Intro
Separate category-level searches in GSC so broader browsing intent does not get mixed into item-specific product reporting.
Use this regex to isolate category-style queries in GSC when users browse a broader product group rather than a single item.
The Regex
How This Regex Works (Explained Simply)
()
Parentheses group terms together so GSC treats them as one unit. That is what lets one regex cover several query variants in a single filter.
|
The pipe means OR. GSC will match any term on either side of the pipe, which is useful for variants, modifiers, or alternative phrases.
?
The question mark usually makes the previous character or group optional. That is handy when a query modifier appears inconsistently.
\b
Backslash-b marks a word boundary. It helps stop short terms from matching inside longer words in GSC queries.
GSC regex is case-insensitive by default, so capital letters do not need separate variants. GSC also uses partial matching by default, so the regex can match part of a longer query unless you anchor it with ^ or $.
What This Regex Does
- Matches grouped category-level nouns and audience qualifiers.
- Separates browsing demand from explicit product queries.
- Supports cleaner category page reporting and merchandising analysis.
What it does not match
- gaming laptop deals - Laptop is product-level, not one of the category terms here.
- buy standing desk - No grouped category term appears.
Edge Cases
- Template category lists need to match your taxonomy, otherwise the segment becomes misleading.
- Some terms such as accessories can be both a category and a product type depending on the store.
Example Matches Table
| Query | Match | Why |
|---|---|---|
| men's trainers sale | Match | Contains men's, which is a category qualifier in the grouped set. |
| electronics deals today | Match | Electronics is a category-level term. |
| gaming laptop deals | No | Laptop is product-level, not one of the category terms here. |
| buy standing desk | No | No grouped category term appears. |
How to Use This in Google Search Console
- Open Performance and go to Search results.
- Click Add filter and choose Query.
- Select Custom (regex).
- Paste the regex and click Apply.
When to Use This
- Report broader browsing demand separately from item searches.
- Audit whether category pages capture the right query mix.
- Compare category modifiers by audience or department.
Pro Tips
- Like the product recipe, this is a template and should be adapted to your catalogue structure.
- Category and product terms often overlap, so keep the grouped terms as distinct as possible.
- Compare category queries against collection and filter pages for landing-page fit.
- Use separate segments for audience, department, and use-case categories if needed.
Variations
Add another department term
Expands the grouped category set with one more department-style term.
Related Regex Recipes
Regex for Product Queries
Use this regex to isolate product-level queries in GSC when you want a clear segment built around specific items rather than category or intent modifiers.
Regex for Product Variants (colour, size)
Use this regex to isolate product variant modifiers in GSC when users add colour or size language to a product search.
CTA
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