Documentation for JIRA 5.2. Documentation for other versions of JIRA is available too. 
JIRA provides a powerful issue search facility. You can search for issues across projects, versions and components using a range of search criteria. JIRA also makes custom fields available as search criteria, allowing you to refine your searches even further.
The search can be saved as an issue filter in JIRA, allowing you to recall the same search and run it again or even share it with other users.
You can also modify and reuse the search results. Search results are shown in the issue navigator, which lets you sort issues and action individual issues. The search results can also be shared, exported and shown on your dashboard.
On this page:
Step 1. Define your search criteria
The first step in searching for issues is to define the criteria for your new search. You can define your search criteria in three different ways: using the quick search, using the basic search or using the advanced search.
If you have saved a search previously (i.e. as an issue filter) and want to run it again, you can run the filter which will load the saved search criteria.
| Search method | Description | Example screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| Quick search | The quick search is the fastest way to define search criteria. However, it is less precise than other search methods for complex queries (e.g. project = JIRA AND status = Open AND priority = High). The quick search is in the navigation bar. For instructions, see Using Quick Search. |  |
| Basic search | The basic search is more precise than the quick search, but easier to use than the advanced search. It provides a user-friendly interface that lets you define complex queries, without needing to know how to use JQL.The basic search is part of the issue navigator. For instructions, see Basic Searching. |  |
| Advanced search | The advanced search is the most powerful of the three search methods. You can specify criteria that cannot be defined in the other searchs (e.g. 'ORDER BY' clause). However, you will need to know how to construct structured queries using the JIRA Query Language (JQL) to use the advanced search. The basic search is part of the issue navigator. For instructions, see Advanced Searching. |  |
About issue filters
An issue filter is a set of saved search criteria. An issue filter may be predefined in JIRA, i.e. a system filter (My Open Issues, Reported by Me, Recently Viewed, All Issues). An issue filter may also be a set of search criteria that have been defined and saved by a user.
To use an issue filter, simply click it. Your favourite filters are shown on the issue navigator. You can view all of your filters as well as find filters shared with you, via the issue navigator.
When you run an issue filter, the saved search criteria will be loaded in the issue navigator. The criteria will be displayed in either the basic search or advanced search, depending on which search you are using at the time.
For more information about issue filters, see Saving Searches ('Issue Filters').
Step 2. Modify the search results
Once you have defined and run your search, you can optionally modify the search results. The JIRA issue navigator lets you change the sort order of the search results, as well as action each of the individual issues.
For instructions, see Using the Issue Navigator.
Screenshot: Example search results in the issue navigator
Step 3. Save your search
If you want to run your search again in future, you can save your search as an issue filter. Simply click Save as and enter a name for the filter. The filter will be created and added to your favourite filters.
For more information creating issue filters, see Saving Searches ('Issue Filters').
Step 4. Working with the search results
You can export or share the search results in a number of different formats. Search results can be shared via email or RSS. You can export the search results to a number of formats (e.g. Microsoft Excel). You can also display the search results on your dashboard as a list or a chart.
For more information, see Working with Search Results.
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