Master Twitter Search Operators: 8 Essential Tips!

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Unearthing X's Hidden Treasures with Search Operators

Want to find exactly what you need on X? Stop scrolling endlessly! This guide reveals eight essential search operators that transform your searches from basic to brilliant. Whether you're a marketer, influencer, or just an avid X user, these powerful tools will help you cut through the noise and discover hidden gems. Learn how to pinpoint specific conversations, media, locations, and more. Unlock the full potential of X search and start finding the exact information you're looking for.

1. Keyword Search Operator

The Keyword Search Operator is the bread and butter of Twitter search. It's the simplest way to find what you're looking for, and it's probably what you've been using without even realizing it's an "operator." Essentially, you just type in the words you're interested in, and Twitter shows you tweets that contain those words. Think of it as the default setting for Twitter search. By default, it acts as an "AND" search, meaning it looks for tweets containing all the words you enter. So, searching for "coffee shop" will return tweets mentioning both "coffee" and "shop," not just one or the other.

This fundamental operator earns its top spot on the list because it's the foundation upon which all other search techniques are built. It's incredibly versatile and, while simple on its own, can be supercharged by combining it with other operators for laser-focused results. Whether you're a casual X user trying to find a funny meme, a social media influencer tracking a hashtag, a digital marketer researching competitors, or a content creator looking for inspiration, the Keyword Search Operator is your starting point.

Features:

Matches exact keywords in tweets: You get tweets containing the precise words you typed.

Can be combined with other operators: This is where the real power comes in (more on that later!).

Case insensitive: Searching for "Coffee Shop" is the same as "coffee shop" or "COFFEE SHOP."

Default search behavior: If you don't use any special symbols, you're using the Keyword Search Operator.

Pros:

Simplest operator to use: Just type and go!

Effective for finding specific content: Great for when you know exactly what you're looking for.

No special syntax required for basic searches: No need to learn fancy symbols initially.

Works well for common terms and topics: Perfect for everyday searching.

Cons:

Can return too many results for common words: Searching for "cat" will likely overwhelm you.

Doesn't account for misspellings or variations: Searching for "donut" might miss tweets saying "doughnut."

May miss relevant content that uses different terminology: Searching for "soda" might not show tweets using "pop" or "coke."

Examples:

coffee shop: Finds tweets containing both "coffee" and "shop."

breaking news: Finds tweets with both "breaking" and "news."

Tips:

Use quotation marks for exact phrase matching: Searching for "breaking news" will only find tweets with that exact phrase, not just those two words anywhere in the tweet. This is super useful for trending topics or specific phrases.

Combine with other operators for more precise results: Want tweets about coffee shops in Seattle? Stay tuned for future operators that let you refine your search by location!

Consider common variations of keywords: If you're searching for a product, try different brand names or generic terms.

For trending topics, try searching without quotes first to catch variations: This can help you see how people are talking about the topic using different phrasing.

This operator is indispensable for anyone using Twitter. Mastering this basic technique will significantly improve your search game and allow you to unlock the full potential of Twitter as a discovery tool.

2. Boolean Operators (AND, OR, -)

Want to become a Twitter search ninja? Boolean operators are your secret weapon. They let you combine search terms with "AND," "OR," and "-" (minus) to create laser-focused queries. Think of them as the building blocks of complex searches, giving you the power to include or exclude specific words and phrases. This means no more sifting through tons of irrelevant tweets – you get straight to what you’re looking for.

Here's the breakdown: a space between words acts as an implicit "AND." So, searching for "content marketing strategy" finds tweets containing all three words. "OR" (make sure it’s in all caps!) expands your search. "coffee OR tea" finds tweets mentioning either coffee or tea. The minus sign "-" is your exclusion tool. "social media -marketing" finds tweets about social media but excludes those mentioning marketing.

Examples of Boolean Brilliance:

Finding tweets about two specific topics: SEO AND content marketing (finds tweets mentioning both SEO and content marketing)

Expanding your search to include alternatives: content creation OR content marketing (finds tweets mentioning either content creation or content marketing)

Excluding irrelevant terms: influencer marketing -instagram (finds tweets about influencer marketing but excludes those specifically mentioning Instagram)

Combining operators for complex searches: (marketing OR advertising) (analytics OR metrics) -facebook (finds tweets mentioning either marketing or advertising AND either analytics or metrics, while excluding mentions of Facebook)

Pro Tips for Boolean Success:

Parentheses are your friends: Use them to group complex expressions like the example above, ensuring the logic works as intended.

Mind the gap (or lack thereof): The minus sign must be right next to the word you want to exclude, with no space in between. - facebook won't work; -facebook will.

Multiple exclusions are allowed: Feel free to stack those minus signs! coffee -starbucks -dunkin will find coffee tweets, but exclude mentions of Starbucks and Dunkin'.

OR must be ALL CAPS: Twitter is picky about this one. or won't work. OR will.

Refine, don't start with: Boolean operators are great for refining an existing search, not necessarily starting one. Start broad, then narrow it down with Boolean magic.

Why Boolean Operators Deserve a Spot on This List:

For casual users, Boolean operators can help you find exactly what you’re looking for without endless scrolling. For influencers, marketers, and content creators, they’re essential for competitive analysis, audience research, and staying on top of industry trends. They transform Twitter search from a basic tool into a powerful research engine. Boolean operators are easy enough to learn but offer a high payoff in terms of search precision. They empower you to cut through the noise and uncover valuable insights on Twitter, making them an indispensable tool for anyone serious about leveraging the platform.

3. From:user and To:user Operators

Want to laser-focus your Twitter searches? The from: and to: operators are your secret weapons. These nifty tools let you zero in on tweets from specific accounts or tweets directed at specific accounts, cutting through the noise and getting you right to the good stuff. This makes them essential for anyone serious about using Twitter for research, marketing, or just keeping tabs on what's important to them.

Here's the breakdown: from: finds tweets posted by a particular user. Think of it like a personalized Twitter feed filter. to: finds tweets specifically mentioning another user in a reply context. It's like seeing one side of a conversation.

How it Works:

It's super simple. Just type from:username or to:username in the Twitter search bar, replacing "username" with the actual Twitter handle without the @ symbol.

Examples:

from:elonmusk space - finds tweets from @elonmusk containing the word "space."

to:twitter help - finds replies to @twitter containing the word "help."

from:apple OR from:samsung - finds tweets from either account (using the OR operator).

from:neiltyson to:billnye - finds tweets from Neil deGrasse Tyson directed at Bill Nye (imagine the science!).

Actionable Tips:

Ditch the @: Don't include the @ symbol in the username. from:@elonmusk won't work. Just use from:elonmusk.

Keyword Combo: Combine with keywords to find specific topics from users. For example, from:nytimes climate change will give you climate change coverage from the New York Times.

Conversation Tracking: Combine from: and to: to see the back-and-forth between two accounts.

Brand Monitoring: Search for tweets from competitors mentioning your brand or keywords. from:competitorA mybrandname could reveal some interesting insights.

When and Why to Use This Approach:

Monitoring Specific Accounts: Perfect for keeping an eye on industry leaders, competitors, or even your favorite meme accounts.

Competitive Analysis: See what your competitors are talking about and who they're interacting with.

Finding Conversations: Track discussions between specific users, especially helpful for PR or customer service.

Customer Service Monitoring: Find customer complaints or questions directed at your brand (e.g., to:yourbrandname help).

Pros:

Targeted Content: Get right to the tweets you want without endless scrolling.

Combination Power: Works seamlessly with other search operators for even more refined searches.

Conversation Tracking: Helps uncover interactions between specific accounts.

Customer Service Gold: A powerful tool for social listening and customer support.

Cons:

Public Only: Limited to public tweets; can't access protected accounts.

Direct Replies Only (for to:): Doesn't capture all mentions, only direct replies using the @ symbol.

Typo Trouble: Misspelling a username will throw off your search.

Who Popularized It?

Social media managers, PR pros, journalists, customer service teams, and anyone who needs to find specific needles in the Twitter haystack.

This powerful combination of operators earns its place on the list because it offers a precise and efficient way to filter the Twitter firehose. By understanding how to use from: and to:, you unlock a whole new level of search precision and gain valuable insights into the conversations and content that matter most to you.

4. Filter:media, Filter:images, Filter:videos Operators

Want to find tweets with photos or videos about a specific topic? These filter operators are your new best friends! They let you cut through the noise and zero in on tweets that include visual content. filter:media casts the widest net, grabbing any tweet with an image, GIF, or video. Need something more specific? filter:images snags image-based tweets, while filter:videos focuses solely on video content. Think of it like adding a visual layer to your Twitter searches.

Let's say you're tracking a product launch and want to see what kind of visual content people are sharing. Searching for "product launch filter:media" will surface all tweets related to product launches that include any kind of media. If you're specifically interested in reactions captured on video, use "product launch filter:videos" instead. Looking for inspiring photography of sunsets? "sunset filter:images" will fill your feed with gorgeous sunset pics.

Here are a few actionable tips to make the most of these filters:

Get local: Combine with geographic filters (e.g., "street food filter:images near:Tokyo") to find location-specific visual content. Imagine discovering the best ramen spots visually!

Follow the visuals of specific accounts: Use with the from: operator (e.g., "from:NASA filter:images") to find media from particular accounts. Perfect for keeping up with the latest space photos from NASA.

Find popular visuals: Add the min_faves: operator (e.g., "travel filter:videos min_faves:100") to unearth popular video content. This is gold for content creators looking for trending topics.

Scope out the competition: For market research, combine competitors' names with media filters (e.g., "[competitor name] filter:media") to see their visual strategy. This is a sneaky but effective way to get inspiration for your own marketing campaigns.

Why these operators deserve a spot on the list:

In the visually-driven world of social media, being able to quickly find relevant images and videos is crucial. These operators provide a powerful way to do just that. They are incredibly useful for:

Digital marketers: Discovering trending visual content and competitor analysis.

Journalists: Searching for video footage of events.

Social media content curators: Finding engaging visual content to share with their audience.

Casual X users: Simply finding cool pics and videos on topics they’re interested in.

Pros:

Quickly finds visual content on Twitter.

Useful for discovering shareable media.

Helps filter out text-only tweets.

Great for visual research and trend monitoring.

Cons:

Doesn't evaluate the content of the media itself (e.g., can't search for images of cats specifically, just images within tweets mentioning cats).

May miss relevant content that doesn't include media.

Can't search by specific image characteristics (e.g., color, size).

Doesn't distinguish between original and reshared media.

Despite these limitations, the filter:media, filter:images, and filter:videos operators are invaluable tools for anyone who wants to harness the power of visual content on Twitter. They make searching faster, more focused, and ultimately, more effective.

5. Since: and Until: Date Operators

Want to travel back in Twitter time? The since: and until: operators are your time machine! These handy operators let you pinpoint tweets within specific date ranges, making your searches way more focused and effective. since: sets the start date, while until: sets the end date. So, if you're trying to find tweets about a particular event or track how a topic evolved, these are your go-to tools.

Think of it like this: you're searching for gold nuggets (relevant tweets) in a massive river (Twitter). since: and until: are like adding a dam upstream and downstream, narrowing the river and making it much easier to find what you're looking for. You avoid getting overwhelmed by the constant flow of new tweets and can zero in on the specific period you're interested in. Pretty neat, right?

Here's how they work:

You simply add since:YYYY-MM-DD and/or until:YYYY-MM-DD to your search query. The date format must be YYYY-MM-DD – no shortcuts! Your search will be filtered according to your own timezone.

Examples:

Tracking an event: #SuperBowl since:2024-02-11 until:2024-02-12 (finds Super Bowl tweets during game day and the day after)

Analyzing a marketing campaign: product launch since:2023-10-26 (finds tweets about product launches since that date)

Researching a historical topic: #moonlanding until:1969-07-21 (finds tweets about the moon landing leading up to the event)

Actionable Tips:

Format is key: Always use the YYYY-MM-DD format. Otherwise, it won't work.

Combine for precision: Pair since: and until: to create a specific date range. You can also combine them with other Twitter search operators for laser-focused results.

Expand your range (sometimes): For major events, search a few days before and after to capture the full conversation.

Competitor analysis goldmine: Use these operators to analyze competitor campaigns during specific periods. See what worked, what didn't, and learn from their successes and failures.

Temporal limitations: Keep in mind Twitter's search index has limits. Really old tweets might be harder to find, even with these operators.

Pros:

Historical research: Essential for digging into the past.

Topic evolution: See how conversations around a topic changed over time.

Event-specific content: Focus on specific events and avoid irrelevant noise.

Filtering the flood: Prevent new tweets from burying older, relevant content.

Cons:

Twitter's memory isn't perfect: The search index doesn't contain every tweet ever.

Older tweets can be elusive: Sometimes, even with the right operators, older tweets are difficult to locate.

Strict date format: You must use the YYYY-MM-DD format.

Third-party variations: Some third-party Twitter tools might interpret dates differently.

Why it deserves a spot on the list:

since: and until: are absolute game-changers for anyone who needs to find specific tweets from a particular time period. Whether you’re a marketer tracking campaign performance, a journalist researching past events, a casual user looking for an old tweet, or a content creator analyzing trends, these operators are powerful tools that give you precise control over your Twitter searches. They bring order to the chaos of Twitter's constant stream, allowing you to focus your search and find the exact information you need.

6. Min_faves: and Min_retweets: Engagement Operators

Want to cut through the noise and find the tweets that really made a splash? The min_faves: and min_retweets: operators are your secret weapons. These handy tools let you filter search results based on a minimum number of likes (favorites) or retweets, helping you pinpoint popular and impactful content. Think of it like a popularity contest filter for tweets.

How They Work:

It's super straightforward. Just add min_faves:NUMBER or min_retweets:NUMBER to your search query. Replace NUMBER with the minimum threshold you're looking for. For example, if you're searching for tweets about artificial intelligence with at least 500 likes, your search would look like this: artificial intelligence min_faves:500.

Examples in Action:

Finding Popular Opinions: #climatechange min_faves:1000 (finds tweets about climate change with at least 1000 likes) - Great for gauging public sentiment on trending topics.

Tracking Viral News: breaking news min_retweets:500 (finds breaking news tweets with at least 500 retweets) - Quickly surfaces news stories gaining significant traction.

Unearthing Top-Performing Product Reviews: product review min_faves:100 min_retweets:50 (finds product reviews with substantial engagement) - Useful for market research and identifying trending products.

Why These Operators Deserve a Spot on the List:

These operators are invaluable for anyone who needs to find content that resonated with an audience. They're especially helpful for social media marketers, content creators, and anyone tracking trends. Instead of sifting through endless tweets, you can quickly identify the ones that truly hit the mark.

Pros:

Quickly identifies popular content: No more endless scrolling!

Useful for finding influential tweets: Discover thought leaders and key voices.

Helps cut through noise to find impactful content: Focus on what matters.

Valuable for competitive analysis and trend spotting: See what's working for others.

Cons:

May miss important content that didn't go viral: Not everything valuable gets huge engagement.

Can't search for exact engagement counts, only minimums: A bit limiting if you need precise numbers.

May favor sensational content over valuable information: Popularity isn't everything.

Not available in all third-party tools: Double-check your platform's capabilities.

Power Tips for Using min_faves: and min_retweets::

Adjust threshold numbers: A good starting point for trending topics might be 100+ for likes and 50+ for retweets, but adjust based on the topic's typical engagement. For niche topics, use lower thresholds.

Combine with other operators: Use min_faves: or min_retweets: with other operators like filter:media (to find tweets with images or videos) or keywords to refine your search.

Competitive analysis goldmine: See what content your competitors are putting out that’s getting tons of engagement.

Track performance over time: Combine with since: and until: to analyze high-performing content within specific date ranges.

By mastering min_faves: and min_retweets:, you’ll be able to quickly identify trending content, understand audience preferences, and gain a competitive edge. Start experimenting and see what you can discover!

7. Near: and Within: Geocode Operators

Want to tap into local Twitter chatter? The near: and within: operators are your go-to tools. These location-based search operators let you pinpoint tweets coming from a specific geographic area, making them incredibly powerful for everything from local marketing research to keeping tabs on a hyperlocal event. They basically let you eavesdrop on a specific corner of the world (digitally, of course!).

Here's the breakdown: near: specifies the target location (like a city, address, or even a landmark), while within: sets the radius around that location. Think of it like drawing a circle on a map – near: is the center point, and within: determines how big the circle is. For even more precision, you can use these operators with the geocode: parameter, which uses latitude and longitude coordinates.

How it Works:

These operators rely on location data attached to tweets. When users enable location services on their devices and choose to share their location when tweeting, Twitter can use this info to filter search results.

Examples in Action:

Coffee near:"San Francisco" within:5mi: This finds tweets about coffee within a 5-mile radius of San Francisco. Notice the quotes around "San Francisco" – this is crucial for multi-word place names.

geocode:37.7749,-122.4194,10km: This uses exact coordinates to find tweets within a 10-kilometer radius of that specific point (which happens to be in San Francisco). This is super useful for very targeted location searches.

concert near:London: This finds tweets about concerts near London. Simple and effective!

Pro Tips for Location-Based Search:

Quote Multi-Word Places: Always use quotes around location names with more than one word (like "New York City").

Experiment with Radius: Try different radius sizes to find the sweet spot for your search. Start broad and then narrow it down as needed.

Combine with Media Filters: Use filter:media along with near: and within: to find local photos or videos. Great for finding user-generated content from an event.

Geocode for Precision: When you need pinpoint accuracy, use geocode: with latitude and longitude coordinates.

Use place: When Available: If a specific named location is available as a Twitter Place, use the place: operator for the most accurate results.

Why This Deserves a Spot on the List:

For anyone interested in local insights on Twitter, these operators are essential. Whether you're a digital marketer trying to understand local trends, a social media influencer connecting with a local audience, or a content creator looking for hyperlocal stories, near: and within: unlock a whole new level of targeted searching.

Pros:

Essential for Location-Specific Research: Perfect for market research, trend analysis, and competitive intelligence at the local level.

Local Marketing Powerhouse: Helps businesses target local audiences, monitor local conversations, and understand regional differences.

Real-Time Event Monitoring: Ideal for tracking events, protests, or emergencies unfolding in a specific area.

Journalistic Gold: Enables journalists to find local sources, eyewitness accounts, and on-the-ground perspectives.

Cons:

Reliance on Location Data: Only works with tweets where users have opted to share their location.

Limited Location Sharing: Many users don't share their location, so your results may be smaller than expected.

Accuracy Varies: The precision of location data depends on how users share it (GPS, general area, etc.). So, results can sometimes be a bit fuzzy.

By mastering the near: and within: operators, you can unlock valuable location-based insights hidden within the Twittersphere. So, start exploring your local Twitter landscape today!

8. Filter:links and URL Operators

Want to dive deep into the world of links shared on Twitter? filter:links and URL search operators are your secret weapons. These tools let you sift through the noise and find tweets that contain links, whether it's any link at all or a link to a specific website. This makes them incredibly powerful for a variety of uses, earning them a spot on this list.

How it Works:

The filter:links operator is simple: it shows you tweets containing any URL. Just add it to your search query, like this: puppies filter:links. Boom! You'll see tweets about puppies that also include links – maybe to adorable puppy videos, adoption sites, or articles about puppy training.

But what if you're interested in links to a specific website? Just search for the URL or domain name. For example, searching for nytimes.com will show you tweets linking to articles on the New York Times website. Want to narrow it down further? Add more keywords: nytimes.com opinion will find tweets linking to NY Times articles that mention "opinion." Pretty slick, huh?

Features and Benefits:

Filters tweets containing links: No more wading through endless tweets to find the ones with shared content.

Can search for specific domains or URLs: Zero in on mentions of your website, your competitors' websites, or any site you're interested in.

Works with shortened URLs (in many cases): Even if someone uses a link shortener like bit.ly, you'll likely still find the tweet.

Can be combined with other search operators: The real magic happens when you combine this with other operators. Imagine searching for marketing filter:links min_faves:50 to find popular marketing articles being shared.

Examples:

research filter:links: Finds tweets about research containing links.

youtube.com: Finds tweets linking to YouTube.

nytimes.com opinion: Finds tweets linking to NY Times articles about opinions.

Pros:

Excellent for finding shared content and resources: Discover valuable articles, videos, and other resources related to your interests.

Useful for tracking link sharing patterns: See who's sharing what and how often.

Helps monitor mentions of specific websites: Keep tabs on what people are saying about your brand or your competitors.

Valuable for content distribution analysis: See how far and wide your content is being shared.

Cons:

URL shorteners may complicate specific URL searches: While often effective, highly obfuscated shortened URLs can sometimes throw things off.

Cannot search for URL parameters in most cases: You generally can't search for specific parts of a URL beyond the main address.

Some links may be missed due to variations in URL formats (e.g., www vs. non-www): Try variations to ensure comprehensive results.

Twitter's handling of URLs can sometimes be inconsistent: Occasional quirks can happen.

Tips for Success:

Use domain names without http/https prefixes for broader matches: Searching for example.com will catch both http://www.example.com and https://example.com.

Combine with min_faves: to find popular shared content: This helps you surface the most engaging content.

For competitor monitoring, search for their domain names: Stay informed about their online activity and mentions.

Use filter:links with industry keywords to find relevant resources: Discover valuable insights and stay up-to-date in your field.

Try both full URLs and domain-only searches for comprehensive results: Cover all your bases.

Who Uses This?

Content marketers, SEO professionals, PR teams, researchers, and anyone interested in understanding how information is shared on Twitter. Basically, it's a powerful tool for anyone serious about leveraging Twitter's data.

8-Point Twitter Search Operators Comparison

Strategy	Implementation Complexity (🔄)	Resource Requirements (⚡)	Expected Outcomes (📊)	Ideal Use Cases (💡)	Key Advantages (⭐)
Keyword Search Operator	Low; simple syntax	Minimal; built-in operator	Effective specific keyword search with moderate noise	Basic searches and everyday queries	Simple and effective exact matching
Boolean Operators (AND, OR, -)	Moderate; requires logical grouping	Low; no extra tools needed	Enhanced precision with refined results	Complex queries and filtering irrelevant content	Flexible and customizable search logic
From:user and To:user Operators	Low; straightforward syntax	Minimal; account-based search	Focused, user-targeted tweet retrieval	Monitoring specific accounts and conversations	Targeted search for efficient account tracking
Filter:media, Filter:images, Filter:videos Operators	Low; simple filter usage	Minimal; integrated within search queries	High impact for visual content discovery	Visual trend monitoring and content curation	Quick filtering for multimedia content
Since: and Until: Date Operators	Moderate; strict date formatting required	Minimal; built-in temporal filtering	Precise, time-bound tweet retrieval	Historical research and event tracking	Effective chronological filtering
Min_faves: and Min_retweets: Engagement Operators	Low; simple threshold settings	Minimal; leverages engagement metrics	Highlights popular and engaging content	Trend spotting, influencer analysis, and competitive benchmarking	Quickly identifies high-impact tweets
Near: and Within: Geocode Operators	Moderate; requires accurate location input	Dependent on available geodata	Localized and relevant tweet discovery	Local event monitoring and location-based research	Essential for geographic targeting
Filter:links and URL Operators	Low; simple filter usage with URL variations	Minimal; built-in URL filtering	Aggregates tweets sharing links and resources	Content distribution tracking and resource monitoring	Excellent for finding and aggregating shared content

Become an X Search Power User

So, there you have it! We've covered eight powerful X search operators—from basic keyword searches to advanced geocoding and engagement filtering—that can completely transform how you use the platform. Remember the key takeaways here: Boolean operators help you refine searches, user and media filters let you zero in on specific content, and date/engagement parameters help you analyze trends. By mastering these techniques, you can unlock a whole new level of insight, discover hidden gems, keep your finger on the pulse of relevant conversations, and ultimately, boost your influence and reach.

Imagine being able to instantly surface the most important discussions in your niche, track competitor activity, or identify key influencers talking about your brand. That's the power these search operators put in your hands. Don't be afraid to experiment and combine different operators to create laser-focused searches. The more you practice, the better you’ll become at uncovering exactly what you're looking for.

Want to take your X search game to the next level and streamline your workflow? Check out SuperX to easily leverage and combine these powerful operators, unlocking the full potential of X for your marketing, content creation, or personal brand building. SuperX simplifies complex search queries and provides advanced analytics, making you a true X power user in no time.

Master Twitter Search Operators: 8 Essential Tips!

Unearthing X's Hidden Treasures with Search Operators

1. Keyword Search Operator

2. Boolean Operators (AND, OR, -)

3. From:user and To:user Operators

4. Filter:media, Filter:images, Filter:videos Operators

5. Since: and Until: Date Operators

6. Min_faves: and Min_retweets: Engagement Operators

7. Near: and Within: Geocode Operators

8. Filter:links and URL Operators

8-Point Twitter Search Operators Comparison

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