| Modifier | Purpose | Example | Returns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space between words | Applies AND logic to multiple keywords. | baseball card |
Items with both the words "baseball" and "card". |
| Comma between words, no parentheses | Applies AND logic to multiple keywords. | baseball,card |
Items with both the words "baseball" and "card". |
| Comma between words in parentheses | Applies OR logic to multiple keywords. | (baseball,card) |
Items with either the word "baseball" or the word "card". |
| Quoted words | Requires an exact sequence of words. | "baseball card" |
Items with the exact phrase "baseball card". |
| -word | Specified word cannot be present. | baseball -autograph |
Items that have the word "baseball" but not "autograph" |
| -(word, word, word) | Specified words cannot be present. | baseball -(autograph,card,star) |
Items with the word "baseball" but not "autograph," "card," or "star". |
| * | Substitutes for one or more characters. | baseball* |
Items starting with the string "baseball". Use "*" by itself or with a minimum of 2 characters. Do not use "*" by itself unless you are using CategoryID or you are searching by seller. |
| @ sign | Search must find two of three words from a list. | @1 baseball autograph card |
Items with two of the three words "baseball," "autograph," and "card". For a "3 out of 4" search, use @2 and a list of four words. |
| + | Concatenates a query string using AND logic with another keyword. | @1 baseball autograph card +star |
Items with any two of the three words "baseball," "autograph," or "card" in the title plus the word "star". |
The following rules apply when there are spaces embedded in multi-word query strings: