Understanding Operators In The Repliers API

Overview

When querying the Repliers API with multiple values for the same parameter, it's important to understand how these values are combined logically. This guide explains how the operator parameter affects your search results and when you should use it.

Default Behavior: AND Between Parameters, OR Within Parameters

By default, our API uses the following logic:

Values for the same parameter are combined with OR logic
Different parameters are combined with AND logic

Example: Default Behavior (operator=AND, which is the default)

https://api.repliers.io/listings?mlsNumber=1&mlsNumber=2&mlsNumber=3&propertyType=a&propertyType=b&propertyType=c&style=x&style=y&style=z

This query returns listings that match:

(mlsNumber = 1 OR mlsNumber = 2 OR mlsNumber = 3)
AND
(propertyType = a OR propertyType = b OR propertyType = c)
AND
(style = x OR style = y OR style = z)

Alternative Behavior: Using operator=OR

When you set operator=OR, the logic between different parameters changes:

Values for the same parameter are still combined with OR logic (unchanged)
Different parameters are now combined with OR logic (instead of AND)

Example: OR Between Parameters (operator=OR)

https://api.repliers.io/listings?mlsNumber=1&mlsNumber=2&mlsNumber=3&propertyType=a&propertyType=b&propertyType=c&style=x&style=y&style=z&operator=OR

This query returns listings that match:

(mlsNumber = 1 OR mlsNumber = 2 OR mlsNumber = 3)
OR
(propertyType = a OR propertyType = b OR propertyType = c)
OR
(style = x OR style = y OR style = z)

Common Misconception

Some users believe they need to add operator=OR to find listings matching any value within a single parameter. This is incorrect.

Example: Unnecessary Use of operator=OR

https://api.repliers.io/listings?mlsNumber=1&mlsNumber=2&mlsNumber=3&operator=OR

The user's intention is to find listings with mlsNumber 1, 2, or 3. However, this query is equivalent to:

https://api.repliers.io/listings?mlsNumber=1&mlsNumber=2&mlsNumber=3

Both queries will return listings with mlsNumber 1, 2, or 3 because values for the same parameter are always combined with OR logic, regardless of the operator parameter.

When to Use operator=OR

Use operator=OR when you want to find listings that match ANY of your specified parameters, rather than ALL of them.

Good Use Case for operator=OR

If you want to find listings that are either:

In a specific location, OR
Of a specific property type, OR
Within a certain price range

Then operator=OR is appropriate:

https://api.repliers.io/listings?location=downtown&propertyType=condo&priceRange=500000-700000&operator=OR

This returns listings that match ANY of these criteria, rather than requiring ALL criteria to be met.

Best Practices

Default Behavior (AND): Use when you want to narrow your search with multiple criteria.
OR Operator: Use when you want to broaden your search to include results matching any of your criteria.
Same Parameter Values: Remember that multiple values for the same parameter are always combined with OR logic.
Different Parameters: These are combined with AND logic by default, or OR logic when operator=OR is specified.

Summary

The operator parameter controls logic between different parameters, not within the same parameter
Default ( operator=AND): Different parameters use AND logic, same parameters use OR logic
Alternative ( operator=OR): Different parameters use OR logic, same parameters still use OR logic
Only use operator=OR when you want to find listings that match ANY of your different parameter criteria, rather than ALL of them

Updated on: 06/05/2025