*** Using Search Parameters in GMail - Trick ***

What do you do when you want to search something? We google it.
Why google? Because of its amazing search techniques to deliver accurate results.
Google provides the same searchability in Gmail too.
Within Gmail searchbox, you can enter a word or multiple words that appears anywhere in your mails.

For more specific search, you can use gmail’s search options nest to to search box. You get most of the options like ‘From’, ‘To’, ‘Subject’ but what if you want to search mails with only attachments or a mail with specific labels. Gmail Advance search operators come handy at this time. These operators are query words or symbols that perform special actions in Gmail search and allow you to find what you’re looking for quickly and accurately. They can also be used to set up filters so you can organize your inbox automatically.

Complete list is here.

Operator	Definition	Example(s)
from:	Used to specify the sender	Example - from:akshay Meaning - Messages from Amy
to:	Used to specify a recipient	Example - to:david Meaning - All messages that were sent to David (by you or someone else)
subject:	Search for words in the subject line	Example - subject:dinner Meaning - Messages that have the word “dinner” in the subject
OR	Search for messages matching term A or term B* *OR must be in all caps	Example - from:akshay OR from:david Meaning - Messages from Amy or from David
- (hyphen)	Used to exclude messages from your search	Example - dinner -movie Meaning - Messages that contain the word “dinner” but do not contain the word “movie”
label:	Search for messages by label* *There isn’t a search operator for unlabeled messages	Example - from:akshay label:friends Meaning - Messages from Amy that have the label “friends”Example - from:david label:my-family Meaning - Messages from David that have the label “My Family”
has:attachment	Search for messages with an attachment	Example - from:david has:attachment Meaning - Messages from David that have an attachment
list:	Search for messages on mailing lists	Example - list:info@example.com Meaning - Messages with the words info@example.com in the headers, sent to or from this list
filename:	Search for an attachment by name or type	Example - filename:homework.txt Meaning - Messages with an attachment named “physicshomework.txt” Example - label:work filename:pdf Meaning - Messages labeled “work” that also have a PDF file as an attachment
” “ (quotes)	Used to search for an exact phrase* *Capitalization isn’t taken into consideration	Example - “i’m feeling lucky” Meaning - Messages containing the phrase “i’m feeling lucky” or “I’m feeling lucky” Example - subject:”dinner and a movie” Meaning - Messages containing the phrase “dinner and a movie” in the subject
( )	Used to group words Used to specify terms that shouldn’t be excluded	Example - from:akshay(dinner OR movie) Meaning - Messages from Amy that contain either the word “dinner” or the word “movie” Example - subject:(dinner movie) Meaning - Messages in which the subject contains both the word “dinner” and the word “movie”
in:anywhere	Search for messages anywhere in Gmail* *Messages in Spam and Trash are excluded from searches by default	Example - in:anywhere movie Meaning - Messages in All Mail, Spam, and Trash that contain the word “movie”
in:inbox in:trash in:spam	Search for messages in Inbox, Trash, or Spam	Example - in:trash from:akshay Meaning - Messages from Amy that are in Trash
is:starred is:unread is:read	Search for messages that are starred, unread or read	Example - is:read is:starred from:David Meaning - Messages from David that have been read and are marked with a star
cc: bcc:	Used to specify recipients in the cc: or bcc: fields* *Search on bcc: cannot retrieve messages on which you were blind carbon copied	Example - cc:david Meaning - Messages that were cc-ed to David
after: before:	Search for messages sent during a certain period of time* *Dates must be in yyyy/mm/dd format.	Example - after:2008/07/16 before:2008/08/18 Meaning - Messages sent between July 16, 2008 and August 18, 2008.* *More precisely: Messages sent after 12:00 AM (or 00:00) July 16, 2008 and before Augut 18, 2008.
is:chat	Search for chat messages	Example - is:chat money Meaning - Any chat message including the word “money”.

Important: Gmail doesn’t search in Spam or Trash unless you tell it to.