# What is "minimun\_should\_match" in ES?

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/what-is-minimun-should-match-in-es/124539>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [March 19, 2018, 11:21am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/what-is-minimun-should-match-in-es/124539 "2018-03-19T11:21:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Shaik\_Thowsif](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Shaik\_Thowsif](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Shaik_Thowsif)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 11:21am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/what-is-minimun-should-match-in-es/124539/1 "2018-03-19T11:21:50Z")

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Can Anyone tell me what exactly is this clause "minimun\_should\_match " and how it is used?

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**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:** [March 19, 2018, 1:41pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/what-is-minimun-should-match-in-es/124539/2 "2018-03-19T13:41:22Z")

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Given a number of optional query clauses that appear in the `should` array of a `bool` query it defines the minimum number of those clauses a document must match.

Practically speaking it acts like a quality control - given a number of "nice to have" type clauses e.g. names of all the bands you like, you can find people who have at least 3 of those in common with you.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 1:41pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/what-is-minimun-should-match-in-es/124539/3 "2018-04-16T13:41:30Z")

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