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
- Begin with a simple keyword or natural language question.
- If too many results, add filters (
in:, from:, date ranges).
- 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 channelin:<#C123456> — Search in channel by ID-in:channel-name — Exclude a channelin:<@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 messageshas:pin — Pinned messageshas:link — Messages containing linkshas:file — Messages with file attachmentshas::emoji: — Messages with a specific reaction
Date Filters
before:YYYY-MM-DD — Messages before a dateafter:YYYY-MM-DD — Messages after a dateon:YYYY-MM-DD — Messages on a specific dateduring:month — Messages during a specific month (e.g., during:january)
Text Matching
"exact phrase" — Match an exact phrase-word — Exclude messages containing a wordwild* — Wildcard matching (minimum 3 characters before *)
File Search
To search for files, use the content_types="files" parameter with type filters:
type:images — Image filestype:documents — Document filestype:pdfs — PDF filestype:spreadsheets — Spreadsheet filestype: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.
1---2name: slack-search3description: Guidance for effectively searching Slack to find messages, files, channels, and people4---5
6# Slack Search
7
8This skill provides guidance for effectively searching Slack to find messages, files, and information.
9
10## When to Use
11
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 Overview
15
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 Strategy
24
25### Start Broad, Then Narrow
26
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 Mode
32
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 Searches
37
38Don't rely on a single search. Break complex questions into smaller searches:
39- Search for the topic first
40- Then search for specific people's contributions
41- Then search in specific channels
42
43## Search Modifiers Reference
44
45### Location Filters
46- `in:channel-name` — Search within a specific channel
47- `in:<#C123456>` — Search in channel by ID
48- `-in:channel-name` — Exclude a channel
49- `in:<@U123456>` — Search in DMs with a user
50
51### User Filters
52- `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 you
55
56### Content Filters
57- `is:thread` — Only threaded messages
58- `has:pin` — Pinned messages
59- `has:link` — Messages containing links
60- `has:file` — Messages with file attachments
61- `has::emoji:` — Messages with a specific reaction
62
63### Date Filters
64- `before:YYYY-MM-DD` — Messages before a date
65- `after:YYYY-MM-DD` — Messages after a date
66- `on:YYYY-MM-DD` — Messages on a specific date
67- `during:month` — Messages during a specific month (e.g., `during:january`)
68
69### Text Matching
70- `"exact phrase"` — Match an exact phrase
71- `-word` — Exclude messages containing a word
72- `wild*` — Wildcard matching (minimum 3 characters before `*`)
73
74## File Search
75
76To search for files, use the `content_types="files"` parameter with type filters:
77- `type:images` — Image files
78- `type:documents` — Document files
79- `type:pdfs` — PDF files
80- `type:spreadsheets` — Spreadsheet files
81- `type:canvases` — Slack Canvases
82
83Example: `content_types="files" type:pdfs budget after:2025-01-01`
84
85## Following Up on Results
86
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 Pitfalls
93
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.
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