diff --git a/src/storage/base-storage.ts b/src/storage/base-storage.ts
index e85a095..909816b 100644
--- a/src/storage/base-storage.ts
+++ b/src/storage/base-storage.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,14 @@ export type FindOptions = {
 export type IndexDefinition = string[] | string[][];
 
 /**
- * MongoDB-style comparison operators for a single field value.
+ * MongoDB-style comparison and string operators for a single field value.
+ *
+ * - Comparison operators ($eq, $ne, $lt, $lte, $gt, $gte) are available for
+ *   all value types.
+ * - String operators ($startsWith, $contains) are only available when the
+ *   field value type extends `string`.
+ * - Field-level $not wraps another operator set, inverting its result:
+ *   `{ age: { $not: { $gte: 18 } } }` matches documents where age < 18.
  */
 export type ComparisonOperators<V> = {
   $eq?: V;
@@ -29,7 +36,8 @@ export type ComparisonOperators<V> = {
   $lte?: V;
   $gt?: V;
   $gte?: V;
-};
+  $not?: ComparisonOperators<V>;
+} & ([V] extends [string] ? { $startsWith?: string; $contains?: string } : {});
 
 /**
  * A filter value for a single field — either a plain value (equality shorthand)
@@ -38,7 +46,22 @@ export type ComparisonOperators<V> = {
 export type FieldFilter<V> = V | ComparisonOperators<V>;
 
 /**
- * Query filter that supports both equality shorthand and comparison operators.
+ * Keys that represent top-level logical operators in a filter,
+ * as opposed to document field names.
+ */
+const LOGICAL_KEYS = new Set(['$and', '$or', '$not']);
+
+/**
+ * Returns true when `key` is a top-level logical operator ($and, $or, $not)
+ * rather than a document field name.
+ */
+export function isLogicalKey(key: string): boolean {
+  return LOGICAL_KEYS.has(key);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Query filter that supports equality shorthand, comparison operators,
+ * and top-level logical operators ($and, $or, $not).
  *
  * @example
  * // Equality shorthand
@@ -47,11 +70,20 @@ export type FieldFilter<V> = V | ComparisonOperators<V>;
  * // Comparison operators
  * { age: { $gte: 18, $lt: 65 } }
  *
- * // Combined
- * { name: 'foo', age: { $gte: 18 } }
+ * // String operators (type-safe — only on string fields)
+ * { name: { $startsWith: 'A' } }
+ *
+ * // Logical operators
+ * { $or: [{ name: 'foo' }, { age: { $gte: 18 } }] }
+ * { $not: { name: 'bar' } }
+ * { $and: [{ age: { $gte: 18 } }, { name: { $startsWith: 'A' } }] }
  */
 export type Filter<T extends Record<string, any>> = {
   [K in keyof T]?: FieldFilter<T[K]>;
+} & {
+  $and?: Filter<T>[];
+  $or?: Filter<T>[];
+  $not?: Filter<T>;
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/storage/encrypted-storage.ts b/src/storage/encrypted-storage.ts
index 032c1df..6ac5b21 100644
--- a/src/storage/encrypted-storage.ts
+++ b/src/storage/encrypted-storage.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { Packr } from 'msgpackr';
 import { AESKey } from 'src/crypto/aes-key.js';
 import { Bytes } from 'src/crypto/bytes.js';
 
-import { BaseStorage, type FindOptions, type Filter, isOperatorObject } from './base-storage.js';
+import { BaseStorage, type FindOptions, type Filter, isOperatorObject, isLogicalKey } from './base-storage.js';
 
 import { encodeExtendedJsonObject, decodeExtendedJsonObject } from 'src/utils/ext-json.js';
 
@@ -231,12 +231,13 @@ export class EncryptedStorage<
   // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   /**
-   * Convert a query filter for storage. Handles both plain equality values
-   * and operator objects.
+   * Convert a query filter for storage. Handles plain equality values,
+   * operator objects, and top-level logical operators ($and, $or, $not).
    *
    * - Plaintext fields: values and operator objects pass through as-is.
    * - Encrypted fields: plain values are encrypted. Operator objects throw
-   *   because range comparisons are meaningless on ciphertext.
+   *   because range/string comparisons are meaningless on ciphertext.
+   * - Logical operators: sub-filters are recursively converted.
    */
   private async convertFilterForStorage(
     filter: Filter<T>,
@@ -244,9 +245,27 @@ export class EncryptedStorage<
     const result: Record<string, any> = {};
     const entries = Object.entries(filter);
 
+    // Recursively convert logical operator sub-filters.
+    if (filter.$and) {
+      result.$and = await Promise.all(
+        filter.$and.map((f) => this.convertFilterForStorage(f)),
+      );
+    }
+    if (filter.$or) {
+      result.$or = await Promise.all(
+        filter.$or.map((f) => this.convertFilterForStorage(f)),
+      );
+    }
+    if (filter.$not) {
+      result.$not = await this.convertFilterForStorage(filter.$not);
+    }
+
     const encryptionTasks: Array<Promise<readonly [string, any]>> = [];
 
     for (const [key, value] of entries) {
+      // Logical operator keys are already handled above.
+      if (isLogicalKey(key)) continue;
+
       if (this.plaintextKeys.has(key)) {
         // Plaintext field — pass through (including operator objects).
         result[key] = isOperatorObject(value)
@@ -255,8 +274,8 @@ export class EncryptedStorage<
       } else if (isOperatorObject(value)) {
         // Encrypted field with an operator — not supported.
         throw new Error(
-          `Range operators ($lt, $gt, etc.) cannot be used on encrypted field '${key}'. ` +
-          `Add '${key}' to plaintextKeys if you need range queries on this field.`,
+          `Operators ($lt, $gt, $startsWith, $contains, $not, etc.) cannot be used on encrypted field '${key}'. ` +
+          `Add '${key}' to plaintextKeys if you need operator queries on this field.`,
         );
       } else {
         // Encrypted field with a plain equality value — encrypt it.
diff --git a/src/storage/storage-localstorage.ts b/src/storage/storage-localstorage.ts
index fac54ea..259c5c3 100644
--- a/src/storage/storage-localstorage.ts
+++ b/src/storage/storage-localstorage.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import {
   type Filter,
   type ComparisonOperators,
   isOperatorObject,
+  isLogicalKey,
 } from './base-storage.js';
 import { BPlusTree, type BPlusTreeEntry } from 'src/utils/btree.js';
 
@@ -162,7 +163,9 @@ export class StorageLocalStorage<
     if (resolution !== null) {
       const { keys, resolvedFields } = resolution;
       const filterKeys = filter ? Object.keys(filter) : [];
-      const needsVerification = filterKeys.some((k) => !resolvedFields.includes(k));
+      const hasLogicalOps = filterKeys.some(isLogicalKey);
+      const needsVerification = hasLogicalOps
+        || filterKeys.some((k) => !isLogicalKey(k) && !resolvedFields.includes(k));
 
       results = [];
       for (const key of keys) {
@@ -273,12 +276,22 @@ export class StorageLocalStorage<
   // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   /**
-   * Checks whether a document satisfies every field in the filter.
-   * Supports both plain equality values and comparison operator objects.
+   * Checks whether a document satisfies a filter.
+   *
+   * Handles top-level logical operators ($and, $or, $not) first via
+   * recursion, then evaluates remaining field-level conditions.
    */
   private matchesFilter(item: T, filter?: Filter<T>): boolean {
     if (!filter || Object.keys(filter).length === 0) return true;
+
+    // Top-level logical operators.
+    if (filter.$and && !filter.$and.every((f) => this.matchesFilter(item, f))) return false;
+    if (filter.$or && !filter.$or.some((f) => this.matchesFilter(item, f))) return false;
+    if (filter.$not && this.matchesFilter(item, filter.$not)) return false;
+
+    // Field-level conditions (skip logical operator keys).
     for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(filter)) {
+      if (isLogicalKey(key)) continue;
       if (isOperatorObject(value)) {
         if (!this.matchesOperators(item[key], value)) return false;
       } else {
@@ -289,7 +302,8 @@ export class StorageLocalStorage<
   }
 
   /**
-   * Evaluate a set of comparison operators against a single field value.
+   * Evaluate a set of comparison / string operators against a single field value.
+   * All operators must pass for the field to match.
    */
   private matchesOperators(fieldValue: any, ops: ComparisonOperators<any>): boolean {
     if (ops.$eq !== undefined && fieldValue !== ops.$eq) return false;
@@ -298,6 +312,19 @@ export class StorageLocalStorage<
     if (ops.$lte !== undefined && !(fieldValue <= ops.$lte)) return false;
     if (ops.$gt !== undefined && !(fieldValue > ops.$gt)) return false;
     if (ops.$gte !== undefined && !(fieldValue >= ops.$gte)) return false;
+
+    if (ops.$startsWith !== undefined) {
+      if (typeof fieldValue !== 'string' || !fieldValue.startsWith(ops.$startsWith)) return false;
+    }
+    if (ops.$contains !== undefined) {
+      if (typeof fieldValue !== 'string' || !fieldValue.includes(ops.$contains)) return false;
+    }
+
+    // Field-level $not: invert the enclosed operator set.
+    if (ops.$not !== undefined) {
+      if (this.matchesOperators(fieldValue, ops.$not)) return false;
+    }
+
     return true;
   }
 
@@ -312,7 +339,9 @@ export class StorageLocalStorage<
     if (resolution !== null) {
       const { keys, resolvedFields } = resolution;
       const filterKeys = filter ? Object.keys(filter) : [];
-      const needsVerification = filterKeys.some((k) => !resolvedFields.includes(k));
+      const hasLogicalOps = filterKeys.some(isLogicalKey);
+      const needsVerification = hasLogicalOps
+        || filterKeys.some((k) => !isLogicalKey(k) && !resolvedFields.includes(k));
 
       for (const key of keys) {
         const raw = localStorage.getItem(this.docKey(key));
@@ -447,18 +476,38 @@ export class StorageLocalStorage<
   /**
    * Try to resolve an operator filter against a single-field B+ Tree index.
    * Returns a flat array of matching internal keys, or null if the
-   * operators can't be served by the tree ($ne).
+   * operators can't be efficiently served by the tree.
+   *
+   * Supported acceleration:
+   * - `$eq`         → point lookup via `.get()`
+   * - `$gt/$gte/$lt/$lte` → range scan via `.range()`
+   * - `$startsWith` → converted to a range scan on the prefix
+   * - `$ne`, `$contains`, `$not` → cannot use index, returns null
    */
   private resolveOperatorViaTree(
     btree: BPlusTree<any, number>,
     ops: ComparisonOperators<any>,
   ): Iterable<number> | null {
-    if (ops.$ne !== undefined) return null;
+    // Operators that prevent efficient index use.
+    if (ops.$ne !== undefined || ops.$contains !== undefined || ops.$not !== undefined) return null;
 
     if (ops.$eq !== undefined) {
       return btree.get(ops.$eq) ?? [];
     }
 
+    // $startsWith is converted to a range scan: "abc" → ["abc", "abd").
+    if (ops.$startsWith !== undefined) {
+      const prefix = ops.$startsWith;
+      if (prefix.length === 0) return null;
+      const upper = prefix.slice(0, -1)
+        + String.fromCharCode(prefix.charCodeAt(prefix.length - 1) + 1);
+      const entries = btree.range(prefix, upper, {
+        lowerInclusive: true,
+        upperInclusive: false,
+      });
+      return this.flattenEntryKeys(entries);
+    }
+
     let min: any = undefined;
     let max: any = undefined;
     let lowerInclusive = true;
diff --git a/src/storage/storage-memory.ts b/src/storage/storage-memory.ts
index 9a0d064..413727a 100644
--- a/src/storage/storage-memory.ts
+++ b/src/storage/storage-memory.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import {
   type Filter,
   type ComparisonOperators,
   isOperatorObject,
+  isLogicalKey,
 } from './base-storage.js';
 import { BPlusTree, type BPlusTreeEntry } from 'src/utils/btree.js';
 
@@ -202,15 +203,24 @@ export class StorageMemory<
   // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   /**
-   * Checks whether a document satisfies every field in the filter.
-   * Supports both plain equality values and comparison operator objects.
+   * Checks whether a document satisfies a filter.
+   *
+   * Handles top-level logical operators ($and, $or, $not) first via
+   * recursion, then evaluates remaining field-level conditions.
    */
   private matchesFilter(item: T, filter?: Filter<T>): boolean {
     if (!filter || Object.keys(filter).length === 0) {
       return true;
     }
 
+    // Top-level logical operators.
+    if (filter.$and && !filter.$and.every((f) => this.matchesFilter(item, f))) return false;
+    if (filter.$or && !filter.$or.some((f) => this.matchesFilter(item, f))) return false;
+    if (filter.$not && this.matchesFilter(item, filter.$not)) return false;
+
+    // Field-level conditions (skip logical operator keys).
     for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(filter)) {
+      if (isLogicalKey(key)) continue;
       if (isOperatorObject(value)) {
         if (!this.matchesOperators(item[key], value)) return false;
       } else {
@@ -221,7 +231,7 @@ export class StorageMemory<
   }
 
   /**
-   * Evaluate a set of comparison operators against a single field value.
+   * Evaluate a set of comparison / string operators against a single field value.
    * All operators must pass for the field to match.
    */
   private matchesOperators(fieldValue: any, ops: ComparisonOperators<any>): boolean {
@@ -231,6 +241,19 @@ export class StorageMemory<
     if (ops.$lte !== undefined && !(fieldValue <= ops.$lte)) return false;
     if (ops.$gt !== undefined && !(fieldValue > ops.$gt)) return false;
     if (ops.$gte !== undefined && !(fieldValue >= ops.$gte)) return false;
+
+    if (ops.$startsWith !== undefined) {
+      if (typeof fieldValue !== 'string' || !fieldValue.startsWith(ops.$startsWith)) return false;
+    }
+    if (ops.$contains !== undefined) {
+      if (typeof fieldValue !== 'string' || !fieldValue.includes(ops.$contains)) return false;
+    }
+
+    // Field-level $not: invert the enclosed operator set.
+    if (ops.$not !== undefined) {
+      if (this.matchesOperators(fieldValue, ops.$not)) return false;
+    }
+
     return true;
   }
 
@@ -244,7 +267,9 @@ export class StorageMemory<
     if (resolution !== null) {
       const { keys, resolvedFields } = resolution;
       const filterKeys = filter ? Object.keys(filter) : [];
-      const needsVerification = filterKeys.some((k) => !resolvedFields.includes(k));
+      const hasLogicalOps = filterKeys.some(isLogicalKey);
+      const needsVerification = hasLogicalOps
+        || filterKeys.some((k) => !isLogicalKey(k) && !resolvedFields.includes(k));
 
       const results: Array<[number, T]> = [];
       for (const key of keys) {
@@ -376,20 +401,39 @@ export class StorageMemory<
   /**
    * Try to resolve an operator filter against a single-field B+ Tree index.
    * Returns a flat array of matching internal keys, or null if the
-   * operators can't be served by the tree ($ne).
+   * operators can't be efficiently served by the tree.
+   *
+   * Supported acceleration:
+   * - `$eq`         → point lookup via `.get()`
+   * - `$gt/$gte/$lt/$lte` → range scan via `.range()`
+   * - `$startsWith` → converted to a range scan on the prefix
+   * - `$ne`, `$contains`, `$not` → cannot use index, returns null
    */
   private resolveOperatorViaTree(
     btree: BPlusTree<any, number>,
     ops: ComparisonOperators<any>,
   ): Iterable<number> | null {
-    // $ne prevents efficient index use.
-    if (ops.$ne !== undefined) return null;
+    // Operators that prevent efficient index use.
+    if (ops.$ne !== undefined || ops.$contains !== undefined || ops.$not !== undefined) return null;
 
     // $eq is a point lookup.
     if (ops.$eq !== undefined) {
       return btree.get(ops.$eq) ?? [];
     }
 
+    // $startsWith is converted to a range scan: "abc" → ["abc", "abd").
+    if (ops.$startsWith !== undefined) {
+      const prefix = ops.$startsWith;
+      if (prefix.length === 0) return null;
+      const upper = prefix.slice(0, -1)
+        + String.fromCharCode(prefix.charCodeAt(prefix.length - 1) + 1);
+      const entries = btree.range(prefix, upper, {
+        lowerInclusive: true,
+        upperInclusive: false,
+      });
+      return this.flattenEntryKeys(entries);
+    }
+
     // Extract range bounds from the remaining operators.
     let min: any = undefined;
     let max: any = undefined;
@@ -437,7 +481,12 @@ export class StorageMemory<
 
     const { keys, resolvedFields } = resolution;
     const filterKeys = filter ? Object.keys(filter) : [];
-    const needsVerification = filterKeys.some((k) => !resolvedFields.includes(k));
+
+    // Logical operators ($and/$or/$not) are never resolved by the index,
+    // and any unresolved field conditions also require verification.
+    const hasLogicalOps = filterKeys.some(isLogicalKey);
+    const needsVerification = hasLogicalOps
+      || filterKeys.some((k) => !isLogicalKey(k) && !resolvedFields.includes(k));
 
     const results: T[] = [];
     for (const key of keys) {