[[specify-analyzer]]
=== Specify an analyzer

{es} offers a variety of ways to specify built-in or custom analyzers:

* By `text` field, index, or query
* For <<analysis-index-search-time,index or search time>>

[TIP]
.Keep it simple
====
The flexibility to specify analyzers at different levels and for different times
is great... _but only when it's needed_.

In most cases, a simple approach works best: Specify an analyzer for each
`text` field, as outlined in <<specify-index-field-analyzer>>.

This approach works well with {es}'s default behavior, letting you use the same
analyzer for indexing and search. It also lets you quickly see which analyzer
applies to which field using the <<indices-get-mapping,get mapping API>>.

If you don't typically create mappings for your indices, you can use
<<indices-templates,index templates>> to achieve a similar effect.
====

[[specify-index-time-analyzer]]
==== How {es} determines the index analyzer

{es} determines which index analyzer to use by checking the following parameters
in order:

. The <<analyzer,`analyzer`>> mapping parameter for the field.
  See <<specify-index-field-analyzer>>.
. The `analysis.analyzer.default` index setting.
  See <<specify-index-time-default-analyzer>>.

If none of these parameters are specified, the
<<analysis-standard-analyzer,`standard` analyzer>> is used.

[[specify-index-field-analyzer]]
==== Specify the analyzer for a field

When mapping an index, you can use the <<analyzer,`analyzer`>> mapping parameter
to specify an analyzer for each `text` field.

The following <<indices-create-index,create index API>> request sets the
`whitespace` analyzer as the analyzer for the `title` field.

[source,console]
----
PUT my_index
{
  "mappings": {
    "properties": {
      "title": {
        "type": "text",
        "analyzer": "whitespace"
      }
    }
  }
}
----

[[specify-index-time-default-analyzer]]
==== Specify the default analyzer for an index

In addition to a field-level analyzer, you can set a fallback analyzer for
using the `analysis.analyzer.default` setting.

The following <<indices-create-index,create index API>> request sets the
`simple` analyzer as the fallback analyzer for `my_index`.

[source,console]
----
PUT my_index
{
  "settings": {
    "analysis": {
      "analyzer": {
        "default": {
          "type": "simple"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
----

[[specify-search-analyzer]]
==== How {es} determines the search analyzer

// tag::search-analyzer-warning[]
[WARNING]
====
In most cases, specifying a different search analyzer is unnecessary. Doing so
could negatively impact relevancy and result in unexpected search results.

If you choose to specify a separate search analyzer, we recommend you thoroughly
<<test-analyzer,test your analysis configuration>> before deploying in
production.
====
// end::search-analyzer-warning[]

At search time, {es} determines which analyzer to use by checking the following
parameters in order:

. The <<analyzer,`analyzer`>> parameter in the search query.
  See <<specify-search-query-analyzer>>.
. The <<search-analyzer,`search_analyzer`>> mapping parameter for the field.
  See <<specify-search-field-analyzer>>.
. The `analysis.analyzer.default_search` index setting.
  See <<specify-search-default-analyzer>>.
. The <<analyzer,`analyzer`>> mapping parameter for the field.
  See <<specify-index-field-analyzer>>.

If none of these parameters are specified, the
<<analysis-standard-analyzer,`standard` analyzer>> is used.

[[specify-search-query-analyzer]]
==== Specify the search analyzer for a query

When writing a <<full-text-queries,full-text query>>, you can use the `analyzer`
parameter to specify a search analyzer. If provided, this overrides any other
search analyzers.

The following <<search-search,search API>> request sets the `stop` analyzer as
the search analyzer for a <<query-dsl-match-query,`match`>> query.

[source,console]
----
GET my_index/_search
{
  "query": {
    "match": {
      "message": {
        "query": "Quick foxes",
        "analyzer": "stop"
      }
    }
  }
}
----
// TEST[s/^/PUT my_index\n/]

[[specify-search-field-analyzer]]
==== Specify the search analyzer for a field

When mapping an index, you can use the <<analyzer,`search_analyzer`>> mapping
parameter to specify a search analyzer for each `text` field.

If a search analyzer is provided, the index analyzer must also be specified
using the `analyzer` parameter.

The following <<indices-create-index,create index API>> request sets the
`simple` analyzer as the search analyzer for the `title` field.

[source,console]
----
PUT my_index
{
  "mappings": {
    "properties": {
      "title": {
        "type": "text",
        "analyzer": "whitespace",
        "search_analyzer": "simple"
      }
    }
  }
}
----

[[specify-search-default-analyzer]]
==== Specify the default search analyzer for an index

When <<indices-create-index,creating an index>>, you can set a default search
analyzer using the `analysis.analyzer.default_search` setting.

If a search analyzer is provided, a default index analyzer must also be
specified using the `analysis.analyzer.default` setting.

The following  <<indices-create-index,create index API>> request sets the
`whitespace` analyzer as the default search analyzer for the `my_index` index.

[source,console]
----
PUT my_index
{
  "settings": {
    "analysis": {
      "analyzer": {
        "default": {
          "type": "simple"
        },
        "default_search": {
          "type": "whitespace"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
----