# Advanced Filters

To add an advanced matches filter, select "matches (advanced)" from the filter's drop-down menu.

In the text field, enter your filter expression. 

<figure><img src="/files/8VpuiG7Du9DHHcdMxK1V" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Filter Expressions

Filter expressions in ChainArgos are not case-sensitive.&#x20;

To enter a special character in a "matches (advanced)"  filter, first add a leading carat `^`. For example, to filter on `hamas, terrorist`, you would enter `hamas ^, terrorist`.

<table><thead><tr><th width="240">Example Filter Expression</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><code>foo</code></td><td>is equal to "<code>foo</code>" exactly (not case-sensitive)</td></tr><tr><td><code>foo ^, bar</code></td><td>is equal to either <code>foo</code> or <code>bar</code>, exactly</td></tr><tr><td><code>%foo%</code></td><td>contains "foo" in any part of the result, matches with "buffoon" and "fast food"</td></tr><tr><td><code>foo%</code></td><td>starts with "foo", matches "foolish" and "food" but not "buffoon" or "fast food"</td></tr><tr><td><code>%foo</code></td><td>ends with "foo", matches "buffoo" and "fast foo" but not "buffoon" or "fast food"</td></tr><tr><td><code>f%od</code></td><td>starts with an "f" and ends with "od", matches "fast food"</td></tr><tr><td><code>EMPTY</code></td><td>string is empty (has no characters) or is null (no value)</td></tr><tr><td><code>NULL</code></td><td>value is null</td></tr><tr><td><code>-foo</code></td><td>is not equal to "foo" (is any value except "foo"), matches "pizza", "trash", "fun" but not "foo"</td></tr><tr><td><code>-foo ^, -bar</code></td><td>is not equal to either "foo" or "bar", but matches any value except "foo" and "bar"</td></tr><tr><td><code>-%foo%</code></td><td>doesn't contain "foo", does not match "buffoon" or "fast food"</td></tr><tr><td><code>-foo%</code></td><td>doesn't start with "foo", does not match "foolish" or "food"</td></tr><tr><td><code>-%foo</code></td><td>doesn't end with "foo", does not match "buffoo" or "fast foo"</td></tr><tr><td><code>-EMPTY</code></td><td>string is not empty (has at least one character)</td></tr><tr><td><code>-NULL</code></td><td>value is not null</td></tr><tr><td><code>foo% ^, bar</code></td><td>starts with "foo" or is "bar" exactly, matches "food" and matches "bar", but not "barfood"</td></tr><tr><td><code>foo% ^, -food</code></td><td>starts with "foo" but is not "food"</td></tr><tr><td><code>_uf</code></td><td>has any single character followed by "uf", matches "buffoon"</td></tr></tbody></table>

#### Custom "User Attributes"

Your ChainArgos system administrator can configure user-specific values called "user attributes" that let you automatically customize a Look and/or Dashboard for each user (optional).&#x20;

To reference a "user attribute" in an advanced matches filter, use the syntax `{{ _user_attributes['name_of_your_attribute'] }}`.

Custom "User Attributes" are a ChainArgos option, please contact ChainArgos to find out more about customizable "user attributes".


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.chainargos.com/documentation/concepts/filters/advanced-filters.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.