Most search engines allow for the refining of a search by using certain Boolean Logic Operators to include and exclude various words and phrases. The "OR" (always capitalize in almost all search engines) join and exclude the two words and/or phrases -- both or either. If one orders "eggs or ham" at a cafe, one could get either or both on the same plate. As a result, one can have "eggs or ham" or only "eggs" or only "ham". One of the two must be present.

For example, a search for "paul" or "corinth" would only have to include one of the two terms as the following pages shows. Click on AltaVisa Advance Search to see the results.

Notice both "paul" and "corinth" went into the search box and were treated equally in the ranking of their importance. However, the Boolean expression box contained both "paul" and "corinth" and the Boolean Logic Operator "OR", so either word must appear on a web page to be listed in the results. Notice on the last page near the bottom. the word "corinth" appeared on 61,099 web pages and the word "paul" appeared 7,269,568 times. But on the first page of the results the two words appeared on the web pages at least 80,312 times. Again which Paul and which Corinth (item three has Corinth, Mississippi). Notice that the two words appeared in the title of the first three cites in the result listing.