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The search feature helps you quickly find posts and discussions across the forum. Search covers post titles, post bodies, and usernames.
1

Find the Search Box

Look for the search input (usually marked with a query parameter q in the URL).
2

Enter Your Query

Type the keywords you want to search for.
3

View Results

Posts matching your search appear in the main feed.
Search works on both the home page (Top) and New page, maintaining the respective sort order.

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What Gets Searched

The search engine looks through:
  1. Post Titles: Primary search target for finding relevant discussions
  2. Post Bodies: The text content of posts
  3. Usernames: Find all posts by a specific user
Search is case-insensitive, so “Example”, “example”, and “EXAMPLE” all return the same results.

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Search Behavior

Search uses partial matching:
  • Substring search: Your query can appear anywhere in the title, body, or username
  • Pattern: Matches are found using ILIKE '%query%'
  • Multiple words: All words in your query must appear (in any order)

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Search Examples

Finds posts with titles or bodies containing:
  • “Database design tips”
  • “PostgreSQL database setup”
  • “My database optimization journey”
  • Any user named “database_admin”
Finds posts where both “self” AND “hosting” appear in the title, body, or username:
  • “Self-hosting best practices”
  • “Hosting guide for self-reliance”
  • “Guide to hosting your self-hosted apps”

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Filtering by Tags

Combine search with tag filtering for precise results:
1

Select a Tag

Click any tag to filter posts by that tag.
2

Add a Search Query

The URL will show both tag=TagName and q=search+term.
3

View Filtered Results

Only posts with that tag AND matching your search term appear.
Tag filtering narrows results to specific categories, making search more effective in large forums.

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Search and Post Ranking

Search works differently depending on which view you’re in:

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Top View (Default)

  • Search results still use the ranking algorithm
  • Posts with more points and recent timestamps rank higher
  • Formula: points / (age_in_hours + 2)^1.5
  • Recently upvoted posts matching your query appear first

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New View

  • Search results are sorted by creation date only
  • Most recent matching posts appear first
  • Points and ranking don’t affect order
This lets you choose whether you want popular results or chronological results.

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Search Syntax and Tips

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Basic Usage

Simple query: database
Multiple words: database optimization
User search: username
Tag + search: (select tag first, then add query)

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Advanced Tips

Finding Specific Content

  • Use specific keywords rather than full sentences
  • Try variations of your search term (“self-host”, “selfhost”, “self hosting”)
  • Search for unique phrases from the post you’re looking for
  • Search usernames if you remember who posted it

Refining Results

  • Start broad, then narrow with tag filters
  • Try shorter keywords if you get no results
  • Remember that all words in your query must match
  • Check spelling—search is literal (though case-insensitive)
Special characters and punctuation are included in the search. Searching for “self-host” is different from “self host”.

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Search Limitations

Current search functionality:
  • No comment search: Only post titles, bodies, and usernames are searched
  • No operators: Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) are not supported
  • No fuzzy matching: Exact substring matches only (no spell correction)
  • No stemming: “host” won’t match “hosting” unless both are present
If you can’t find something, try:
  • Searching for a shorter keyword
  • Browsing by tag instead
  • Checking the user’s profile if you remember the author
  • Looking through the “new” feed for recent posts

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Best Practices

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For Finding Content

  1. Start specific: Use unique keywords from the post you remember
  2. Broaden if needed: Remove words to expand your search
  3. Use tags: Combine search with tag filters for better precision
  4. Try usernames: Search for the author if you know who posted it

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For Making Your Content Searchable

When creating posts:
  1. Clear titles: Use descriptive titles with searchable keywords
  2. Add context: Include relevant terms in your post body
  3. Use tags: Proper tagging helps users filter searches
  4. Avoid jargon: Common terms are more searchable than acronyms
Good post titles improve discoverability. “Database Optimization Tips” is more searchable than “Some thoughts on DBs”.

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Search Performance

Search is optimized for quick results:
  • Uses database indexes for fast lookup
  • Results paginate like normal post feeds (20 per page)
  • Search queries are processed server-side
  • No client-side search or autocomplete (keeps the interface minimal)
Very broad searches (like single common letters) may return many results. Use more specific terms for better performance.

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Combining Search with Navigation

Search integrates with forum navigation:
  • Pagination: Search results are paginated (use p parameter)
  • Sorting: Respects Top/New view selection
  • Tags: Works alongside tag filtering
  • URL structure: ?q=search&tag=TagName&p=2
You can bookmark specific search/filter combinations to quickly return to them.

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