Message Search

Search messages across channels using full-text search or specific field filters. Enable or disable search indexing per channel type in the Stream Dashboard.

Searching Messages

Search requires a channel filter and either a text query or message filter conditions.

// Search for messages containing text
const results = await client.search(
  { members: { $in: ["john"] } },
  "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious",
  { limit: 10 },
);

// Search with message filters
const filtered = await client.search(
  { members: { $in: ["john"] } },
  { text: { $autocomplete: "super" }, attachments: { $exists: true } },
  { limit: 10 },
);

val channelFilter = Filters.eq("cid", "messaging:my-channel")
val messageFilter = Filters.autocomplete("text", "supercali")

client.searchMessages(
  channelFilter = channelFilter,
  messageFilter = messageFilter,
  limit = 10,
).enqueue { result ->
  if (result is Result.Success) {
    val messages: List<Message> = result.value.messages
  } else {
    // Handle Result.Failure
  }
}

let controller = client.messageSearchController()
controller.loadNextMessages(limit: 10) { error in
  if let error = error {
    // Handle error
  } else {
    let messages = controller.messages
  }
}

// Search for messages containing text
final results = await client.search(
  Filter.in_('members', ['john']),
  query: 'supercalifragilisticexpialidocious',
  paginationParams: PaginationParams(limit: 10),
);

// Search with message filters
final filtered = await client.search(
  Filter.in_('members', ['john']),
  messageFilters: Filter.and([
    Filter.autoComplete('text', 'super'),
    Filter.exists('attachments'),
  ]),
  paginationParams: PaginationParams(limit: 10),
);

// Search for messages containing text
var results = await Client.SearchMessagesAsync(new StreamSearchMessagesRequest
{
  // Channel filter is required - here, channels the local user is a member of
  ChannelFilter = new IFieldFilterRule[]
  {
    ChannelFilter.Members.In("john"),
  },
  Query = "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious",
  Limit = 10,
});

foreach (var hit in results.Results)
{
  Debug.Log(hit.Message.Id); // Stateful IStreamMessage
  Debug.Log(hit.Message.Text);
  Debug.Log(hit.Message.User);
  Debug.Log(hit.Channel.Cid); // Stateful IStreamChannel (auto-watched by default)
}

// Search with message filters - mutually exclusive with Query
var filtered = await Client.SearchMessagesAsync(new StreamSearchMessagesRequest
{
  ChannelFilter = new IFieldFilterRule[]
  {
    ChannelFilter.Members.In("john"),
  },
  MessageFilter = new IFieldFilterRule[]
  {
    MessageFilter.Text.Autocomplete("super"),
    MessageFilter.AttachmentType.In("image", "video"),
  },
  Limit = 10,
  // Set to false for one-off search bars where you don't want every result
  // channel to start receiving realtime updates.
  WatchResultChannels = true,
});

from getstream.models import SearchPayload, SortParamRequest

page1 = client.chat.search(
    payload=SearchPayload(
        filter_conditions={"cid": "messaging:my-channel"},
        message_filter_conditions={"text": {"$autocomplete": "supercali"}},
        sort=[
            SortParamRequest(field="relevance", direction=-1),
            SortParamRequest(field="updated_at", direction=1),
        ],
        limit=10,
    )
)

require 'getstream_ruby'
Models = GetStream::Generated::Models

page1 = client.chat.search(Models::SearchPayload.new(
  filter_conditions: { 'cid' => 'messaging:my-channel' },
  message_filter_conditions: { 'text' => { '$autocomplete' => 'supercali' } },
  sort: [
    Models::SortParamRequest.new(field: 'relevance', direction: -1),
    Models::SortParamRequest.new(field: 'updated_at', direction: 1)
  ],
  limit: 10
))

resp, err := client.Chat().Search(ctx, &getstream.SearchRequest{
  Payload: &getstream.SearchPayload{
    Query: getstream.PtrTo("supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"),
    FilterConditions: map[string]any{
      "members": map[string]any{
        "$in": []string{"john"},
      },
    },
    Limit: getstream.PtrTo(10),
  },
})

using GetStream.Models;

var resp = await chat.SearchAsync(new SearchPayload
{
    FilterConditions = new Dictionary<string, object>
    {
        ["members"] = new Dictionary<string, object> { ["$in"] = new[] { "john" } }
    },
    Query = "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious",
    Limit = 10
});

var searchResult = chat.search(SearchRequest.builder()
    .Payload(SearchPayload.builder()
        .filterConditions(Map.of("cid", "messaging:my-channel"))
        .messageFilterConditions(Map.of("text", Map.of("$autocomplete", "supercali")))
        .limit(10)
        .build())
    .build()).execute().getData();

Query Parameters

Name	Type	Description	Default	Optional
filter_conditions	object	Channel filters. Maximum 500 channels are searched. See Querying Channels.	-
message_filter_conditions	object	Message filters. See Message Filter Conditions below. Either this or `query` is required.	-	✓
query	string	Full-text search string. Equivalent to `{text: {$q: <query>}}`. Either this or `message_filter_conditions` is required.	-	✓
limit	integer	Number of messages to return.	100	✓
offset	integer	Pagination offset. Cannot be used with `sort` or `next`.	0	✓
sort	object/array	Sort order. Use field names with `1` (ascending) or `-1` (descending).	`[{relevance: -1}, {id: 1}]`	✓
next	string	Pagination cursor. See Pagination below.	-	✓

Message Filter Conditions

Field	Description	Operators
id	Message ID	$eq, $gt, $gte, $lt, $lte, $in
text	Message text	$q, $autocomplete, $eq, $gt, $gte, $lt, $lte, $in
type	Message type. System and deleted messages are excluded	$eq, $gt, $gte, $lt, $lte, $in
parent_id	Parent message ID (for replies)	$eq, $gt, $gte, $lt, $lte, $in
reply_count	Number of replies	$eq, $gt, $gte, $lt, $lte, $in
attachments	Whether message has attachments	$exists, $eq, $gt, $gte, $lt, $lte, $in
attachments.type	Attachment type	$eq, $in
mentioned_users.id	Mentioned user ID	$contains
user.id	Sender user ID	$eq, $gt, $gte, $lt, $lte, $in
created_at	Creation timestamp	$eq, $gt, $gte, $lt, $lte, $in
updated_at	Update timestamp	$eq, $gt, $gte, $lt, $lte, $in
pinned	Whether message is pinned	$eq
custom field	Any custom field on the message	$eq, $gt, $gte, $lt, $lte, $in

Sorting

Results are sorted by relevance by default, with message ID as a tiebreaker. If your query does not use $q or $autocomplete, all results are equally relevant.

Sort by any filterable field, including custom fields. Numeric custom fields are sorted numerically; string fields are sorted lexicographically.

Pagination

Two pagination methods are available:

Offset pagination allows access to up to 1,000 results. Results are sorted by relevance and message ID. You cannot use custom sorting with offset pagination.

Cursor pagination (using next/previous) allows access to all matching results with custom sorting. The response includes next and previous cursors to navigate between pages.

const channelFilters = { cid: "messaging:my-channel" };
const messageFilters = { text: { $autocomplete: "supercali" } };

// First page with custom sorting
const page1 = await client.search(channelFilters, messageFilters, {
  sort: [{ relevance: -1 }, { updated_at: 1 }, { my_custom_field: -1 }],
  limit: 10,
});

// Next page using cursor
const page2 = await client.search(channelFilters, messageFilters, {
  limit: 10,
  next: page1.next,
});

// Previous page
const page1Again = await client.search(channelFilters, messageFilters, {
  limit: 10,
  next: page2.previous,
});

val channelFilter = Filters.eq("cid", "messaging:my-channel")
val messageFilter = Filters.autocomplete("text", "supercali")
val sort = QuerySortByField.descByName<Message>("relevance")
  .descByName("updatedAt")
  .descByName("my_custom_field")

var nextPage: String? = null

client.searchMessages(
  sort = sort,
  limit = 10,
  channelFilter = channelFilter,
  messageFilter = messageFilter,
).enqueue { result ->
  if (result is Result.Success) {
    nextPage = result.value.next
    val messages: List<Message> = result.value.messages
  }
}

// Next page
var previousPage: String? = null
client.searchMessages(
  limit = 10,
  channelFilter = channelFilter,
  messageFilter = messageFilter,
  next = nextPage,
).enqueue { result ->
  if (result is Result.Success) {
    previousPage = result.value.previous
    val messages: List<Message> = result.value.messages
  }
}

// Previous page
client.searchMessages(
  limit = 10,
  channelFilter = channelFilter,
  messageFilter = messageFilter,
  next = previousPage,
).enqueue { /* ... */ }

final channelFilter = Filter.equal('cid', 'messaging:my-channel');
final messageFilter = Filter.autoComplete('text', 'supercali');
final sort = [
  SortOption<Message>.desc('relevance'),
  SortOption<Message>.asc('updated_at'),
  SortOption<Message>.desc('my_custom_field'),
];

// First page with custom sorting
final page1 = await client.search(
  channelFilter,
  messageFilters: messageFilter,
  sort: sort,
  paginationParams: PaginationParams(limit: 10),
);

// Next page using cursor
final page2 = await client.search(
  channelFilter,
  messageFilters: messageFilter,
  paginationParams: PaginationParams(limit: 10, next: page1.next),
);

var channelFilters = new IFieldFilterRule[]
{
  ChannelFilter.Cid.EqualsTo("messaging:my-channel"),
};
var messageFilters = new IFieldFilterRule[]
{
  MessageFilter.Text.Autocomplete("supercali"),
};

// First page with custom sorting
var page1 = await Client.SearchMessagesAsync(new StreamSearchMessagesRequest
{
  ChannelFilter = channelFilters,
  MessageFilter = messageFilters,
  Sort = MessagesSort
    .OrderByDescending(MessageSortFieldName.Relevance)
    .ThenByAscending(MessageSortFieldName.UpdatedAt),
  Limit = 10,
});

// Next page using the cursor returned by the previous response
var page2 = await Client.SearchMessagesAsync(new StreamSearchMessagesRequest
{
  ChannelFilter = channelFilters,
  MessageFilter = messageFilters,
  Limit = 10,
  Next = page1.Next,
});

// Previous page
var page1Again = await Client.SearchMessagesAsync(new StreamSearchMessagesRequest
{
  ChannelFilter = channelFilters,
  MessageFilter = messageFilters,
  Limit = 10,
  Next = page2.Previous,
});

from getstream.models import SearchPayload, SortParamRequest

channel_filters = {"cid": "messaging:my-channel"}
message_filters = {"text": {"$autocomplete": "supercali"}}
sort = [
    SortParamRequest(field="relevance", direction=-1),
    SortParamRequest(field="updated_at", direction=1),
    SortParamRequest(field="my_custom_field", direction=-1),
]

# First page
page1 = client.chat.search(
    payload=SearchPayload(
        filter_conditions=channel_filters,
        message_filter_conditions=message_filters,
        sort=sort,
        limit=10,
    )
)

# Next page
page2 = client.chat.search(
    payload=SearchPayload(
        filter_conditions=channel_filters,
        message_filter_conditions=message_filters,
        limit=10,
        next=page1.data.next,
    )
)

# Previous page
page1_again = client.chat.search(
    payload=SearchPayload(
        filter_conditions=channel_filters,
        message_filter_conditions=message_filters,
        limit=10,
        next=page2.data.previous,
    )
)

require 'getstream_ruby'
Models = GetStream::Generated::Models

channel_filters = { 'cid' => 'messaging:my-channel' }
message_filters = { 'text' => { '$autocomplete' => 'supercali' } }
sort = [
  Models::SortParamRequest.new(field: 'relevance', direction: -1),
  Models::SortParamRequest.new(field: 'updated_at', direction: 1),
  Models::SortParamRequest.new(field: 'my_custom_field', direction: -1)
]

# First page
page1 = client.chat.search(Models::SearchPayload.new(
  filter_conditions: channel_filters,
  message_filter_conditions: message_filters,
  sort: sort,
  limit: 10
))

# Next page
page2 = client.chat.search(Models::SearchPayload.new(
  filter_conditions: channel_filters,
  message_filter_conditions: message_filters,
  limit: 10,
  next: page1.next
))

# Previous page
page1_again = client.chat.search(Models::SearchPayload.new(
  filter_conditions: channel_filters,
  message_filter_conditions: message_filters,
  limit: 10,
  next: page2.previous
))

// First page
$response = $client->search(new Models\SearchPayload(
    filterConditions: $filters,
    query: "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious",
    limit: 10,
));

// Next page
$response = $client->search(new Models\SearchPayload(
    filterConditions: $filters,
    query: "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious",
    limit: 10,
    next: $response->getData()->next,
));

// First page
resp, err := client.Chat().Search(ctx, &getstream.SearchRequest{
  Payload: &getstream.SearchPayload{
    Query: getstream.PtrTo("supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"),
    FilterConditions: map[string]any{
      "members": map[string]any{
        "$in": []string{"john"},
      },
    },
    Limit: getstream.PtrTo(10),
  },
})

// Next page
client.Chat().Search(ctx, &getstream.SearchRequest{
  Payload: &getstream.SearchPayload{
    Query: getstream.PtrTo("supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"),
    FilterConditions: map[string]any{
      "members": map[string]any{
        "$in": []string{"john"},
      },
    },
    Next:  resp.Data.Next,
    Limit: getstream.PtrTo(10),
  },
})

using GetStream.Models;

// First page
var resp = await chat.SearchAsync(new SearchPayload
{
    FilterConditions = new Dictionary<string, object>
    {
        ["members"] = new Dictionary<string, object> { ["$in"] = new[] { "john" } }
    },
    Query = "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious",
    Limit = 10
});

// Next page
var nextResp = await chat.SearchAsync(new SearchPayload
{
    FilterConditions = new Dictionary<string, object>
    {
        ["members"] = new Dictionary<string, object> { ["$in"] = new[] { "john" } }
    },
    Query = "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious",
    Limit = 10,
    Next = resp.Data.Next
});

var searchResult = chat.search(SearchRequest.builder()
    .Payload(SearchPayload.builder()
        .filterConditions(Map.of("cid", "messaging:my-channel"))
        .messageFilterConditions(Map.of("text", Map.of("$autocomplete", "supercali")))
        .sort(List.of(
            SortParamRequest.builder().field("relevance").direction(-1).build(),
            SortParamRequest.builder().field("updated_at").direction(1).build()))
        .limit(2)
        .build())
    .build()).execute().getData();

// Next page
var nextResult = chat.search(SearchRequest.builder()
    .Payload(SearchPayload.builder()
        .filterConditions(Map.of("cid", "messaging:my-channel"))
        .messageFilterConditions(Map.of("text", Map.of("$autocomplete", "supercali")))
        .sort(List.of(
            SortParamRequest.builder().field("relevance").direction(-1).build(),
            SortParamRequest.builder().field("updated_at").direction(1).build()))
        .limit(2)
        .next(searchResult.getNext())
        .build())
    .build()).execute().getData();

Pinned Messages

Silent & System Messages