Basic Search
To search for documentation:Browse results
Results appear instantly as you type. Use arrow keys to navigate or click on a result
Search Syntax
Zeal supports several search modifiers to help you find exactly what you need.Filtering by Docset
You can limit your search to specific docsets using the colon (:) separator:
The docset name is case-insensitive. Both
Python:list and python:list work the same way.Double Colon in Queries
If your search term contains a double colon (::), it will be preserved in the search query. This is common in languages like C++, Ruby, and Perl:
std::vector is treated as part of the search term, not a separator.
Searching Multiple Docsets
You can search across multiple specific docsets by separating them with commas:Fuzzy Search
Fuzzy search allows you to find results even with minor typos or when you don’t remember the exact name.How Fuzzy Search Works
With fuzzy search enabled, Zeal will match results that are similar to your query, even if they don’t match exactly:- “arlist” might match “ArrayList”
- “strvec” might match “std::vector”
- “setTypFa” might match “setTypeface”
Search Results
Search results are organized hierarchically:- Results are grouped by docset
- Each result shows the symbol type (class, method, function, etc.)
- Icons indicate the type of documentation entry
Navigating Results
Keyboard navigation
Keyboard navigation
Mouse navigation
Mouse navigation
Search Tips
Be specific
Use docset filters when you know which library you’re looking in. This returns more relevant results faster.
Start simple
Begin with a simple query and add filters if you get too many results.
Use autocomplete
Zeal suggests docset names as you type. Press Tab to autocomplete.
No wildcards needed
Zeal automatically searches for partial matches, so you don’t need wildcards like
* or ?.Examples
Here are some practical search examples:| Query | Description |
|---|---|
array | Search for “array” in all docsets |
python:list | Search for “list” only in Python docs |
c++:std::vector | Search for std::vector in C++ docs |
javascript,nodejs:http | Search for “http” in JavaScript and Node.js docs |
django,flask:form | Search for “form” in Django and Flask docs |
java:setTypeFa | Fuzzy search for methods like setTypeface in Java |