/slack-search

name: slack-search
description: Guidance for effectively searching Slack to find messages, files, channels, and people

Slack Search

This skill provides guidance for effectively searching Slack to find messages, files, and information.

When to Use

Apply 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.

Search Tools Overview

| Tool | Use When | |------|----------| | `slack_search_public` | Searching public channels only. Does not require user consent. | | `slack_search_public_and_private` | Searching all channels including private, DMs, and group DMs. Requires user consent. | | `slack_search_channels` | Finding channels by name or description. | | `slack_search_users` | Finding people by name, email, or role. |

Search Strategy

Start Broad, Then Narrow

1. Begin with a simple keyword or natural language question. 2. If too many results, add filters (`in:`, `from:`, date ranges). 3. If too few results, remove filters and try synonyms or related terms.

Choose the Right Search Mode

• **Natural language questions** (e.g., "What is the deadline for project X?") — Best for fuzzy, conceptual searches where you don't know exact keywords.
• **Keyword search** (e.g., `project X deadline`) — Best for finding specific, exact content.

Use Multiple Searches

Don't rely on a single search. Break complex questions into smaller searches:

• Search for the topic first
• Then search for specific people's contributions
• Then search in specific channels

Search Modifiers Reference

Location Filters

• `in:channel-name` — Search within a specific channel
• `in:<#C123456>` — Search in channel by ID
• `-in:channel-name` — Exclude a channel
• `in:<@U123456>` — Search in DMs with a user

User Filters

• `from:<@U123456>` — Messages from a specific user (by ID)
• `from:username` — Messages from a user (by Slack username)
• `to:me` — Messages sent directly to you

Content Filters

• `is:thread` — Only threaded messages
• `has:pin` — Pinned messages
• `has:link` — Messages containing links
• `has:file` — Messages with file attachments
• `has::emoji:` — Messages with a specific reaction

Date Filters

• `before:YYYY-MM-DD` — Messages before a date
• `after:YYYY-MM-DD` — Messages after a date
• `on:YYYY-MM-DD` — Messages on a specific date
• `during:month` — Messages during a specific month (e.g., `during:january`)

Text Matching

• `"exact phrase"` — Match an exact phrase
• `-word` — Exclude messages containing a word
• `wild*` — Wildcard matching (minimum 3 characters before `*`)

File Search

To search for files, use the `content_types="files"` parameter with type filters:

• `type:images` — Image files
• `type:documents` — Document files
• `type:pdfs` — PDF files
• `type:spreadsheets` — Spreadsheet files
• `type:canvases` — Slack Canvases

Example: `content_types="files" type:pdfs budget after:2025-01-01`

Following Up on Results

After finding relevant messages:

• Use `slack_read_thread` to get the full thread context for any threaded message.
• Use `slack_read_channel` with `oldest`/`latest` timestamps to read surrounding messages for context.
• Use `slack_read_user_profile` to identify who a user is when their ID appears in results.

Common Pitfalls

• **Boolean operators don't work.** `AND`, `OR`, `NOT` are not supported. Use spaces (implicit AND) and `-` for exclusion.
• **Parentheses don't work.** Don't try to group search terms with `()`.
• **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.
• **Private channel access.** Use `slack_search_public_and_private` when you need to include private channels, but note this requires user consent.