# Find Anything with Global Search

As test coverage scales from dozens of tests to thousands of steps across multiple teams, finding specific tests, reusable flows, environment presets, and previous execution reports must be instantaneous. TestOwl's **Global Search** index provides a centralized command palette accessible from anywhere in your project.

## How to open Global Search

You can activate Global Search at any time using keyboard shortcuts or the navigation bar:

- **Keyboard Shortcut**: Press `Ctrl + K` on Windows and Linux, or `Cmd + K` on macOS.
- **Navigation Bar**: Click the search input located at the top of the main sidebar.

Pressing `Esc` closes the search palette and returns focus to your active workspace view.

## What is and is not searchable

Global Search inspects your entire project index in real time:

### Searchable items:
- **Test Suites**: Suite names, descriptions, and assigned tags.
- **Test Cases**: Test case names, descriptions, priority levels, and draft/active status.
- **Reusable Flows**: Flow titles, descriptions, and referenced step actions.
- **Step Library Actions**: Built-in step types and palette definitions.
- **Environments**: Environment names, browser configurations, and assigned viewports.
- **Variables & Secrets**: Variable keys and secret names (secret values remain write-only and are never indexed or displayed).
- **Run History**: Recent run names, execution IDs, and status results.

### Non-searchable items:
- Encrypted secret values (protected for security).
- Raw captured video frame binaries.
- Historical execution logs older than your plan's retention period.

## Search syntax and filter tokens

You can type plain text queries to search across all object types simultaneously, or use structured filter tokens to narrow your search to specific asset categories:

| Filter Syntax | Description | Example Query |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `type:test` | Limits results exclusively to Test Cases | `type:test checkout` |
| `type:flow` | Limits results to reusable Flows | `type:flow authentication` |
| `type:suite` | Limits results to Test Suites | `type:suite regression` |
| `type:env` | Searches Environment profiles | `type:env mobile safari` |
| `tag:<name>` | Filters items containing a specific tag | `tag:smoke payment` |
| `status:<state>` | Filters by status (`active`, `draft`, `archived`) | `status:draft onboarding` |

## Searching inside a Test Case

In addition to the global command palette, the [Step Editor](/docs/building-tests/the-editor) includes a contextual step search bar. When viewing a complex Test Case with 40+ steps:

1. Press `Ctrl + F` (or `Cmd + F`) inside the Step Editor.
2. Type an element selector, step action type (e.g., `Wait`), or variable name.
3. The editor highlights matching steps and scrolls them into view automatically.


### Advanced fuzzy matching and keyboard navigation

Global Search uses intelligent fuzzy string matching, meaning you do not need to spell words perfectly or type exact punctuation. When navigating search results, use the Up and Down arrow keys to highlight an item, and press Enter to open it immediately. Press Ctrl + Enter (or Cmd + Enter) to open the selected test case in a new browser tab without closing your current editing session.

## Tips for organizing large projects

- **Establish Consistent Naming Conventions**: Prefix test cases with their functional area (e.g., `[Auth] Google OAuth Login`, `[Cart] Apply Coupon Code`) to make search predictions instant.
- **Leverage Tags for Sprint Alignment**: Use [Tags](/docs/data/tags) such as `#sprint-42` or `#regression-p1` to allow release leads to pull up all related test assets in a single query.
- **Archive Deprecated Tests**: Instead of deleting legacy flows, set their status to **Archived**. Archived items are hidden from default search results unless explicitly queried with `status:archived`.

## Common problems with Global Search

- **"I recently created a test but it doesn't appear in search."** The search index updates within 500 milliseconds of saving a test. If you recently imported tests via the [Import Wizard](/docs/import-test-scripts/overview), allow up to 5 seconds for large batches (100+ tests) to be fully indexed.
- **"Search shortcut conflicts with browser address bar focus."** Ensure focus is inside the TestOwl application viewport before pressing `Ctrl + K`.