Searching Records

Find records quickly with Simpl's fast, intuitive search functionality.

Overview

Simpl provides a simple search experience that works across all text columns in your table. Just start typing to find matching records.

Search input with results

How Search Works

Text Column Search

Search queries are matched against all text-type columns in your table, including:

• text
• varchar
• char
• citext

Non-text columns (numbers, dates, JSON, etc.) are not included in search results.

Case-Insensitive Matching

All searches are case-insensitive. Searching for "john", "John", or "JOHN" will return the same results.

Partial Matching

Search finds partial matches anywhere in the field value:

Search Query	Matches
smith	"John Smith", "Smithson", "Blacksmith"
@gmail	"user@gmail.com", "test@gmail.org"
2024	"Invoice-2024-001", "Report 2024"

Multiple Words

When you search for multiple words, results must contain all words (AND logic):

• Searching john smith finds records containing both "john" AND "smith"
• Words can appear in different columns
• Word order doesn't matter

Using Search

Starting a Search

1. Click the search input at the top of the list view
2. Type your search query
3. Results update automatically as you type

Search input focused

Search Debouncing

Simpl waits 300ms after you stop typing before executing the search. This prevents unnecessary queries while you're still typing.

Viewing Results

Search results appear in the same list view format:

• Records matching your query are displayed
• Up to 50 results are shown
• Same card layout with title and field pills

Search results list

Clearing Search

To return to the full table view:

• Clear the search input
• Click the X button in the search field
• Press Escape while in the search input

Search Tips

Finding Specific Records

For best results:

1. Use unique identifiers when you know them (IDs, emails, order numbers)
2. Start broad, then narrow - begin with one term, add more to filter
3. Try variations if your first search doesn't match

Dealing with Large Tables

For tables with many records:

• Search is often faster than scrolling
• Combine search with filters for precision
• Consider using sorting to organize results

What Search Doesn't Do

Current limitations to be aware of:

• No fuzzy matching - Typos won't be corrected automatically
• No full-text search - Uses simple LIKE matching, not PostgreSQL full-text search
• Text columns only - Numbers, dates, and JSON aren't searchable via the search bar

For more precise queries, use Filters.

Search and Other Features

Search + Filters

Search and filters work together:

1. Apply a filter to narrow your dataset
2. Search within the filtered results
3. Both conditions must be met for records to appear

Search + Sorting

Your sort order is preserved while searching:

• Results are sorted according to your current sort settings
• Change sort order to reorganize search results

Search in URL

Search queries are reflected in the URL, making it easy to:

• Share search results with teammates
• Bookmark common searches
• Use browser back/forward to navigate search history

Example Searches

Use Case	Search Query
Find user by email	john@example.com
Find orders from a company	acme corp
Find records mentioning a feature	dark mode
Find by partial ID	abc-123
Find by name fragments	john sm

Next Steps

For more precise data queries, explore:

• Advanced Filtering - Filter by any column with type-aware operators
• Sorting Records - Order your results