# SUBSTRING

The `SUBSTRING` field specifier (case sensitive) allows you to return documents whose field value is a substring of a specified string (or equal to a specified strings).

## Format

    FieldText=SUBSTRING{yourStrings}:yourFields

`yourStrings` | Type one or more strings. A document is only returned if one of `yourFields` contains a substring of one of the specified strings. You can match strings that contain punctuation (but see Note below) or consist of several words. NOTE: To distinguish query syntax punctuation from punctuation within strings, double-percent-encode commas and curly braces within strings. Query syntax punctuation must be left unencoded. There must be no space before or after a separator comma.
`yourFields` | Type one or more fields. A document is only returned if it contains one of these fields, and if the value in this field is a substring of `yourStrings`. Separate multiple fields with colons (`:`). There must be no space before or after a colon.

## Example

    FieldText=SUBSTRING{Telecommunications,Technology}:SECTOR

A document's `SECTOR` field must contain a string that is a substring of `Telecommunications` or `Technology`. If a document's `SECTOR` field, for example, has the value `Telecom` or `Technology`, the document is returned. If a document's `SECTOR` field has the value `Latest Technology`, the document is not returned.

    FieldText=SUBSTRING{scattering,doggedly}:ANIMAL

A document's `ANIMAL` field value must contain a substring of `scattering` or `doggedly` for this document to be returned. If a document's `ANIMAL` field, for example, has the value `cat` or `dog`, this document is returned.

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