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Search Modes

SearchAnything offers two powerful search modes:

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Quick Search (Keyword Matching)

Best for: Instant results, exact matches, known phrases Quick Search performs fast keyword matching across your indexed content. Results appear instantly as you type. 
GET /api/search?q=quarterly+revenue&mode=quick
Characteristics:
  • ⚡ Ultra-fast response (~100ms)
  • 🎯 Exact keyword matches
  • 📍 Precise location tracking (page, line, timestamp)
  • 🔍 Best for known phrases and specific terms

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AI Search (Semantic + Summary)

Best for: Complex queries, finding concepts, summarizing information AI Search uses semantic understanding to find content by meaning, not just exact words. It can also summarize findings across multiple documents. 
GET /api/search?q=what+were+the+main+challenges&mode=ai
Characteristics:
  • 🧠 Semantic understanding (finds synonyms and related concepts)
  • 📊 Cross-document synthesis
  • 💡 AI-generated summaries
  • ⏱️ Slower (~2-5s) but more powerful

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When to Use Each Mode

Use CaseRecommended Mode
Finding specific quote or numberQuick Search
Searching by file nameQuick Search
Understanding themes across documentsAI Search
Answering questions that require synthesisAI Search
Real-time search-as-you-typeQuick Search
Research and analysisAI Search

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Example Comparison

Query: “What are the security features?” Quick Search returns:
  • Exact matches for “security features” across all files
  • Each match shown separately with location
  • Fast, precise, minimal processing
AI Search returns:
  • All related security concepts (authentication, encryption, access control)
  • Synthesized answer combining multiple sources
  • Citations linking back to original content
  • Contextual understanding of your question

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API Parameters

Both modes support the same parameters:
  • q: Search query (required)
  • limit: Max results (default: 50, max: 100)
  • mode: quick or ai (default: quick)
# Quick search with 20 results
GET /api/search?q=revenue&mode=quick&limit=20

# AI search for comprehensive answer
GET /api/search?q=what+are+the+main+findings&mode=ai