Search contacts using queries (not just names)
If you just need the essentials, follow this:
- Use queries in the Contacts search bar (and the Start Flow dialog)
- Match exact values with = and exclude with !=
- Find partial matches with has (or ~)
- Use > < >= <= only with Number or Date & Time fields
- Combine rules with AND, OR, and parentheses for clarity
- Turn a search into a Smart Group to keep it updated automatically
You’re done. You can now segment contacts and reuse the same query across searches, flows, and Smart Groups.
Step-by-Step Process
You can search for contacts by name or URN, and you can also use queries based on contact field values.
You can enter search queries in:
- the Contacts tab search bar
- the Start Flow dialog (to select contacts or groups)
- Smart Group creation (to keep a segment updated automatically)
[CAPTURE: Contacts tab search bar with a query entered.]
- Queries operate on contact fields in your workspace.
- Field names and values are not case-sensitive.
- Queries support logical operators like AND and OR.
Basic operators
Equal (=) finds contacts where a field exactly matches a value (example: hair = “blonde”).
Not equal (!=) finds contacts where a field does not match a value (example: student_id != “001”).
Use has (or ~) to find partial matches in text values.
Examples:
- tel has “779” (matches contacts whose phone number contains 779)
- name has “Be” (matches contacts whose name contains Be)
Use >, <, >=, and <= only with Number or Date & Time fields.
Example (age range): age >= “18” AND age <= “30”
To find contacts where a field is empty (null), compare the field to an empty string.
- Empty field: fields.gender = “”
- Non-empty field: fields.gender != “”
Field naming rules in queries
- Fields with multiple words must use underscores.
- Do not use spaces in field names inside queries.
Example: id_number = “409328”
Using AND / OR
- OR: city = “Oakland” OR city = “Berkeley”
- AND: city = “Oakland” AND gender = “Male”
For clarity when combining multiple conditions, use parentheses.
Smart Groups
Groups created from queries are called Smart Groups. Smart Groups automatically update: they continuously include contacts that match the query and remove contacts when they no longer match.
Create a Smart Group from a search
- Enter a query in the Contacts search bar.
- Review the matching contacts.
- Click Create Smart Group.
- Name the group and save.
[CAPTURE: Contacts search results with “Create Smart Group” button visible.]
[CAPTURE: Smart Group creation dialog.]
Common use cases include finding contacts missing required information, segmenting by age/location/status, identifying dormant contacts, and building audiences for campaigns or cleanup flows.
Common Issues & Quick Fixes
Problem: My query returns no results.
Fix: Verify the field name in Contacts → Fields, confirm the field actually has values for your contacts, and make sure the operator matches the field type (Text vs Number vs Date & Time).
Problem: Comparison operators (>, <, >=, <=) don’t work.
Fix: This usually means the field is a Text field. Use exact/partial matching instead, or change the field type to Number or Date & Time if that fits your use case.
Problem: My Smart Group doesn’t update.
Fix: Re-check the query logic and confirm it still matches the contacts you expect. Edit the Smart Group query and re-test it in the Contacts search bar.