Zing can expand search results with synonyms
Expand search results to include additional search terms.
By default, Zing includes a sample synonym dictionary consisting of a list of synonym sets (synsets). Zing supports two types of synonym sets.
| Synonym set type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Synonym list | A synonym list is a list of words separated by commas. When a search uses any word from the list, Zing expands the search to include all words in the list. | Cyber,Internet,Cybercafe |
| Synonym map | A synonym map is two word lists separated by the equal and greater than characters => . When a search uses any word from the list on the left, Zing expands the search to include all words from the list on the right. When a search uses a word from the list on the right, Zing doesn't expand the search to include terms from the list on the left. | IOT,Internet of Things=>Chip,Nest thermostat,RFID,IOT |
Search results, synonym expansion and weighting
In search results, documents containing the original search keywords have a higher score than documents containing the search synonyms. For example, documents with the search keyword IOT have a higher score than documents with the synonym Internet of Things.
- One-way synonym expansion to/from multiple terms
(blork, cork => malork, elastic)works as expected.Blorkandcorkboth expand tomalorkandelastic. - Multi-level one-way expansion
(blork => cork => malork)doesn't work transitively. Neitherblorknorcorkexpands tomalork. - Multi-level one-way expansion split between multiple synonym set records
(blork => cork)(cork => malork)doesn't work transitively. Onlycorkexpands tomalork,blorkonly expands tocorkbut notmalork.
By default, synonyms don't use the same weight as regular search terms. Synonyms are only weighted at 10% of the default search weight. Additionally, multiple instances of a synonym in a single doc/field don't increase the search weight. The weight of synonyms is controlled by the property glide.ts.synonym.expanded.boost. When this property value = 1, synonyms are weighted equally to normal search terms. 0.5 = 50% weight etc.
Wildcard characters and synonym matching
Zing doesn't expand the % and * wildcard characters when looking for synonyms that match your search term. These characters are treated as literal characters when finding matching synonyms. As an example, if you search for issu*, Zing doesn't find synonyms for issue, but it does find synonyms for issu*.
- Enable search synonyms
Enabling text index synonyms allows Zing to expand text searches with additional search keywords. - Create synonym dictionaries
You can create synonym dictionaries to expand Zing text searches with additional search keywords. - Select synonym dictionaries for a table
Search administrators can specify one or more synonym dictionaries available to a particular table. - Disable synonyms for a table
By default, Zing uses all active synonym dictionaries when a user performs a text search. Search administrators can disable synonym dictionary usage on a per-table basis. - Debug synonym searches
You can view debug messages to determine if synonym searches are working as expected.
Parent Topic:Zing text indexing and search engine
Related topics
Features of Zing text indexing and search engine
Global search finds records from multiple tables
Zing generates search results in four phases
Zing filters search results with access controls
Zing computes document scores using three components
Zing can include attachments in search results
Zing removes stop words from queries
Zing matches derived words with stemming
Zing displays search suggestions as users enter search terms