> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.hava.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.hava.io/discover/searching/search-syntax/wildcard-search.md).

# Wildcard Search

The wildcard `*` adds flexibility to your search term to maximise your search results. By default, the Hava search expects an exact match and is case sensitive.

For example, to create a custom environment made up of all VPCs in the `region us-east-2`.

* One way to create this would be to add each `vpc:id` to the search like in the below example.\
  \
  `region:us-east-2 and (vpc:123 or vpc:abc or vpc:456 or vpc:xyz`<br>
* This can be simplified using the wildcard like in the below example.\
  \
  `region:us-east-2 and vpc:*`

### **Common reasons the wildcard search returns empty**.

#### Incorrect Position

The wildcard search is only a single wildcard character at the end of the string.

* **Correct use:** <mark style="color:green;">`region:us-east-2 and vpc:*`</mark>
* Incorrect use: <mark style="color:red;">`region:us-*-2 and vpc:*`</mark>
* Incorrect use: <mark style="color:red;">`subnet:10.145.*.*`</mark>

#### Modifying Type Search

Trying to modify the type search syntax.

* Incorrect use: <mark style="color:red;">`type:"AWS::ElasticLoadBalancingV2::*"`</mark>