> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.objectiphy.net/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.objectiphy.net/query-builder/criteria/operators.md).

# Operators

The operator for a criteria item in a query can be specified as a string, or using a class constant. For more concise syntax, the `QueryBuilder` class can be referred to using the alias `QB`, and each operator has a shorthand alias also. But you can just use the operator itself as a string if you prefer. The following operators are supported (all are case insensitive):

| Operator String | Constant                                    | Notes                                     |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| =               | `QB::EQUALS` or `QB::EQ`                    |                                           |
| !=              | `QB::NOT_EQUALS` or `QB::NOT_EQ`            |                                           |
| >               | `QB::GREATER_THAN` or `QB::GT`              |                                           |
| >=              | `QB::GREATER_THAN_OR_EQUAL_TO` or `QB::GTE` |                                           |
| <               | `QB::LESS_THAN` or `QB::LT`                 |                                           |
| <=              | `QB::LESS_THAN_OR_EQUAL_TO` or `QB::LTE`    |                                           |
| IN              | `QB::IN`                                    | Value must be an array                    |
| NOT IN          | `QB::NOT_IN`                                | Value must be an array                    |
| IS              | `QB::IS`                                    | Value must be null                        |
| IS NOT          | `QB::IS_NOT`                                | Value must be null                        |
| BETWEEN         | `QB::BETWEEN`                               | Two values must be supplied (in an array) |
| BEGINSWITH      | `QB::BEGINS_WITH`                           |                                           |
| ENDSWITH        | `QB::ENDS_WITH`                             |                                           |
| CONTAINS        | `QB::CONTAINS`                              |                                           |
| LIKE            | `QB::LIKE`                                  |                                           |