---
title: "Include, Exclude, and Require Targeting Verbs"
canonical: "https://hub.freewheel.tv/space/BC/115114466/Include%2C%20Exclude%2C%20and%20Require%20Targeting%20Verbs"
format: markdown
---
---

# Overview

In the UI and API, three distinct verbs are used to handle segments: **Include**, **Exclude**, and **Require**. Each verb applies different logic to segment targeting for line items.

## Include Verb

When a segment is **included** in the targeting of a line item, any user who belongs to that segment will be targeted by the line item.

- If multiple segments are included, a user will be targeted if they are part of **any** one of the included segments.
- The logical operator for combining multiple included segments is **OR**.

**Example:**  
If a line item is targeting "include segment-1" and "include segment-2," the user will be targeted if they are in **segment-1**, **segment-2**, or both.

---

## Exclude Verb

When a segment is **excluded** in the targeting of a line item, any user who belongs to that segment will **not** be targeted.

- If multiple segments are excluded, a user must **not** belong to any of the excluded segments in order to be targeted.
- The logical operator for combining multiple excluded segments is **AND** (i.e., the user must not be in any of the excluded segments).

**Example:**  
If a line item is targeting "exclude segment-3" and "exclude segment-4," a user will **not** be targeted if they are in either **segment-3** or **segment-4**.

---

## Require Verb

When a segment is **required** for targeting a line item, the user **must** belong to that segment in order to be targeted.

- The logical operator for combining multiple required segments is **AND**.
- This is similar to the "Include" verb, but with stricter logic: the user must meet all the requirements.

**Example:**  
If a line item is targeting "require segment-5" and "require segment-6," the user **must** belong to **both segment-5** and **segment-6** to be targeted.

---

## Mixing Include, Exclude, and Require

When multiple verbs are used together in a single targeting setup, the user must meet the criteria of all the verbs in order to be targeted.

- **Include** segments use an **OR** operator, meaning the user only needs to belong to one of the included segments.
- **Exclude** segments use an **AND** operator, meaning the user must not belong to any of the excluded segments.
- **Require** segments use an **AND** operator, meaning the user must belong to all required segments.

**Examples:**

1. **Include + Require:**  
If a line item targets "include segment-1", "include segment-2", and "require segment-5," the user must:
  - Belong to **segment-1** **or** **segment-2**, and
  - Belong to **segment-5** in order to be targeted.
2. **Include + Exclude:**  
If a line item targets "include segment-1", "include segment-2", "exclude segment-3", and "exclude segment-4," the user must:
  - Belong to **segment-1** **or** **segment-2**, and
  - Not belong to **segment-3** **or** **segment-4** in order to be targeted.
3. **Exclude + Require:**  
If a line item targets "exclude segment-3", "exclude segment-4", and "require segment-5," the user must:
  - Belong to **segment-5**, and
  - Not belong to **segment-3** **or** **segment-4** in order to be targeted.