# ES cannot search for special characters when using wildcard search

**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/es-cannot-search-for-special-characters-when-using-wildcard-search/318332
**Category:** Elasticsearch
**Created:** [November 7, 2022, 1:25pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/es-cannot-search-for-special-characters-when-using-wildcard-search/318332 "2022-11-07T13:25:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![surkovoleg2010](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/surkovoleg2010/32/112272_2.png) [@surkovoleg2010](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/surkovoleg2010)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2022, 1:25pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/es-cannot-search-for-special-characters-when-using-wildcard-search/318332/1 "2022-11-07T13:25:07Z")

</div>

Hello,

We are using query\_string for a quick search but looks like does not correctly work.

For instance I can find results using:

```auto
{
    "query": {
        "query_string": {
            "query": "oleg$qwerty.com",
            "fields": [
                "fullName.search"
            ],
            "minimum_should_match": "100%"
        }
   },
    "size": 10
}

```

But when I try to use `*leg$qwerty.com` ES doesn't return results.

Did anyone face this issue before? or can help?

Thank in advacne

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Christian\_Dahlqvist](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/christian_dahlqvist/32/4617_2.png) [@Christian\_Dahlqvist](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Christian_Dahlqvist)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2022, 1:38pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/es-cannot-search-for-special-characters-when-using-wildcard-search/318332/2 "2022-11-07T13:38:27Z")

</div>

Which version of Elasticsearch are you using?

What is the mapping for the field you are searching on?

Have you tried analysing this using the [analyze API](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/8.5/indices-analyze.html)?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![surkovoleg2010](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/surkovoleg2010/32/112272_2.png) [@surkovoleg2010](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/surkovoleg2010)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2022, 1:48pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/es-cannot-search-for-special-characters-when-using-wildcard-search/318332/3 "2022-11-07T13:48:33Z")

</div>

Hello @Christian_Dahlqvist,

ES version - 8.4.3

Mapping is :

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/c/7/c7574c4206923aa0bbcbfcd3cbdb582188c6f7b7.png)  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/c/1/c1a5c2fde1674f508b4bf4b37a34edbd28f0378e.png)

Yes, i've tried to analyze it, it creates 2 tokens but the difference only in start offset:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/3/8/38aad39ec713ce7bebd62c6347fe4c05f09878bc.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![surkovoleg2010](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/surkovoleg2010/32/112272_2.png) [@surkovoleg2010](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/surkovoleg2010)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2022, 8:15am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/es-cannot-search-for-special-characters-when-using-wildcard-search/318332/4 "2022-11-08T08:15:51Z")

</div>

Hello @polyfractal ,  
I found your pretty clear answer related to this topic [Wildcard search does not work - #3 by debasisc](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/wildcard-search-does-not-work/233016/3)

But could you take a look at my issue, maybe you have suggestions on this?

Thanks in advance.

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<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: [December 6, 2022, 8:16am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/es-cannot-search-for-special-characters-when-using-wildcard-search/318332/5 "2022-12-06T08:16:12Z")

</div>

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