Summary

SpanOrQuery is just like a BooleanQuery with all +:should+ clauses. However, the difference is that all sub-clauses must be SpanQueries and the resulting query can then be used within other SpanQueries like SpanNearQuery.

Example

Combined with SpanNearQuery we can create a multi-PhraseQuery like query;

  quick_query = SpanOrQuery.new()
  quick_query << SpanTermQuery.new(:field, "quick")
  quick_query << SpanTermQuery.new(:field, "fast")
  quick_query << SpanTermQuery.new(:field, "speedy")

  colour_query = SpanOrQuery.new()
  colour_query << SpanTermQuery.new(:field, "red")
  colour_query << SpanTermQuery.new(:field, "brown")

  query = SpanNearQuery.new(:slop => 2, :in_order => true)
  query << quick_query
  query << colour_query
  query << SpanTermQuery.new(:field, "fox")
  # matches => "quick red speckled sleepy fox"
                            |______2______^
  # matches => "speedy brown speckled fox"
                                |__1__^
  # doesn't match => "brown fast _____ fox"
  #  not in order       ^_____2____|

NOTE

SpanOrQuery only works with other SpanQueries.