Why is the tag "solo" not applied to images where only one character is displayed, but there are multiple views of that character? The character IS still solo.

Because the solo tag is for "Any image containing a single instance of one copyrighted or original character. No one else should be visible in the image." which would otherwise not be searchable?

The solo tag isn't just referring to the amount of different characters in a post - it also refers to the amount of views, scenes, panels, or whatever you want to call them. If multiple_views posts were also tagged with solo, then there'd be no way to search for true solo posts - a single view featuring only one character.

It is true, however, that this method leaves no way to search for multiple_views posts featuring only one particular character throughout all its views. Perhaps a new tag could be created for such instances.

Many of those would be solved with chartags:1 but there are a couple of cases where it wouldn't work like: cosplay, original nameless characters and Fate.

AngryZapdos said:

It is true, however, that this method leaves no way to search for multiple_views posts featuring only one particular character throughout all its views. Perhaps a new tag could be created for such instances.

multiple_views 1boy -1girl -multiple_girls
multiple_views 1girl -1boy -multiple_boys

Or am I misunderstanding what you're trying to search for?

iridescent_slime said:

multiple_views 1boy
multiple_views 1girl
multiple_views 1other

Or am I misunderstanding what you're trying to search for?

Yes, he means posts that would be tagged solo if all the other views were removed, that wouldn't be the case with for example post #3476079 which your first search turned up.

Unbreakable said:

Many of those would be solved with chartags:1 but there are a couple of cases where it wouldn't work like: cosplay, original nameless characters and Fate.

There's also the case of images featuring pictures of other characters, or their likenesses in merchandise form such as stickers or objects. The Pokémon creatures, for instance, are often inspirations for object and clothing designs such as the Goldeen-print kimono in post #3354134.

iridescent_slime said:

multiple_views 1boy -1girl -multiple_girls
multiple_views 1girl -1boy -multiple_boys

Or am I misunderstanding what you're trying to search for?

I was only thinking in terms of using a single tag; I suppose with those searches it is possible. However, if a character known to change genders is depicted in a multiple_views post as both a boy and a girl in at least one seperate view each, then that search will not find that post - the searches you provided are not infallible. This is a very specific scenario, however, and I don't think it will crop up often at all.