Patent attributes
A data search apparatus performs a data search by using a search string that has a space character included therein with a calculation of the number of target search data prior to the data search, on an assumption that at least two portions in the search string are used in an AND search. If the calculated number of the target search data exceeds a predetermined value, the space in the search string is excluded and the search string is considered as a single keyword for the data search. The data search by the above-described method yields a preferable search result in the data search apparatus having the AND search capability, because the space in the search string is excluded from an actual search string on a predetermined condition.