--- title: Wildcard operators description: Wildcard Operators are used within a search expression to allow for more flexibility with words, dates, or names, and to allow for clever truncation to cover multiple tenses and pluralities. --- [Skip to content](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/wildcard-operators#main-content) English Show submenu for translations ![Quartet logo (light)-1.png\]](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Quartet%20logo%20(light)-1.png?height=33&name=Quartet%20logo%20(light)-1.png) - Home - Products - Pricing - Blog - Company Open main navigation Close main navigation - Home - Products - Pricing - Blog - Company - English Show submenu for translations - [Open Quartet](http://quartet.ensembleip.com/) [Open Quartet](http://quartet.ensembleip.com/) How can we help? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Quartet Help](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet?hsLang=en) 2. [Inputs](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/inputs?hsLang=en) 3. [Operators](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/inputs?hsLang=en#operators) # Wildcard operators ## Wildcard Operators are used within a search expression to allow for more flexibility with words, dates, or names, and to allow for clever truncation to cover multiple tenses and pluralities. - Wildcard Operators may be used with any field. - Wildcard Operators may be used at the start, middle, or end of a word. - Multiple Wildcard Operators can be used and combined in the same search. | ⁎ | Unlimited Truncation Represents zero or any number of additional characters (letters or numbers). | deploy**⁎** *(Results include: deploy, deploys, deployment, & deploying)* \*duction *(Results include: introduction, reduction, & overproduction)* dimethyl\*ne *(Results include: dimethylamine, dimethylglyoxime, & dimethylpropane)* | | --- | --- | --- | | ? | Optional Single Character Truncation Represents zero to one additional character.   **NOTE**: Multiple ?s can be stacked to represent multiple characters ??? represents zero to three additional characters | phone**?** *(Results include: phone & phones)* comput**???** *(Results include: computer, computes, computing, computed)* ??flammable *(Results include: flammable & inflammable)* colo?r *(Results include: color & colour)* | | # | Single Character Truncation Represents exactly one character that must be present. | analy**#**e *(Results include: analyze & analyse)* analyze# *(Results include: analyzes & analyzed)* #zar *(Results include: tzar & czar)* | | + | Class Code Stemming Operator **Specific to classification search fields (CPC, IPC, USPC, JPFI, & JPFT)** The operator returns results for the classification code queried and any of its subordinate classes. **Note:** The standard wildcard operators (\*, ?, #) can also be used with classification search fields. | IPC=G01N33/00+ (Results include: G01N33/00 and its subordinate class codes, i.e., G01N33/02 & G01N33/558) | **Examples:** FT=((Lap\_top? 3D batter\*) AND (batter\* 1S charg\*)) FT="3D goggle?" AND (virtual\* 3D reality) AB=(\*ethyl 2w \*fenyl) TI=(\*ethyl 2w \*fenyl???) USPC=340+ USPC=340/2\* CPC=(G07F19/20\*) IPC/CPC=(G07F19/20\*) **Notes, Suggestions, and Warnings:** - The asterisk ( \* ) operator allows for end truncation. Its meaning and use are the same anywhere within Quartet. - The plus sign ( + ) operator is a unique wildcard that can only be used with classification code searching and is used for searching the hierarchy of a classification schedule. For example, **CPC=(G07F19/20\*)** will search for all classifications that start with G07F19/20 and will returns results including G07F19/201-209. However, this search will not include indented subgroups such as **G07F19/21** that would be captured by **CPC=(G07F19/20+)**. - For best results, include text that is specific as possible. For example, consider these options for a search directed toward language and speech. - FT=phon\* This search will return results related phonics and phonemes. However, it will also return results related to phones, which will likely introduce noise into the results. - FT=(phonic? OR phoneme?) This search will probably yield more focused results. - For best results, consider using a more focused wildcard. For example, consider these options for a search directed toward automotive technology. - FT=car\* This search will return results related to cars, but it will also find results related cartridges, carriers, cartons, cards, carts, etc. - FT=car? This search will probably yield more focused results. - Quartet support the use of multiple wildcard operators used in combination. However, a large number of wildcard operators will cause searches to take a longer time and depending on the specific query it is possible that a complex query with many wildcard operators will be unable to run. - [Getting started](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Workspaces and Search projects](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/getting-started?hsLang=en#workspaces-and-search-projects) - [Crafting Search Strings](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/getting-started?hsLang=en#crafting-search-strings) - [Ways to search](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/getting-started?hsLang=en#ways-to-search) - [Seeing your results](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/getting-started?hsLang=en#seeing-your-results) - [Search Guide](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/search-guide?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Interface](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/search-guide?hsLang=en#interface) - [Methods of Searching](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/search-guide?hsLang=en#methods-of-searching) - [Reviewing References](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/search-guide?hsLang=en#reviewing-references) - [Other](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/search-guide?hsLang=en#other) - [Patent Coverage](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/patent-coverage?hsLang=en) - [Inputs](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/inputs?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Operators](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/inputs?hsLang=en#operators) - [Fields and Commands](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/inputs?hsLang=en#fields-and-commands) - [Special Characters](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/inputs?hsLang=en#special-characters) - [Alerts](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/alerts?hsLang=en) - [Settings](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/settings?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Customization](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/settings?hsLang=en#customization) - [Videos & Webinars](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/videos-webinars?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Full Overview of How to Use Quartet](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/videos-webinars?hsLang=en#full-overview-of-how-to-use-quartet) - [ProTip Videos](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/videos-webinars?hsLang=en#protip-videos) - [Webinars](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/migration/quartet/videos-webinars?hsLang=en#webinars) - Home - Products - Pricing - Blog - Company [![Chill listening crop-3](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EnsembleIP%20logo%20(light)-2.png?width=132&height=24&name=EnsembleIP%20logo%20(light)-2.png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://knowledgebase.ensembleip.com/?hsLang=en) Copyright © 2026, Ensemble IP LLC