Wildcard symbols

Definition

Wildcard symbols are special characters used in search queries to represent one or more unspecified characters. These symbols help broaden search results by allowing researchers to find variations of a term, making them essential in electronic research tools for improving search efficiency and effectiveness.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The most common wildcard symbol is the asterisk (*), which can replace multiple characters in a search term, such as 'law*' returning 'law', 'laws', 'lawyer', etc.
2. Another wildcard is the question mark (?), which typically represents a single character in a search term, making searches more precise.
3. Wildcard symbols can significantly save time when researching by expanding the number of relevant documents retrieved from databases and search engines.
4. Different electronic research tools may have their own specific rules for using wildcard symbols, so it's important to understand how each tool operates.
5. In legal research, using wildcard symbols can help uncover a broader range of case law and statutes that may not be immediately apparent with exact term searches.

Review Questions

• How do wildcard symbols enhance the effectiveness of electronic research tools?
  • Wildcard symbols enhance the effectiveness of electronic research tools by allowing users to perform broader searches that capture variations of terms. For example, using an asterisk (*) at the end of a word can retrieve all forms of that word, increasing the likelihood of finding relevant documents. This capability is especially useful in legal research where terminology may vary across cases or statutes.
• What challenges might arise when using wildcard symbols in different electronic research tools?
  • Challenges when using wildcard symbols can include variations in how each electronic research tool interprets these symbols. Some databases may only recognize certain wildcard characters or have limitations on where they can be placed within a search term. Users may also encounter issues with over- or under-inclusive search results if wildcard symbols are not used appropriately, requiring careful consideration of how they construct their queries.
• Evaluate the impact of wildcard symbols on conducting comprehensive legal research and suggest best practices for their use.
  • Wildcard symbols significantly impact comprehensive legal research by enabling a wider net for retrieving relevant information. Best practices include familiarizing oneself with the specific wildcard functionality of each database being used, combining them with Boolean operators for more targeted searches, and testing different combinations to refine results. Additionally, researchers should document their search strategies and results to replicate successful queries or adjust their approach based on findings.

Related terms

Boolean operators: Symbols and words such as AND, OR, and NOT used to combine or exclude keywords in a search query, refining the results.

Search syntax: The set of rules that defines how to structure search queries effectively in databases and search engines.

Proximity searching: A search technique that allows users to specify the closeness of words in their queries, helping to find relevant documents that contain related terms.