How do parentheses affect operator precedence in dtSearch query strings?

In dtSearch query strings, parentheses play a crucial role in controlling the order of operations, which is essential for interpreting and executing the query correctly. By using parentheses, you can group terms and operations to clarify which parts of the query should be processed first. This grouping is especially important when combining various logical operators, such as AND, OR, and NOT, as different operators have different precedence levels.

For example, if you have a query that includes both AND and OR operations, using parentheses allows you to specify explicitly which terms should be evaluated together. This ensures that the search engine processes the query as intended, leading to the desired results in the final output. Without parentheses, the default precedence of the operators may yield results that differ significantly from what the user expects.

The other choices do not accurately describe the role of parentheses in dtSearch queries. Saying that they have no effect on query results overlooks their power to direct how queries are executed. Stating that they always make OR operations occur first misrepresents their actual purpose, which is to indicate the user's desired precedence rather than enforce a specific order universally. Finally, the notion that they are mandatory for all queries is incorrect because it implies that queries without parentheses cannot exist or will fail, whereas they can function