NAME

       aerc-search - search and filter patterns and options for aerc(1)

SYNTAX

       This syntax is common to all backends.

       :filter  [-rubae]  [-x  <flag>]  [-X  <flag>] [-H <header>:[<value>]] [-f <from>] [-t <to>] [-c <cc>] [-d
       <start[..end]>] [<terms>...]
       :search [-rubae] [-x <flag>] [-X <flag>] [-H <header>:[<value>]] [-f <from>]  [-t  <to>]  [-c  <cc>]  [-d
       <start[..end]>] [<terms>...]
           Searches the current folder for messages matching the given set of conditions.

           :filter restricts the displayed messages to only the search results.

           Each space separated term of <terms>, if provided, is searched case-insensitively among subject lines
           unless -b or -a are provided.

           -r: Search for read messages

           -u: Search for unread messages

           -x <flag>, -X <flag>: Restrict search to messages with or without <flag>
               Use  -x  to search for messages with the flag set. Use -X to search for messages without the flag
               set.

               Possible values are:
                   Seen
                       Read messages
                   Answered
                       Replied messages
                   Forwarded
                       Forwarded messages
                   Flagged
                       Flagged messages
                   Draft
                       Draft messages

           -H <header>:[<value>]:
               Search in the headers of the messages for a specific <header> that matches <value>,  <value>  can
               be  omitted  to only search for a <header>. If either the <header> or the <value> contain a space
               then the whole argument needs to be escaped with quotes, note: spaces around <value> are trimmed.

           -b: Search in the body of the messages

           -a: Search in the entire text of the messages

           -e: Instruct the backend to use a custom search extension
               (such as X-GM-EXT-1 if available). Search terms are expected in  <terms>;  other  flags  will  be
               ignored.

           -f <from>: Search for messages from <from>

           -t <to>: Search for messages to <to>

           -c <cc>: Search for messages cc'ed to <cc>

           -d <since[..until]>:
               Search  for messages within a particular date range between since and until, excluding the latter
               (in mathematical notation: search for messages in the [since,  until)  interval).  until  can  be
               omitted to only search for <since> to present.

               Spaces and underscores are allowed in relative dates to improve readability.

               YYYY-MM-DD

               today, yesterday

               (this|last) (year|month|week)

               Weekdays, Monthnames
                   Can also be abbreviated, so Monday..Tuesday can be written as Mon..Tue and February..March as
                   Feb..Mar.

               <N> (y[ear]|m[onth]|w[eek]|d[ay])
                   <N>  is  a  positive  integer  that represents the number of time units in the past. Multiple
                   relative terms can be accumulated. The units can also be abbreviated by a single letter  such
                   that  yesterday would correspond to 1d (equivalent to 1 day or 1_day) and 8 days ago would be
                   either 1w1d or 8d.

CUSTOM IMAP EXTENSIONS

       The Gmail IMAP extension (X-GM-EXT-1) can be used  for  searching  and  filtering.  To  use  this  custom
       extension,  make sure it is activated (see aerc-imap(5)) and use the extension -e flag in your :filter or
       :search commands.

           Example:

               :filter -e filename:pdf from:bob :filter -e has:attachment newer_than:2d

               :search -e is:read is:starred :search -e list:~rjarry/aerc-devel@lists.sr.ht

NOTMUCH

       For notmuch, it is possible to avoid using the above flags and only rely on notmuch search syntax.

       :filter query...
       :search query...
           You can use the full notmuch query language as described in notmuch-search-terms(7).

           The query will only apply on top of the active folder query.

           Example, jump to next unread:

               :search tag:unread

SEE ALSO

       aerc(1) aerc-config(5)

AUTHORS

       Originally created by Drew DeVault and maintained by Robin Jarry who is assisted  by  other  open  source
       contributors. For more information about aerc development, see https://sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc/.

                                                   2025-01-25                                     AERC-SEARCH(1)