# Difference between bool-should-match vs terms query on keyword/numeric field

**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/difference-between-bool-should-match-vs-terms-query-on-keyword-numeric-field/193207
**Category:** Elasticsearch
**Created:** [July 31, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/difference-between-bool-should-match-vs-terms-query-on-keyword-numeric-field/193207 "2019-07-31T19:12:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![RahulD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@RahulD](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/RahulD)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/difference-between-bool-should-match-vs-terms-query-on-keyword-numeric-field/193207/1 "2019-07-31T19:12:17Z")

</div>

If I have a field in ES which is either keyword or numeric(integer/long), is there any difference between performing a bool-should[match,match,match] query vs a terms query?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Mark\_Harwood](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/mark_harwood/32/10538_2.png) [@Mark\_Harwood](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Mark_Harwood)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 10:04pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/difference-between-bool-should-match-vs-terms-query-on-keyword-numeric-field/193207/2 "2019-07-31T22:04:49Z")

</div>

Yes, the bool query will use IDF meaning rarer terms match higher. The terms query ignores IDF.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2019, 10:04pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/difference-between-bool-should-match-vs-terms-query-on-keyword-numeric-field/193207/3 "2019-08-28T22:04:58Z")

</div>

This topic was automatically closed 28 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.