If you want to do partial matching, you'll have to use the search_type parameter and set it to ngram.

https://api.themoviedb.org/3/search/person?api_key=###&search_type=ngram&query=jamie+fo

Cheers.

That's good to know. Why doesn't the sites own search use that? And why not have it as default?

http://www.themoviedb.org/search?query=jamie+fo

Because we recently switched the default to be a phrase based search. This is a much better default for most of our users. The only time ngram search is useful is for apps that support searching as you type. In our own websites case, we do not support (or ever have) this feature.

Cool, thanks for your help. I'm still seeing bad results. Check these out:

https://api.themoviedb.org/3/search/person?api_key=###&search_type=ngram&query=bale - returns no Christian Bale

https://api.themoviedb.org/3/search/person?api_key=###&search_type=ngram&query=jackman - returns no Hugh Jackman

https://api.themoviedb.org/3/search/person?api_key=###&search_type=ngram&query=hugh - returns no Hugh Jackman

https://api.themoviedb.org/3/search/person?api_key=###&search_type=ngram&query=roberts - returns no Julia Roberts

https://api.themoviedb.org/3/search/person?api_key=###&search_type=ngram&query=julia - returns no Julia Roberts

Maybe I'm missing something but am I correct in saying that these searches should return these popular actors. I can sort by popularity once I get the result set back but I need the popular actors in there at least.

Hey James,

A few things to mention about those searches…

First, the ones searching for only a last name, that seems like a very unlikely search to occur in the real world. I've never had anyone request this before (in 5 years).

Second, there's another issue (not the one mentioned in the other forum post) that might help a single name get boosted slightly more. It should be going live in the next week or so. I can't guarantee this, we'll have to wait to see it go live.

Third, for those searching a single name, I'm seeing better results on the phrase search. Bale, Jackman and Roberts all have pretty solid results.

Hey James,

There was a small tweak I made yesterday that should improve some of these searches. Not all, but some.

Travis

That worked!!! Thanks a lot!!!