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

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

preview::["Do not use on production environments. This functionality is in technical preview and may be changed or removed in a future release. Elastic will work to fix any issues, but features in technical preview are not subject to the support SLA of official GA features."]

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

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

include::types/match.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]
|===