> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://cometchat-22654f5b-docs-rn-guide-message-privately.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Search Messages Service

> Signal-based service for message search state, SDK queries, attachment-type filtering, and pagination.

The `SearchMessagesService` manages message search state using Angular signals. It handles SDK query building with keyword, attachment-type, and user/group scoping, plus pagination for loading more results.

## Import

```typescript theme={null}
import { SearchMessagesService } from '@cometchat/chat-uikit-angular';
```

## Signals (Reactive State)

| Signal           | Type                                      | Default         | Description                                                   |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------- | --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `messages`       | `WritableSignal<CometChat.BaseMessage[]>` | `[]`            | Current message search results (newest first after reversal)  |
| `fetchState`     | `WritableSignal<States>`                  | `States.loaded` | Current fetch state: `loading`, `loaded`, `empty`, or `error` |
| `hasMoreResults` | `WritableSignal<boolean>`                 | `false`         | Whether more pages of results are available                   |

## Methods

### search()

Initiates a message search. Resets state, validates criteria, builds the SDK request, and fetches the first page.

```typescript theme={null}
async search(
  keyword: string,
  filters: CometChatSearchFilter[],
  uid?: string,
  guid?: string,
  customBuilder?: CometChat.MessagesRequestBuilder,
  alwaysShowSeeMore?: boolean
): Promise<void>
```

| Parameter           | Type                      | Description                                                                  |
| ------------------- | ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `keyword`           | `string`                  | Search keyword                                                               |
| `filters`           | `CometChatSearchFilter[]` | Active filters that determine attachment type filtering                      |
| `uid`               | `string`                  | Optional user UID to scope search to a specific user's messages              |
| `guid`              | `string`                  | Optional group GUID to scope search to a specific group's messages           |
| `customBuilder`     | `MessagesRequestBuilder`  | Optional custom builder that overrides the default                           |
| `alwaysShowSeeMore` | `boolean`                 | When true, limits initial results to 3 (preview mode with "See more" button) |

Validation: search requires at least one of: non-empty keyword, active message filter, uid, or guid. Otherwise `fetchState` is set to `States.empty`.

### loadMore()

Fetches the next page of results and appends to the existing list.

```typescript theme={null}
async loadMore(): Promise<void>
```

### reset()

Resets all signals to their default values and clears the internal request reference.

```typescript theme={null}
reset(): void
```

## Request Building

The service builds a `CometChat.MessagesRequest` based on the search criteria:

* `hideDeletedMessages(true)` — always excludes deleted messages
* `setSearchKeyword()` — when keyword is non-empty
* `setUID()` — when uid is provided (scoped to user)
* `setGUID()` — when guid is provided (scoped to group)
* `hasLinks(true)` — when the `Links` filter is active
* `setAttachmentTypes()` — maps filters to SDK attachment types:

| Filter      | SDK Attachment Type              |
| ----------- | -------------------------------- |
| `Photos`    | `CometChat.AttachmentType.IMAGE` |
| `Videos`    | `CometChat.AttachmentType.VIDEO` |
| `Documents` | `CometChat.AttachmentType.FILE`  |
| `Audio`     | `CometChat.AttachmentType.AUDIO` |

* Limit is 3 when `alwaysShowSeeMore` is true (preview mode), 30 otherwise
* Results are reversed after fetch to show newest first

## Usage

The service is typically used internally by `CometChatSearchMessagesListComponent`, but can be injected directly:

```typescript expandable theme={null}
import { Component, inject } from '@angular/core';
import { SearchMessagesService } from '@cometchat/chat-uikit-angular';
import { CometChatSearchFilter, States } from '@cometchat/chat-uikit-angular';

@Component({
  selector: 'app-message-search',
  template: `
    @if (service.fetchState() === States.loaded) {
      @for (msg of service.messages(); track msg.getId()) {
        <div>{{ msg.getSender()?.getName() }}: {{ msg.getType() }}</div>
      }
      @if (service.hasMoreResults()) {
        <button (click)="service.loadMore()">Load more</button>
      }
    }
  `
})
export class MessageSearchComponent {
  readonly service = inject(SearchMessagesService);
  readonly States = States;

  searchPhotos(keyword: string): void {
    this.service.search(keyword, [CometChatSearchFilter.Photos]);
  }

  searchInGroup(keyword: string, guid: string): void {
    this.service.search(keyword, [], undefined, guid);
  }
}
```

## Differences from SearchConversationsService

| Aspect               | SearchConversationsService                        | SearchMessagesService                      |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| Real-time listeners  | Yes (message, user, group, call, typing, receipt) | No                                         |
| Scoping              | Keyword + filters only                            | Keyword + filters + uid/guid               |
| Attachment filtering | N/A                                               | Photos, Videos, Documents, Audio, Links    |
| Typing indicators    | Yes (`typingIndicatorMap` signal)                 | No                                         |
| Preview mode         | 3 results when no filters                         | 3 results when `alwaysShowSeeMore` is true |