---
title: Logical connectors
slug: graph/docs/logical-connectors
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-30T20:30:20.466Z
---

Logical connectors let you express Boolean filter logic in Optimizely Graph by combining multiple filter clauses against the same query, so the calling layer can return content that satisfies complex conditions in a single round trip. Use `_and`, `_or`, and `_not` to group field clauses, build nested logic, and exclude content from a result set.

Construct queries with the logical (Boolean) connectors `_and`, `_or`, and `_not`. The precedence of `_and`, `_or`, and `_not` clauses is from left to right. This precedence lets you group one or more fields, where each member uses the Boolean connector. By default, with no Boolean connector, the clauses are conjunctions, an implicit `_and`.

Precedence does not differ for expressions grouped in curly braces.

## Examples

The following examples show the three most common patterns: nested `_and` inside `_or`, an `_or`-only query, and a `_not` exclusion query. Each example includes a pseudo-code expression that explains the GraphQL query in plain Boolean logic.

### `_and` clause nested within an `_or` clause

The following query returns content where the name matches either of two people or where the famous quote contains two specific phrases at the same time.

```graphql
{
  BiographyPage(
    where: {
      _or: [
        {Name: {eq: "Alan Turing"}}
        {
          _and: [
            {FamousQuote: {contains: "What am I in the eyes of most people"}}
            {FamousQuote: {contains: "That is my ambition"}}
          ]
        }
        {Name: {eq: "Charlie Chaplin"}}
      ]
    }
    locale: [en]
  ) {
    Name
    FamousQuote
  }
}
```

The conditions expressed in `where` are equivalent to the following pseudo-code:

```text
if (Name == "Alan Turing" OR (FamousQuote.Contains("What am I in the eyes of most people") AND FamousQuote.Contains("That is my ambition")) OR Name == "Charlie Chaplin")
```

### `_or` clause

The following query returns content where the name matches either of two values, which is the most common standalone use of `_or`.

```graphql
{
  BiographyPage(
    where: {
      _or: [
        {Name: {eq: "Alan Turing"}}
        {Name: {eq: "Charlie Chaplin"}}
      ]
    }
    locale: [en]
  ) {
    Name
  }
}
```

The conditions expressed in `where` are equivalent to the following pseudo-code:

```text
if (Name == "Alan Turing" OR Name == "Charlie Chaplin")
```

### `_not` clause

The following query excludes content whose name matches either of two values, so the result set contains every other biography page in the locale.

```graphql
{
  BiographyPage(where: {
    _not: [
      {
        Name: {
          eq: "Alan Turing"
        }
      },
      {
        Name: {
          eq: "Charlie Chaplin"
        }
      }
    ]
  }, locale: [en]) {
    Name
    Language {
      Name
      DisplayName
    }
  }
}
```

The conditions in `where` are equivalent to the following pseudo-code:

```text
if (!(Name == "Alan Turing" OR Name == "Charlie Chaplin"))
```

Because of [De Morgan's law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Morgan%27s_laws), the conditions are also equivalent to the following:

```text
if (Name != "Alan Turing" AND Name != "Charlie Chaplin")
```