---
sourceDocument: Xanadu ServiceNow AI Platform Administration
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/xanadu/platform-administration

 Release :

    - xanadu

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Xanadu ServiceNow AI Platform Administration

ft:clusterId :

    - platadm

bundleId :

    - platadm

workflow :

    - Platform


---

# Wildcard characters allow searching for patterns and variations

# Wildcard characters allow searching for patterns and variations {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Xanadu
* 
* Updated May 5, 2025
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

Expand search results to match any non-space character. Zing supports both single-character and multiple-character wildcards.
The following searches support Zing wildcard characters.

* Global text search
* Knowledge Base  
  Note:  
  Users with the admin role can enable wildcard search in the Knowledge context by navigating to AllContextual SearchSearch Contexts, editing the Knowledge Base Search record, and selecting the Enable wildcard searches check box.
* [Search a list](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=t_SearchAList&version=xanadu&pubname=xanadu-platform-user-interface&ft:locale=en-US)  
  Note:  
  To perform a wildcard text search of a list, you must select for text as the search field. If you select a list field instead of for text, wildcard characters in search terms will be interpreted as [list search wildcards](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=t_SearchAList&version=xanadu&pubname=xanadu-platform-user-interface&ft:locale=en-US) (for non-reference fields) or as [auto-complete wildcards](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/gpfxsNyiqgguxeEs2lCCqQ#c_AutoCompleteForReferenceFields "By default, a reference field auto-completes as the user types in the field.") (for reference fields).
{#c_Wildcards__ul_t3j_rnp_w4}

To perform a single-character wildcard search, use the percent sign (<kbd class="ph userinput">%</kbd>) character. This wildcard finds words that contain any one character in place of the percent-sign-character. For example, to find words
such as text or test, search for <kbd class="ph userinput">te%t</kbd>.

To perform a multiple-character wildcard search, use the asterisk (<kbd class="ph userinput">*</kbd>) character. This wildcard finds words that contain zero or more characters in place of the asterisk-character. For example, to find words
such as planned or placed, search for <kbd class="ph userinput">pl*d</kbd>.

You can use wildcard characters anywhere in a search string, and can include multiple wildcards in the same word. For example, to find words including affordable, effort, and
offering, search for <kbd class="ph userinput">%ff%r*</kbd>.  
If a wildcard search returns too many hits, the system displays a message asking you to refine the search. Administrators can [set a global text search property](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/V_U4CUB9~nXQmukk4dQwMA "Administrators can control how global text search behaves with system properties.") to change the limit for wildcard search results.  
Note:  
Wildcard text searches are only effective with multiple character words. A wildcard within a sequence of pictogram characters returns too many options for an efficient search. Wildcards are best used with letter-based words.

## Wildcard characters and synonym matching {#c_Wildcards__id_up1_yhs_ffc}

Zing doesn't expand the <kbd class="ph userinput">%</kbd> and <kbd class="ph userinput">*</kbd> 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 <kbd class="ph userinput">issu*</kbd>, Zing doesn't find synonyms for issue, but it does find synonyms for issu\*.
**Related concepts**   

* [List search finds records from the current table](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/i11DWUbzhgR_QDSXRf_cRQ "Search records from a table list view.")
* [Boolean operators allow conditional search results](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/GgPsFOo29Ju5D~S5tftWog "Construct complex searches using Boolean AND, OR, and NOT operators in global text searches.")
* [Quotation marks allow exact phrase searches](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/MQLuENoHbdsAzbmxXy422w "Wrap search terms in quotation marks to search for an exact phrase consisting of one or more words.")  
**Related tasks**   

* [Enable or disable the Zing junk filter](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/uRfT_eyzPQgiKfalLNxbXA "When its junk filter is enabled, Zing doesn't index or search for 2-digit numbers or single-character words (unless they are Chinese or Japanese characters). You can enable or disable the junk filter for individual tables.")
* [Debug Zing](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/X4avBnz7n3FUNFT4CiydaA "Debugging messages create a log of search processes as they occur. These messages may help administrators configure optimal performance settings.")

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