IMAP Search Strings

When multiple keys are specified, the result is the intersection (AND function) of all the messages that match those keys.

ALL

All messages in the mailbox; the default initial key for ANDing.

ANSWERED

Messages with the \Answered flag set.

BCC 'string'

Messages that contain the specified string in the envelope structure's BCC field.

BEFORE 'date'

Messages whose internal date is earlier than the specified date.

BODY 'string'

Messages that contain the specified string in the body of the message.

CC 'string'

Messages that contain the specified string in the envelope structure's CC field.

DELETED

Messages with the \Deleted flag set.

DRAFT

Messages with the \Draft flag set.

FLAGGED

Messages with the \Flagged flag set.

FROM 'string'

Messages that contain the specified string in the envelope structure's FROM field.

HEADER 'field-name' 'string'

Messages that have a header with the specified field-name (as defined in [RFC-822]) and that contains the specified string in the [RFC-822] field-body.

KEYWORD 'flag'

Messages with the specified keyword set.

LARGER 'n'

Messages with an RFC822.SIZE larger than the specified number of octets.

NEW

Messages that have the \Recent flag set but not the \Seen flag. This is functionally equivalent to "(RECENT UNSEEN)".

NOT 'search-key'

Messages that do not match the specified search key.

OLD

Messages that do not have the \Recent flag set. This is functionally equivalent to "NOT RECENT" (as opposed to "NOT NEW").

ON 'date'

Messages whose internal date is within the specified date.

OR 'search-key1' 'search-key2'

Messages that match either search key.

RECENT

Messages that have the \Recent flag set.

SEEN

Messages that have the \Seen flag set.

SENTBEFORE 'date'

Messages whose [RFC-822] Date: header is earlier than the specified date.

SENTON 'date'

Messages whose [RFC-822] Date: header is within the specified date.

SENTSINCE 'date'

Messages whose [RFC-822] Date: header is within or later than the specified date.

SINCE 'date'

Messages whose internal date is within or later than the specified date.

SMALLER 'n'

Messages with an RFC822.SIZE smaller than the specified number of octets.

SUBJECT 'string'

Messages that contain the specified string in the envelope structure's SUBJECT field.

TEXT 'string'

Messages that contain the specified string in the header or body of the message.

TO 'string'

Messages that contain the specified string in the envelope structure's TO field.

UID 'message set'

Messages with unique identifiers corresponding to the specified unique identifier set.

UNANSWERED

Messages that do not have the \Answered flag set.

UNDELETED

Messages that do not have the \Deleted flag set.

UNDRAFT

Messages that do not have the \Draft flag set.

UNFLAGGED

Messages that do not have the \Flagged flag set.

UNKEYWORD 'flag'

Messages that do not have the specified keyword set.

UNSEEN

Messages that do not have the \Seen flag set.

-- Example --

(C=Client, S=Server)

C: A282 SEARCH FLAGGED SINCE 1-Feb-1994 NOT FROM "Smith"
S: * SEARCH 2 84 882
S: A282 OK SEARCH completed

For more detailed information, see IMAP example programs and IMAP RFC 1730

HOME