# Issue searches

An issue search in Google Issue Tracker returns all issues that match the
specified search criteria. You specify the search criteria using the
[search query language](https://developers.google.com/issue-tracker/concepts/search-query-language). Search results are returned as a
[customizable and savable table](https://developers.google.com/issue-tracker/concepts/search-results).

An issue search lets you broadly query all issues in Issue Tracker, or to create
very specific queries using multiple conditions for a search. Note that while
you can search for issues that are reported in specific components, your results
don't include components themselves. For information on performing component
searches, see the guide on how to [find a component](https://developers.google.com/issue-tracker/guides/find-a-component).

You perform all searches using the search bar that appears at the top of Issue
Tracker. The search bar has an autocomplete function that helps you select
fields and certain field values.

You can open the [search builder](https://developers.google.com/issue-tracker/guides/search-builder) which makes it easier to perform more
advanced searches by using the drop-down button on the right-hand side of the
search bar.

![](https://developers.google.com/issue-tracker/images/public/search-bar.png)

You can [save searches](https://developers.google.com/issue-tracker/concepts/saved-searches) that you create.

## Search builder

The search builder lets you construct a search in Issue Tracker using a visual
interface. You can use the visual interface to build a search without having to
manually construct search criteria in the [Search Query Language](https://developers.google.com/issue-tracker/concepts/search-query-language).

You can activate the search builder by clicking the down-arrow button at the
right side of the search bar. You can then switch back to the search bar by
clicking the close button in the top right corner. However, once you start
building a search, you might encounter problems switching to the search bar if
Issue Tracker cannot convert the criteria you specify. In these cases, Issue
Tracker returns an error.

## Search with the search bar

You can construct a search query manually by using the search bar. For help
constructing a search manually, see:

- [Search with the Search Bar](https://developers.google.com/issue-tracker/guides/search-editor)
- [Search Query Language](https://developers.google.com/issue-tracker/concepts/search-query-language)
- [Search Query Reference](https://developers.google.com/issue-tracker/references/search-query-language-labels)

## Search within a component and its children

When you specify a [component](https://developers.google.com/issue-tracker/concepts/components) in a search query, Issue
Tracker only searches for issues associated with that exact component. However,
you can choose to expand the search scope to child components in both the search
builder and search editor.

### Search builder

To the right of the component text field is a subcomponent folder symbol. If the
symbol is disabled, only the exact component you specify is used in the search,
while issues associated with child components are ignored. If the symbol is
enabled, such as in the following screenshot, issues associated with both the
component you selected and any of its child components are counted as matches.

![The search builder showing a component search with subcomponents enabled.](https://developers.google.com/issue-tracker/images/public/search-builder-component.png)

### Search bar

If you want to match issues that are associated with a component or any of its
child components, use a `+` after the component ID number. For example,
`componentid:46046+` returns issues associated with the component whose ID
number is 46046 and any issues associated with a child of 46046.

<br />

## Search criteria

The search bar shows the criteria for the last search that was run in Issue
Tracker from the current browser window. If no search has been run from the
window, the search bar is blank. This can be an explicit search using the search
bar, search builder, or search editor. It can also be an implicit search
initiated using a hotlist link or a link in the left navigation pane.