[[multi-match-query]] === multi_match Query

The multi_match query provides ((("multifield search", "multi_match query")))((("multi_match queries")))((("match query", "multi_match queries"))) a convenient shorthand way of running the same query against multiple fields.

[NOTE]

There are several types of multi_match query, three of which just happen to coincide with the three scenarios that we listed in

<>: best_fields, most_fields, and cross_fields.

By default, this query runs as type best_fields, which means((("best fields queries", "multi-match queries")))((("dis_max (disjunction max) query", "multi_match query wrapped in"))) that it generates a match query for each field and wraps them in a dis_max query. This dis_max query

[source,js]

{ "dis_max": { "queries": [ { "match": { "title": { "query": "Quick brown fox", "minimum_should_match": "30%" } } }, { "match": { "body": { "query": "Quick brown fox", "minimum_should_match": "30%" } } }, ], "tie_breaker": 0.3 }

}

could be rewritten more concisely with multi_match as follows:

[source,js]

{ "multi_match": { "query": "Quick brown fox", "type": "best_fields", <1> "fields": [ "title", "body" ], "tie_breaker": 0.3, "minimum_should_match": "30%" <2> }

}

// SENSE: 110_Multi_Field_Search/25_Best_fields.json

<1> The best_fields type is the default and can be left out.

<2> Parameters like minimum_should_match or operator are passed through to the generated match queries.

==== Using Wildcards in Field Names

Field names can be specified with wildcards: any field that matches the wildcard pattern((("multi_match queries", "wildcards in field names")))((("wildcards in field names")))((("fields", "wildcards in field names"))) will be included in the search. You could match on the book_title, chapter_title, and section_title fields, with the following:

[source,js]

{ "multi_match": { "query": "Quick brown fox", "fields": "*_title" }

}

==== Boosting Individual Fields

Individual fields can be boosted by using the caret (^) syntax: just add ^boost after the field((("multi_match queries", "boosting individual fields")))((("boost parameter", "boosting individual fields in multi_match queries"))) name, where boost is a floating-point number:

[source,js]

{ "multi_match": { "query": "Quick brown fox", "fields": [ "*_title", "chapter_title^2" ] <1> }

}

<1> The chapter_title field has a boost of 2, while the book_title and section_title fields have a default boost of 1.