boolean logic: how to talk to search engines in their own language
DESCRIPTION
You think in words. The search engine thinks in math. How can you communicate? BOOLEAN! Use Boolean logic to REALLY tell a search engine what you want to know! This presentation will show you how to use AND, OR, and AND and OR in combination.TRANSCRIPT
Booleanand what it can do for you!
George Boole•He is a rock star
•He did math like Michael did
“Thriller”
•He invented Boolean Logic
This is
BOOLEAN LOGICis a system that combines terms using AND
and OR.
Boolean lets you tell a search engine what you want to know!
How you think How a search engine thinks
George Boole, a famous
mathematician, was also a great animal lover. Do you think he had
any pets?
If the search engine were a person, this would be an
easy problem – it just speaks a
different language!
How a search engine thinks
Boolean is how you translate between your English and the search engine’s super-logical computer language!
Luckily, you only need to know two easy words.
ANDProduces only results that include all
keywords and conditions.
EVERYTHING ABOUT CATS
THIS is everything on the entire Internet that includes the word
CATS.
EVERYTHING ABOUT BOOLE
THIS is everything on the entire Internet that mentions the word BOOLE.
EVERYTHING ABOUT CATS
EVERYTHING ABOUT BOOLE
Here they are together. Everything CATS and everything BOOLE.
Notice the rather sizeable overlap.Sometimes CATS and BOOLE occur together.
HMMMMM.
ONLYstuff about
CATS
AND
BOOLE
EVERYTHING ABOUT CATS
EVERYTHING ABOUT BOOLE
We know that information about Boole’s pet cats must include both the
word “Boole” and the word “cats.”
Therefore, the information we want must be located somewhere in that
overlap!
ONLYstuff about
CATS
AND
BOOLE
By using AND, we have told the search engine to eliminate any results that do
not include BOTH keywords.
Now we have a good chance of finding the information we want!
ORProduces results that include every
keyword and condition.
EVERYTHING ABOUT CATS
Here we have everything about CATS again.
EVERYTHING ABOUT DOGS
And what do you know– here’s
everything about DOGS!
EVERYTHING ABOUT CATS
EVERYTHING ABOUT DOGS
Here they are together.
We don’t want to eliminate either one of these words. We want to know about all the cats as
well as all the dogs.HMMMMM!
EVERYTHING ABOUT CATS
EVERYTHING ABOUT DOGS
When we ask for CATS OR DOGS, the search engine knows that we want every
result that includes EITHER or BOTH keywords.
Now our results include not only CATS, but also DOGS!
COMBO!
EVERYTHING ABOUT CATS
Here we have – again! – everything about CATS.
EVERYTHING ABOUT CATS
EVERYTHING ABOUT DOGS
And now, everything about CATS as well as everything about DOGS.
EVERYTHING ABOUT CATS
EVERYTHING ABOUT DOGS
We know that by using OR, we can include everything about all the
keywords.
EVERYTHING ABOUT CATS
EVERYTHING ABOUT DOGS
EVERYTHING ABOUT BOOLE
What we’re looking for now is information on George Boole’s cats and
dogs – in other words, BOOLE AND anything about his CATS OR his DOGS.
EVERYTHING ABOUT CATS
EVERYTHING ABOUT DOGS
EVERYTHING ABOUT BOOLE
That information will be in the overlap, just like before!
Except now, we’re using TWO operators – AND and OR!
This is how we can tell the search engine to give us only results that include the word “BOOLE” at the same time as either the word “CATS” or the
word “DOGS.”
Now we’re SURE to find what we’re looking for!
BOOLE AND (CATS OR DOGS)
Where is Boolean used?
• Google!– Google already puts AND between all of your search
terms, but sometimes you may want to use OR instead
– Using OR can supercharge your Goo-fu!– Try the example!
• Boole (cats OR dogs)
• Any database– Databases usually give you drop-down AND/OR menus– Even easier than the Goo– Access them for free through your public library,
school or college
Boxford’s Databases
Remember, you’ll need your card to log in!
Academic One-File Lots of good stuff in one neat placeGale Virtual Reference Library Good for quick answersEBSCOhost A bunch of databases, all usefulHeritageQuest Great for looking up your ancestors
http://boxfordlibrary.org/index.php/databases
CONGRATULATIONS!
Now go out and find that stuff!