I’ve been trying to figure out how to use JQL queries in JIRA more effectively. I know there’s no regex support, but I’m confused about the asterisk (*) symbol. When I include it in my queries, I get different results compared to when I don’t use it. However, I can’t seem to find a clear pattern or rule for how it affects the outcome.
Can someone explain what the asterisk does in JQL? Is it some kind of wildcard? How exactly does it change the query results? I’d really appreciate any examples or tips on using it correctly.
Also, are there any other special characters or symbols in JQL that I should know about? I want to make sure I’m using the right syntax to get the most accurate results from my JIRA searches. Thanks in advance for any help!
hey alexlee, the * in JQL is like a catch-all for words. it matches any chars in a single word. so ‘bug*’ finds ‘bug’, ‘bugs’, ‘buggy’. but it won’t work mid-word or across spaces.
other useful symbols: ~ for contains, = for exact match. play around with these to get better at JQL!
I’ve spent a fair bit of time refining my JQL queries in JIRA, and here’s what I’ve learned about the asterisk. It really functions as a wildcard symbol by matching any number of characters within a single word. For example, if you write ‘build*’, it will find entries like ‘build’, ‘building’, or ‘builder’. However, it won’t match across spaces—so ‘build*ing’ won’t capture ‘building project’ if there’s a space interrupting the string.
Also, note that using the asterisk in the middle of a word won’t work as some might expect. Stick to using it at the end of your fragment. While JQL doesn’t support regex, the asterisk, along with the tilde (~) for contains-type searches, can make your queries much more effective. Experimenting with these can really help you pinpoint the issues or tasks you’re looking for.
The asterisk in JIRA JQL queries acts as a wildcard for partial string matches. It’s particularly useful at the end of a word to find variations. For instance, ‘task*’ could match ‘task’, ‘tasks’, or ‘taskforce’. However, it’s important to note that it only works within a single word, not across spaces.
Another key point is that the asterisk is most effective when used at the end of a string. Placing it at the beginning or middle may not yield the results you expect. While JQL doesn’t support full regex, combining the asterisk with other operators like ‘AND’, ‘OR’, and ‘NOT’ can significantly enhance your query precision.
In my experience, mastering these JQL techniques has greatly improved my ability to quickly locate relevant issues in large JIRA projects. It’s worth spending time to experiment with different combinations to refine your search strategies.