---
title: Searching for an exact term
slug: '1815'
canonical_url: https://docs.coveo.com/en/1815/
collection: searching-with-coveo
source_format: adoc
---
# Searching for an exact term
You have probably encountered cases where you only want to find [items](https://docs.coveo.com/en/210/) containing an exact term, and aren't interested in items containing variants of this term.
In such cases, use an exact term query syntax.
This syntax disables the otherwise useful [stemming feature](https://docs.coveo.com/en/1576/) that expands the search to words with the same root.

In the search box, type the exact desired term preceded by the plus sign (`+`, the exact match prefix), and then click **Search**.
Only items containing the desired term will be returned, and terms of the same family that are normally searched as well will be ignored.

For example, `+performance` returns only items containing the exact word _performance_.
Items containing same root words such as _performed_ or _performing_ aren't returned, as opposed to when stemming is enabled.

Similarly, imagine _speciel_ is a product name or a word in another language.
With `+speciel`, only items containing the exact word _speciel_ are returned.
Spell corrections or [automatic replacement](https://docs.coveo.com/en/1810/) of _speciel_ with the English word _special_ aren't suggested.

You can combine exact match terms with normal term search in the same query.

For example, `employee +performance engineering` returns only items containing the exact word _performance_ as well as the words _employee_ and _engineering_ and their variant forms.
Items containing same root words such as _performed_ or _performing_ aren't returned.

The `+` prefix also forces the exact match for terms containing accented characters.
This feature is useful with languages using accents such as French, Spanish, or Swedish.

For example, `+déjà` returns only items containing the exact word _déjà_.
Items containing accented character variants such as _déja_ or no accented characters such as _deja_ aren't returned.

> **Notes**
>
> * The match isn't case-sensitive.
> 
> * The pound sign (`#`), which is an old but still supported prefix, has the same effect as the plus sign (`+`).
> 
> * You can't use [wildcards](https://docs.coveo.com/en/1580/) in combination with an exact match prefix.

If you have querying issues, see [Troubleshoot querying issues](https://docs.coveo.com/en/1870/).