Search Syntax
Operators for searching within Cosmograph and graph views.
Search Syntax
When searching within Cosmograph or graph entity lists, you can use operators to filter and refine results.
Basic Operators
| Operator | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
term | Include results matching the term | John |
-term | Exclude results matching the term | -Smith |
"phrase" | Match the exact phrase | "John Smith" |
type:X | Filter by entity type | type:Person |
Combining Operators
Operators can be combined for more precise searches:
John -Smith type:PersonThis finds entities:
- Containing "John"
- NOT containing "Smith"
- Of type "Person"
Entity Type Filter
Use type: to filter by entity type. Common types:
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
Person | People, named individuals |
Organization | Companies, agencies, groups |
Location | Places, cities, addresses |
Date | Dates and time periods |
Concept | Abstract ideas, topics |
The available types depend on your graph's schema. Check the Schema tab in your graph's detail view to see what entity types exist.
Examples
Find all people named John
John type:PersonFind organizations, excluding government
type:Organization -governmentFind exact name match
"Acme Corporation"Exclude specific entities
project -alpha -betaFinds entities mentioning "project" but not "alpha" or "beta".
Where This Syntax Works
This search syntax works in:
- Cosmograph search bar
- Workbench graph search
- Entity tables within graph detail views
The Files search and Agent use semantic search, not this operator syntax. This syntax is specifically for graph/entity searches.
Case Sensitivity
Searches are case-insensitive. John, john, and JOHN all match the same entities.
Partial Matches
Terms match partial strings. John matches "John", "Johnson", "Johnny", etc. Use quotes for exact matches.
Tips
- Start broad, then narrow with operators
- Use
type:to quickly filter large result sets - Combine multiple exclusions with
-term -term2 - Check the schema to know what types are available