---
title: Test Optimization Explorer Search Syntax
description: >-
  Learn how to search for all of your test runs in the Test Optimization
  Explorer.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Test Optimization in Datadog > Test Optimization Explorer > Test
  Optimization Explorer Search Syntax
---

# Test Optimization Explorer Search Syntax

{% callout %}
# Important note for users on the following Datadog sites: app.ddog-gov.com

{% alert level="danger" %}
This product is not supported for your selected [Datadog site](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/site). ().
{% /alert %}

{% /callout %}

## Overview{% #overview %}

A query filter is composed of terms and operators.

There are two types of terms:

- A **single term** is a single word such as `test` or `hello`.

- A **sequence** is a group of words surrounded by double quotes, such as `"hello dolly"`.

To combine multiple terms into a complex query, you can use any of the following case sensitive Boolean operators:

| **Operator** | **Description**                                                                                        | **Example**                  |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------- |
| `AND`        | **Intersection**: both terms are in the selected events (if nothing is added, AND is taken by default) | authentication AND failure   |
| `OR`         | **Union**: either term is contained in the selected events                                             | authentication OR password   |
| `-`          | **Exclusion**: the following term is NOT in the event (apply to each individual raw text search)       | authentication AND -password |

## Search on attributes and tags{% #search-on-attributes-and-tags %}

You are not required to define a facet in order to search on attributes and tags. To search on a specific attribute, add `@` to specify you are searching on an attribute. Attributes searches are case sensitive. Use free text search to get case insensitive results.

For example, if you are interested in the `git.repository.name` attribute and you want to filter on the value `Datadog/documentation`, use `@git.repository.id:"github.com/Datadog/documentation"`.

Searching for an attribute value that contains special characters requires escaping or double quotes. For example, for an attribute `my_attribute` with the value `hello:world`, search using: `@my_attribute:hello\:world` or `@my_attribute:"hello:world"`.

To match a single special character or space, use the `?` wildcard. For example, for an attribute `my_attribute` with the value `hello world`, search using: `@my_attribute:hello?world`.

For more information about tags, see [Using Tags](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/tagging/using_tags).

## Wildcards{% #wildcards %}

### Multi-character wildcard{% #multi-character-wildcard %}

To perform a multi-character wildcard search, use the `*` symbol as follows:

- `service:web*` matches every log message that has a service starting with `web`.
- `web*` matches all log messages starting with `web`.
- `*web` matches all log messages that end with `web`.

Wildcard searches work within tags and attributes (faceted or not) with this syntax. This query returns all the services that end with the string `mongo`:





```
test.service:*mongo
```

### Search wildcard{% #search-wildcard %}

When searching for an attribute or tag value that contains special characters or requires escaping or double quotes, use the `?` wildcard to match a single special character or space. For example, to search for an attribute `my_attribute` with the value `hello world`: `@my_attribute:hello?world`.



## Numerical values{% #numerical-values %}

In order to search on a numerical attribute, first [add it as a facet](https://docs.datadoghq.com/tests/explorer/facets). You can then use numerical operators (`<`,`>`, `<=`, or `>=`) to perform a search on numerical facets.

For example, to retrieve all test runs that have a duration of over one week, use: `@duration:>=7days`.

## Tags{% #tags %}

Your test runs inherit tags from [hosts](https://docs.datadoghq.com/infrastructure) and [integrations](https://docs.datadoghq.com/integrations) that generate them. They can be used in the search and as facets as well:

- `test` is searching for the string "test".
- `env:(prod OR test)` matches all test runs with the tag `env:prod` or the tag `env:test`.
- `(env:prod AND -version:beta)` matches all test runs that contain tag `env:prod` and that do not contain tag `version:beta`.

If your tags don't follow [tags best practices](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/tagging/#define-tags) and don't use the `key:value` syntax, use this search query: `tags:<MY_TAG>`.

## Further reading{% #further-reading %}

- [Getting Started with Search in Datadog](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/search/)
- [Learn about facets](https://docs.datadoghq.com/tests/explorer/facets)