Boolean search
Boolean search combines operators and terms to shape a query in a search tool that supports them.
What the operators do
Boolean search uses logical operators to combine or exclude terms. In LinkedIn search, AND narrows results to profiles containing both terms, OR allows alternatives and NOT excludes a term; LinkedIn requires these operators in capital letters. Quotes can hold a phrase together, while parentheses group alternatives. For example, a recruiter might try ("backend engineer" OR "software engineer") AND (Python OR Go), then inspect whether the results fit the role. LinkedIn documents its own supported syntax in LinkedIn Help.
Where a query can mislead
Operators do not control what a platform has indexed, what a user can access, or how the platform ranks results. An exclusion can also remove a relevant profile that happens to mention the excluded word. Syntax differs across tools: Google documents quotation marks, site: and a minus sign (-) for exclusions, so a LinkedIn string should not be treated as portable Google syntax (Google Search Help).
How to adjust a search
Start with a role-relevant term and a small set of genuine synonyms. Review a sample of results before adding exclusions. If too few relevant profiles appear, remove a constraint or add a title variant; if results drift, narrow the terms that describe the work. Treat each query as a search to inspect and refine, not a formula that guarantees unique or qualified candidates.