One filter for a list of terms
Enter literal text, not regex. Blank lines and duplicate entries are removed. Special characters are escaped.
Choose Matches regex in Search Console. Matching is case-insensitive by default.
One per line. This preview tests the literal filter above; it does not connect to your Search Console property.
- numic for macKept
- best search console appExcluded
- numic.appKept
- numicXappKept
Your terms and sample queries stay in this tab. Nothing is uploaded or saved.
How do I use the regex in Search Console?
- Open the Search results performance report for your property.
- Add a Query filter for search terms, or a Page filter for URLs.
- Choose Custom (regex) and paste the generated expression.
- Select Matches regex to keep the rows, or Doesn’t match regex to exclude them. Apply the filter.
Search Console uses RE2, defaults to partial matches, and matches regex without case sensitivity unless you override that behavior. This builder follows those defaults. See Google’s filtering instructions.
The keep/exclude choice does not change the expression. It tells you which option to select in Search Console. For example, the same list of brand variants can give you a branded report or a report excluding those variants.
What do the generated patterns mean?
These fictional examples can be copied as they are. Replace the terms with your own before using them on a real property.
| Pattern | Use |
|---|---|
(acme|acme tools) | Contains either phrase, anywhere in the query. |
^(acme|acme tools)$ | Matches either complete query. |
^(/blog/|/guides/) | Starts with either path, when testing path-only strings. |
example\.com | Matches the literal domain text, including its dot. |
For a Search Console Page filter, use full URL prefixes such as https://example.com/blog/ with “Starts with,” because its rows contain full URLs. A filter anchored to ^/blog/ would not match those rows.
The builder escapes punctuation so a dot means a dot, and a plus sign means a plus sign. It uses grouping, alternatives, and anchors from RE2’s supported syntax. It does not generate lookarounds or accept custom regex code.
A brand filter needs a little judgment
“Contains” can catch more than you intended. A filter for cat also matches catalog. “Matches a whole query” avoids that overlap but misses cat food. Try a few real examples before deciding which behavior you need.
A short or common brand name is especially tricky. Add known spelling variants deliberately, inspect the included rows, and check a few excluded rows too. This tool does not identify brand intent; it matches the text you give it.
Spaces inside a phrase are literal. Adding acme tools will not automatically match acmetools or acme-tools. Add those as separate lines if they belong in your report.
Once you have comparable groups, the CTR calculator can help compare their reporting periods. Keep the filter the same in both periods.