The exact_search parameter in the API allows you to adjust the structure we employ in our database when searching for stories that match your criteria.
One of our value-adds is the taxonomy we employ to relate entities, such as sectors and companies. Stories that talk about Company C in Sector S are tangentially related to S, and therefore we may display stories about C in queries about S. This also applies to others sectors when S has subsectors or is a subsector itself. For example, the Electric Batteries subsector is related to the Technology sector, and if you search for Technology, you will see Electric Battery stories, too.
However, sometimes you want an exact search. You DO NOT want to see stories about Electric Batteries but about the Technology sector as a whole, or you do not want to see stories specifically about Samsung and Xiaomi but about the general Smartphone sector.
In these cases, use exact_search=true to exclude the stories related through our taxonomy but not specifically about your search entities.
Be wary that doing so will require that the searched entity be included in the story. If you search for Technology, and Apple is mentioned but not a tag related specifically to Technology, exact_search=true will NOT return the Apple story. exact_search=false WILL return the Apple story. We normally recommend clients to use FALSE for this parameter.
If you have further questions on how to use this parameter, do not hesitate to reach out to your account manager.