection Country] OR 2020[Collection Year]
NOT	The “NOT” logical operator is used to exclude specific records from search results. It applies only to the first term and negates the condition specified in the query term following it. This means that any record fulfilling the condition stated in the query term after “NOT” will be excluded from the search results. This tool is useful for refining searches by eliminating unwanted results.	NOT Germany[Collection Country]
NAND	“NAND” is a logical operator that stands for “NOT AND.” It functions similarly to the “AND” operator but with an inverted output. It indicates that records that match the specified condition must not be included in the search results. This operator reduces the number of outputs by subtracting the results of the query term that comes after it. It’s a valuable tool for refining searches by excluding specific conditions. (This usage here is different from the definition of NAND in electrical circuits, as we do not consider the previous search term for the effect)	Germany[Collection Country] NAND 2020[Collection Year]
NOR	NOR” would refer to a logical operator that stands for “NOT OR.” It functions similarly to the “OR” operator but with an inverted output. In other words, records matching the “NOR” condition are penalized in relevance scoring, but they can still appear in the search results if they match other criteria strongly enough.	Germany[Collection Country] NOR 2020[Collection Year]

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