Multi-match query in Elasticsearch - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

What is the output of this multi-match query?

Given the following Elasticsearch multi-match query, what will be the value of hits.total.value if the index contains 3 documents matching the query?

Elasticsearch

{
  "query": {
    "multi_match": {
      "query": "quick brown fox",
      "fields": ["title", "description"]
    }
  }
}

A 3

B 0

C Error: missing operator

D 1

💡 Hint

Multi-match queries search multiple fields and return all matching documents.

The multi-match query searches the title and description fields for the phrase "quick brown fox". Since 3 documents match, hits.total.value is 3.

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Which option best describes the type parameter in a multi-match query?

In an Elasticsearch multi-match query, what does the type parameter control?

A The output format of the search results

B The way the query terms are matched across fields

C The type of documents to search

D The index to run the query on

💡 Hint

Think about how the query behaves when matching terms in multiple fields.

The type parameter controls how the query terms are matched across the specified fields, such as best_fields, most_fields, or cross_fields.

🔧 Debug

advanced

What error does this multi-match query produce?

Consider this multi-match query with a syntax mistake. What error will Elasticsearch return?

Elasticsearch

{
  "query": {
    "multi_match": {
      "query": "search text",
      "fields": "title description"
    }
  }
}

A No error, query runs successfully

B Error: missing query parameter

C SyntaxError: fields must be an array

D TypeError: query must be a string

💡 Hint

Check the type of the fields parameter.

The fields parameter must be an array of strings, not a single string. Passing a string causes a syntax error.

📝 Syntax

advanced

Which option correctly uses fuzziness in a multi-match query?

Choose the valid multi-match query that applies fuzziness to allow approximate matches.

A { "query": { "multi_match": { "query": "apple", "fields": "name", "fuzziness": 2 } } }

B { "query": { "multi_match": { "query": "apple", "fields": ["name"] } } }

C { "query": { "multi_match": { "query": "apple", "fields": ["name"], "fuzziness": true } } }

D { "query": { "multi_match": { "query": "apple", "fields": ["name"], "fuzziness": "AUTO" } } }

💡 Hint

Fuzziness must be a string like "AUTO" or a number, and fields must be an array.

Option D correctly sets fields as an array and fuzziness as "AUTO". Option D has fields as a string, which is invalid. Option D uses a boolean for fuzziness, which is invalid. Option D omits fuzziness.

🚀 Application

expert

How many documents will match this multi-match query with operator set to and?

Assume the index has these documents:

• Doc1: title="fast fox", description="quick brown animal"
• Doc2: title="slow fox", description="lazy brown animal"
• Doc3: title="fast dog", description="quick brown animal"

What is the number of documents matched by this query?

Elasticsearch

{
  "query": {
    "multi_match": {
      "query": "quick brown",
      "fields": ["title", "description"],
      "operator": "and"
    }
  }
}

A 2

B 3

C 1

D 0

💡 Hint

With operator set to and, all query terms must appear in the fields.

Documents 1 and 3 contain both "quick" and "brown" in either title or description. Document 2 lacks "quick" so it does not match.