---
title: "Proximity Operators"
url: "https://help.quartet.pro/en/article/proximity-operators"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2026-10-29T15:27:03.681Z"
---

# Proximity Operators

Proximity Operators are used within a search expression to search for terms within a certain distance from each other.

Proximity Operators may be used with text and party fields to search for terms within a certain distance from each other. This could be within a certain number of words, sentences, or paragraphs.

| ***n*****D** | Order Non-Specific Proximity<br>Terms are within ***n*** spaces of each other, in any order, & ***n*** must have a value of 1 or more. | (power **4D** battery) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ***n*****W** | Order Specific Proximity<br>Terms are within ***n*** spaces of each other, in the order as written, & ***n*** must have a value of 1 or more. | (anti **1W** aging) |
| **nD(Term1,Term2,Term3)** | Nested proximity  <br>  <br>All terms specified are within **n** words after the first found term, subsequent terms included. | ft=**6D**(base,pierced,opening)<br>*(Results includes: "*A base 3, substantially of revolution, is arranged in this **opening. The base 3 is pierced** with an axial through channel, connecting the inside of the tank to the outside, to allow the filling and drawing off of gas." *as the terms base and pierced are found within the 6 words following opening)* |
| **nW(Term1,Term2,Term3)** | Nested proximity  <br>  <br>All terms specified are within **n** words after the first found term, subsequent terms included, and within order as written. | ft=**10W**(base,pierced,opening)<br>*(Results includes:* "The outer wall 111 of the **base body 110 can be pierced with a finger cot opening** 113 in which the finger cot 130 takes place." *as the terms pierced and opening are found in the 10 words following base)* |
| ***n*****S** | Sentence Proximity<br>Terms are within ***n*** sentences of each other, in any order, & ***n*** must have a value of 1 or more. | (battery **1S** charging)<br>((proportion? 2W solid?) **3S** acid?) |
| ***n*****P** | Paragraph Proximity<br>Terms are within ***n*** paragraphs of each other, in any order, & ***n*** must have a value of 1 or more. | (cupped **1P** jaw)<br>((insulat\* 2w ring?) **1P** (alkaline 2D dry))<br>((batter\* 2D charg\*) **4P** ( electric\* 10D (car OR vehicle))) |
| **"   "**<br>(Double Quotes) | Phrase Proximity with Wildcards<br>Searches for exact text, exactly as written within double quotes, however, wildcard operators will not be recognized.<br>Double quotes will prevent search operators and truncation limiters from operating – example, searching for "3D technology" | **"**cell phone**"**<br>*(Results include: cell phone; cell-phone; & cell. Phone)* |
| **'     '**<br>(Single quotes) | Phrase Proximity with Wildcards<br>Searches for exact text, exactly as written within single quotes, however, wildcard operators will still be recognized. | **'**3D goggle?**'**<br>*(Results include: 3D goggle & 3D goggles)* |
| **\_**<br> (Under-score) | Optional Space Proximity<br>Text is searched as a single term and as two terms separated by a space or hyphen.<br>**Notes:** Hyphens are treated as spaces within the system.<br>A maximum of 5 underscores may be used at the same time. | anti**\_**lock<br>*(Results include: antilock, anti lock, & anti-lock)*<br>*Underscores do not require parenthesis around the word to function properly* |

Examples:

**FT=((Lap\_top 3D battery) AND (battery 1S charger))**

**(IN=(Thomas 2D smith))**

**FT=”3D goggle” AND (virtual 3D reality)**

Same sentence (nS) and same paragraph (nP) operators cannot be stacked. For example *((LAPTOP 1S SCREEN) 1P CHARGER)*  would not be an accepted input.

When using Proximity Operators, a **period ( . )** counts as a **word** for the purpose of counting. For instance, in the phrase “A laptop with a removeable battery. The battery latches to the bottom.” “removeable” and “latches” are 5 words apart. Another example would be “Battery is connected to the laptop. Screen is connected via a hinge.” Laptop and screen are two words apart, so they would be returned with *LAPTOP 2D SCREEN* but not *LAPTOP 1D SCREEN*.

Common **punctuation symbols** are indexed in the system as a **space**, meaning that a search of *cell-phone* will return results containing both *cell-phone* and *cell phone*.