Keyword Query Syntax Reference
Applies to: SharePoint Server 2010
In this article
Keyword Query Elements
Using Keyword Queries
In This Section
The keyword query syntax is updated in SharePoint Server 2010, and supports the following new features:
Boolean operators
Prefix matching for free-text and property restriction queries
Property operators with non-text fields
Keyword Query Elements
A keyword query consists of one or more of the following elements:
Free text-keywords (words or phrases); for information, see Free-Text Keyword Queries
Property restrictions; for information, see Property Restriction Keyword Queries
You can combine keyword query elements with one or more of available operators. For more information about the operators available for keyword queries, see Using Operators in Keyword Queries.
If the keyword query contains only excluded terms, only operators, or is empty, it is not valid. Keyword queries are case-insensitive, and the length is limited to 2,048 characters.
Using Keyword Queries
In Office SharePoint Server 2007, the keyword query syntax supported constructing only basic queries. If you required more complex queries, you had to use the search SQL syntax. With the new keyword query features in SharePoint Server 2010, you can construct most of these using the keyword query syntax.
Important
We recommend that you use keyword query syntax instead of search SQL syntax whenever possible.
You can use keyword query syntax for queries submitted in the following ways:
Through the Search box Web Part in the UI
Through the Query Web Service
Through the Query object model and Federation object model