A quick summary
GoldFynch's search engine is built around a method called word stemming, which is designed to return the broadest and most relevant set of results by default. Because of this, exact word searches and regular expression (regex) searches aren't available directly in the app today. They can, however, be run for you by our team as a custom service.
Here's a closer look at why that's the case, and what your options are if you need an exact search.
What is word stemming, and why do we use it?
Word stemming is the process of normalizing a word's tense and plurality so that a single search term can match related variations of that word. For example, searching for "consulting" will also return results for "consult," "consulted," and "consults."
This approach exists to cast a wider net. Most users are looking for every potentially relevant document tied to a concept, not just the documents that contain one specific word form. Stemming also allows results to be returned instantaneously, even across large datasets, because the underlying index is optimized for this type of matching.
So why isn't exact or regex search built into the app?
It comes down to how search indexes work behind the scenes.
Supporting both stemming and exact search would require maintaining two separate indexes for every case. One index handles the stemmed searches you use every day, and a second, entirely separate index would be needed to support exact word matching. Maintaining two indexes per case significantly increases storage requirements and processing overhead across the platform, which affects performance and cost for everyone.
Exact and regex searches are also more computationally demanding. Rather than matching against a pre-optimized set of word variations, these searches need to scan and compare text character by character. In large datasets, this takes considerably longer to return results, which runs counter to the fast, responsive experience GoldFynch aims to provide.
In short, we've prioritized speed and usability for the majority of our users, while still making exact and regex search available as a specialized, on-demand service for the cases that need it.
What are we doing about it?
We're actively working on giving users more control over this in the future. The plan is to introduce case-level search configuration, so that at case creation you'll be able to choose between the standard stemming approach and a non-stemming (exact match) approach based on what a given case needs. This is on our roadmap, and we'll share updates as it gets closer to release.
How can I get an exact or regex search run today?
If you need this kind of search now, our team can run it for you as custom work. Here's how that process works:
- Submit a technical support request letting us know the exact terms or expressions you'd like searched, and confirming approval of the associated charges. (Instructions here)
- We run the search on our end using tools built for exact and regex matching.
- We tag the results in your case and provide you with an Excel report listing the documents and page numbers where each term appears.
This custom search service carries a minimum charge, since it falls outside the scope of standard, self-service searching in the app. Our support team can confirm current pricing when you submit your request.
Questions?
If you're not sure whether a standard stemmed search or a custom exact search is the better fit for what you're trying to find, reach out to our support team at support@goldfynch.com.. We're happy to talk through your options and help you get to the right results.