Slack Search

1---2name: slack-search3description: Guidance for effectively searching Slack to find messages, files, channels, and people4---5 6# Slack Search7 8This skill provides guidance for effectively searching Slack to find messages, files, and information.9 10## When to Use11 12Apply this skill whenever you need to find information in Slack — including when a user asks you to locate messages, conversations, files, or people, or when you need to gather context before answering a question about what's happening in Slack.13 14## Search Tools Overview15 16| Tool | Use When |17|------|----------|18| `slack_search_public` | Searching public channels only. Does not require user consent. |19| `slack_search_public_and_private` | Searching all channels including private, DMs, and group DMs. Requires user consent. |20| `slack_search_channels` | Finding channels by name or description. |21| `slack_search_users` | Finding people by name, email, or role. |22 23## Search Strategy24 25### Start Broad, Then Narrow26 271. Begin with a simple keyword or natural language question.282. If too many results, add filters (`in:`, `from:`, date ranges).293. If too few results, remove filters and try synonyms or related terms.30 31### Choose the Right Search Mode32 33- **Natural language questions** (e.g., "What is the deadline for project X?") — Best for fuzzy, conceptual searches where you don't know exact keywords.34- **Keyword search** (e.g., `project X deadline`) — Best for finding specific, exact content.35 36### Use Multiple Searches37 38Don't rely on a single search. Break complex questions into smaller searches:39- Search for the topic first40- Then search for specific people's contributions41- Then search in specific channels42 43## Search Modifiers Reference44 45### Location Filters46- `in:channel-name` — Search within a specific channel47- `in:<#C123456>` — Search in channel by ID48- `-in:channel-name` — Exclude a channel49- `in:<@U123456>` — Search in DMs with a user50 51### User Filters52- `from:<@U123456>` — Messages from a specific user (by ID)53- `from:username` — Messages from a user (by Slack username)54- `to:me` — Messages sent directly to you55 56### Content Filters57- `is:thread` — Only threaded messages58- `has:pin` — Pinned messages59- `has:link` — Messages containing links60- `has:file` — Messages with file attachments61- `has::emoji:` — Messages with a specific reaction62 63### Date Filters64- `before:YYYY-MM-DD` — Messages before a date65- `after:YYYY-MM-DD` — Messages after a date66- `on:YYYY-MM-DD` — Messages on a specific date67- `during:month` — Messages during a specific month (e.g., `during:january`)68 69### Text Matching70- `"exact phrase"` — Match an exact phrase71- `-word` — Exclude messages containing a word72- `wild*` — Wildcard matching (minimum 3 characters before `*`)73 74## File Search75 76To search for files, use the `content_types="files"` parameter with type filters:77- `type:images` — Image files78- `type:documents` — Document files79- `type:pdfs` — PDF files80- `type:spreadsheets` — Spreadsheet files81- `type:canvases` — Slack Canvases82 83Example: `content_types="files" type:pdfs budget after:2025-01-01`84 85## Following Up on Results86 87After finding relevant messages:88- Use `slack_read_thread` to get the full thread context for any threaded message.89- Use `slack_read_channel` with `oldest`/`latest` timestamps to read surrounding messages for context.90- Use `slack_read_user_profile` to identify who a user is when their ID appears in results.91 92## Common Pitfalls93 94- **Boolean operators don't work.** `AND`, `OR`, `NOT` are not supported. Use spaces (implicit AND) and `-` for exclusion.95- **Parentheses don't work.** Don't try to group search terms with `()`.96- **Search is not real-time.** Very recent messages (last few seconds) may not appear in search results. Use `slack_read_channel` for the most recent messages.97- **Private channel access.** Use `slack_search_public_and_private` when you need to include private channels, but note this requires user consent.