Performance report (Search results): Advanced filtering and comparison

This article explains how to use advanced filtering and comparison features in the Performance reportto perform detailed data analysis.

Filtering data

You can filter data by multiple dimensions simultaneously. For example, if you are currently grouping data by query, you can add filters like " country='USA' AND device='Mobile' ".

How to add, remove, and modify filters

Filter by multiple items

You can filter your results by multiple queries or URLs. You can filter to show data that matches your choices, or data that does not match your choices.

If you want to see data for multiple devices, Search types, countries, or Search appearance types, you must use a comparison (limited to two items).

Items containing / items not containing

This method allows you to enter a single substring to match (or exclude) in the query or URL. This is useful when all items you want to find contain the identical substring.

1. Click + Add filterin the filters row.
2. Choose either Queriesor Pages.
3. Choose Queries containingor URLs containingto match your provided string. Choose Queries not containingor URLs not containingto exclude your provided string.
4. Enter the string to match. The match is not case-sensitive, but is otherwise exact, including any spaces.
5. Click Apply.

Regular expression search

Regular expression (regex) search enables you to filter for, or exclude, multiple queries or URLs that might contain significant differences or variable sections.

1. Click + Add filterin the filters row.
2. Choose either Queriesor Pages.
3. Choose Custom (regex).
4. Enter your regular expression. For multiple values, separate them with a vertical bar (|) and surround the whole expression with parentheses: (<value 1> | <value 2> | <value 3> | ...)
5. If you want to see all values except the specified values, choose Doesn't match regex. Otherwise, use the default Matches regex.
6. Click Apply.

Regular expression details

• Syntax:The RE2 syntax is used.
• Default matching:Default matching is a "partial match." Your regular expression can match anywhere in the target string unless you use ^ (start of string) or $ (end of string).

Case-sensitivity:Default regex matching is not case-sensitive. You can prepend (?-i) to the beginning of your expression for case-sensitive matches. Example: (?-i)AAA will match https://example.com/AAA but not https://example.com/aaa .

Common regular expressions:

Comparing groups

You can compare data between two values in any one grouping dimension, whether or not it's the currently selected grouping. For example, you might compare performance:

• Between two countries, like USA versus France.
• Over different time periods, such as this week versus last week, or the last 24 hours versus the previous 24 hours.

You can also compare data by dimensions like page, device, or search appearance. Keep in mind that comparing by page or search appearance, the metric calculation for CTR, impressions, and clicks might change . 

How to compare group data

1. Open or add a filterby editing an existing filter, or click Newto add a new one (for example, for Dateor Search type).
2. Choose Comparein the filter properties dialog box.
3. Add the dimensionsor time periodsyou want to compare. When comparing by date range, you’ll find granular time period labels available.
4. Click Apply.

When you compare two values, the results table will display a Differencecolumn to compare values in each row.

Some useful comparisons:

• Compare total searches on your mobile site to mobile searches on your desktop site. If you aren't using a Domain property , you'll need to open a separate Performance report for each site and compare searches from mobile devices on your desktop site ( www.example.com ) to all searches on your mobile site ( m.example.com ).
• When comparing two date ranges, consider using the Weekly or Monthly granularity option. Aggregating by week or month neutralizes the "day-of-the-week" effect (for example: comparing a Monday from one period to a Saturday from another period in a daily comparison) and provides a clearer, more accurate comparison of true long-term performance trends.

Comparison limits and notes

• Limit:You can have only one comparison at a time. Adding a new comparison filter will replace an existing one.
• Rare values:If you compare two groups, and a value is very rare in one group but not in the other, the rare group will show ~ (not available) for that row. This is because the count for that group is at the end of a very long tail of results. If you filter by the rare value, you should see data values for both dimensions. 

Customize your performance data with AI

The AI-powered configuration tool is an experimental feature that uses AI to customize your Performance report (Search) by requesting the data you’d like to see. Instead of manually applying filters, comparisons, and selecting metrics, you can ask the assistant to configure the report for you.

How to customize your report

1. Click the filter icon in the Performance report header to open the tool in the side panel.
2. Type your request into the prompt field. The tool will then suggest the corresponding filters, comparisons, and metric settings. You must then confirm the suggestion to apply those settings to your report.

Each user is currently limited to 20 requests per day.

Example queries:

Functionality and scope

The AI-powered configuration tool can generate report filters, comparisons, and metric/table selections. It can’t perform table sorting (for example: "show pages with most clicks"), data exports, or other actions.

The tool is designed to customize your view by adding filters, comparisons, and metric/table selections based on your request.

The tool is aware of any existing report filters (like Date range or Device) and will keep them in place while applying new customizations.

Unsupported actions:The tool can’t perform actions that involve data manipulation beyond the initial configuration. This includes, but isn’t limited to:

• External event-based comparisons:Filters based on time around specific, external major events (like "1 month after the FIFA World Cup," or comparisons around political or sports events).
  Table interactions:Applying direct table filters (like clicks < 100), sorting the table, or paginating through the results.
• Other actions:Data exports or report configurations (like adding custom annotations to the chart).

Since this is an AI feature, the tool may generate filters that don’t match your request. Always review the filters applied to the report to ensure they match your intended query.

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