> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.broadstripes.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Search builder > Use the search builder to create advanced, multi-criteria searches without writing search text by hand. ## Overview The **search builder** is a visual tool that helps you construct complex searches by selecting fields, operators, and values from dropdown menus. Instead of typing search syntax directly, you build your search one rule at a time. The search builder is especially useful when you want to filter by multiple criteria at once. For example, you might want to find: * Workers at a particular employer who have been assessed as "1s" * People who attended a recent event but haven't been contacted lately * Members on a specific shift who haven't signed a card ## Open the search builder Click the **Search Builder** button in the top navigation bar, next to the search icon. The search bar showing the Search Builder button The search builder panel opens above the search results area. ## Build a search with rules When the search builder opens, you see a single empty rule with the heading **Find contacts matching the following rules...** The search builder with a single empty rule Each rule has three parts: 1. **Field** — choose what to search by (e.g., Shift, Assessment, Employer, Name, events, custom fields) 2. **Operator** — choose how to match (e.g., "contains the word(s)," "matches the text," "equals," "has any value") 3. **Value** — enter or select the value to match against (some operators like "has any value" don't require a value) ### Available search fields The field dropdown includes all searchable data in your project, organized by category: * **Custom fields** — any custom fields configured for your project (e.g., Shift, Pay Rate) * **Events and event steps** — events and their individual steps * **Contact info** — address, email, phone number * **Contact timeline** — timeline notes, dates, and authors * **General** — name, assessment, contact type, notes, lists * **Department structure** — employer, department, parent organization * **Employment** — job title, work location, employee status, seniority date * **Leadership** — leader assignments, turf, roles * **Relationships** — related contacts, family members, grievants * **Email and texting** — sent messages, delivery status, SMS history * **Call center** — call outcomes, call pools, callers * **External IDs** — IDs from external systems * **Contact types** — your project's configured contact types * **Shapes** — geographic shape group membership ### Add rules to narrow your search Click **+ Add rule** to add another condition. When using multiple rules, choose whether contacts must match **AND** (all rules) or **OR** (any rule) using the toggle at the top of the builder. The search builder with two rules: Shift contains "Morning" and Assessment has any value In this example, the search finds contacts whose **Shift** field contains "Morning" **AND** who have any **Assessment** value. ### Add rule groups for complex logic Click **Add group** to create a nested set of rules with its own AND/OR logic. Rule groups let you build searches like: "Find contacts at Employer X who are assessed as 1 **AND** (attended Committee Meeting **OR** signed a Card)." The search builder with two rules and a nested rule group Each group has its own **AND/OR** toggle and its own **+ Add rule**, **Add group**, and **Remove** buttons. You can nest groups to create complex search logic. For a detailed guide on using multiple rules and rule groups, see [Search with multiple rules](/docs/search/search-with-multiple-rules) and [Add rule groups to your search](/docs/search/add-rule-groups-to-your-search). ### Remove a rule Click the **Remove** button next to any rule to delete it from the search. ## Sort options Click **Sort options** to expand the sort section. You can select a saved sort to control the order of your search results. ## Execute your search When your rules are ready, click **Search** to run the search. Click **cancel** to close the builder without searching. After executing, Broadstripes displays your search results with colored filter badges showing your active search criteria. Search results showing filter badges and contact data From the results page, you can: * Click a filter badge's **×** to remove that criterion * Click **Save this search** to save the search for later * Reopen the search builder to modify your search ## Video: How to search with the search builder