[discrete]
[[esql-search-operators]]
=== Search operators

The only search operator is match (`:`).

The match operator performs a <<query-dsl-match-query,match query>> on the specified field.
Returns true if the provided query matches the row.

The match operator is equivalent to the <<esql-match,match function>>.

For using the function syntax, or adding <<match-field-params,match query parameters>>, you can use the
<<esql-match,match function>>.

[.text-center]
image::esql/functions/signature/match_operator.svg[Embedded,opts=inline]

include::types/match_operator.asciidoc[]

[source.merge.styled,esql]
----
include::{esql-specs}/match-operator.csv-spec[tag=match-with-field]
----
[%header.monospaced.styled,format=dsv,separator=|]
|===
include::{esql-specs}/match-operator.csv-spec[tag=match-with-field-result]
|===
