searxng/searx/infopage/en/search-syntax.md

Search syntax

SearXNG comes with a search syntax by with you can modify the categories, engines, languages and more. See the {{link('preferences', 'preferences')}} for the list of engines, categories and languages.

! select engine and category

To set category and/or engine names use a ! prefix. To give a few examples:

• search in wikipedia for paris

  • {{search('!wp paris')}}
  • {{search('!wikipedia paris')}}

• search in category map for paris

  • {{search('!map paris')}}

• image search

  • {{search('!images Wau Holland')}}

Abbreviations of the engines and languages are also accepted. Engine/category modifiers are chain able and inclusive. E.g. with {{search('!map !ddg !wp paris')}} search in map category and duckduckgo and wikipedia for paris.

: select language

To select language filter use a : prefix. To give an example:

• search wikipedia by a custom language

  • {{search(':fr !wp Wau Holland')}}

!! external bangs

SearXNG supports the external bangs from ddg. To directly jump to a external search page use the !! prefix. To give an example:

• search wikipedia by a custom language

  • {{search('!!wfr Wau Holland')}}

Please note, your search will be performed directly in the external search engine, SearXNG cannot protect your privacy on this.

Special Queries

In the {{link('preferences', 'preferences')}} page you find keywords for special queries. To give a few examples:

• generate a random UUID

  • {{search('random uuid')}}

• find the average

  • {{search('avg 123 548 2.04 24.2')}}

• show user agent of your browser (needs to be activated)

  • {{search('user-agent')}}

• convert strings to different hash digests (needs to be activated)

  • {{search('md5 lorem ipsum')}}
  • {{search('sha512 lorem ipsum')}}