Listen Query Language

Listen Query Language is a powerful query syntax used in SentiOne Listen API for filtering search results and defining project monitoring criteria. This language is used in query fields throughout the API to specify what mentions should be matched and returned.

What is Listen Query Language?

Listen Query Language allows you to:

  • Define project monitoring criteria when creating or updating projects via API
  • Filter search results when searching through mentions using content filters
  • Build complex search expressions using boolean operators, phrases, and wildcards

Boolean Operators

AND

Requires both terms to appear in the text.

smartphone AND camera

Finds mentions containing both "smartphone" and "camera".

OR

Requires at least one of the terms to appear in the text.

smartphone OR tablet

Finds mentions containing "smartphone" or "tablet" (or both).

NOT

Excludes mentions containing the specified term.

smartphone AND NOT iPhone

Finds mentions containing "smartphone" but not containing "iPhone".

Parentheses (Grouping)

Parentheses allow you to group expressions and control operator precedence.

(smartphone OR tablet) AND (camera OR battery)

Finds mentions containing:

  • ("smartphone" or "tablet") AND
  • ("camera" or "battery")
brand NOT (competitor1 OR competitor2)

Finds mentions containing "brand" but not containing "competitor1" or "competitor2".

Phrase Operator

Use double quotes to search for exact phrases.

"customer service"

Finds mentions containing the exact phrase "customer service".

"new product" AND review

Finds mentions containing the exact phrase "new product" and the word "review".

Wildcard* operator

📘

Wildcard can be used on keywords of minimum 4 characters.

Asterisk at the end of a keyword allows searching for words starting with the given prefix. The prefix must be at least 4 characters long.

tech*

Finds mentions containing words like: "technology", "technical", "technician", "tech", etc.

market* AND analysis

Finds mentions containing words starting with "market" (marketing, marketplace, markets) and the word "analysis".

Examples

Brand Monitoring with Competitor Exclusion

("Nike" OR "nike") AND (review* OR opinion* OR feedback OR experience) NOT (Adidas OR Puma OR "Under Armour")

Monitors Nike brand mentions with opinions while excluding competitor discussions.

Crisis Management and Issue Tracking

("data breach" OR "privacy violation" OR hack* OR leak*) AND (company* OR brand* OR service*) NOT rumor*

Tracks security incidents and data breaches while filtering out unconfirmed rumors.

Customer Support Quality Assessment

("customer support" OR "customer service" OR helpdesk) AND ("response time" OR "wait time" OR fast* OR slow* OR help* OR "not helpful") NOT automated

Analyzes customer support quality mentions excluding automated responses.

Product Launch Monitoring

("iPhone 15" OR "iPhone15") AND (launch* OR release* OR "coming soon" OR available OR review* OR unbox*) NOT (fake OR rumor* OR leak*)

Monitors iPhone 15 launch discussions while filtering out unverified information.

Social Media Campaign Tracking

("#BlackFriday" OR "#CyberMonday") AND (deal* OR discount* OR sale* OR "limited time") AND (tech* OR electronic* OR gadget*)

Tracks Black Friday technology deals across social media platforms.

Pharmaceutical Industry Compliance

(medication* OR drug* OR pharmaceutical OR treatment*) AND ("side effects" OR adverse OR reaction*) NOT advertisement*

Monitors pharmaceutical mentions focusing on side effects while excluding marketing content.

Financial Services Reputation

("JPMorgan" OR "Chase Bank") AND (service* OR experience OR "customer care") AND (positive OR negative OR complaint* OR praise) NOT (jobs OR career*)

Tracks customer experience with financial institution excluding job-related mentions.

Technology Product Comparison

("artificial intelligence" OR AI OR "machine learning" OR ML) AND (comparison OR "vs" OR versus OR better OR worse) NOT academic

Monitors AI technology comparisons while excluding academic discussions.