[Enhancement]: Global search podcast titles and descriptions #2193

Originally created by @rynh on GitHub (Aug 18, 2024).

Type of Enhancement

Server Backend

Describe the Feature/Enhancement

It'd be helpful if search would include item titles (and perhaps descriptions?) Most useful for podcasts. Search will catch the podcast title but not episodes within.

Not sure if indexing descriptions would bloat the index with large libraries, especially it searches as you type (which is a great look!)

Why would this be helpful?

Would be very helpful for large backlogs.

Future Implementation (Screenshot)

As search box is used it'd include these additional fields.

Audiobookshelf Server Version

2.12.3

Current Implementation (Screenshot)

No response

Originally created by @rynh on GitHub (Aug 18, 2024). ### Type of Enhancement Server Backend ### Describe the Feature/Enhancement It'd be helpful if search would include item titles (and perhaps descriptions?) Most useful for podcasts. Search will catch the podcast title but not episodes within. Not sure if indexing descriptions would bloat the index with large libraries, especially it searches as you type (which is a great look!) ### Why would this be helpful? Would be very helpful for large backlogs. ### Future Implementation (Screenshot) As search box is used it'd include these additional fields. ### Audiobookshelf Server Version 2.12.3 ### Current Implementation (Screenshot) _No response_

adam added the enhancement sorting/filtering/searching labels 2026-04-25 00:04:49 +02:00

adam closed this issue

adam commented

@chenpinetree commented on GitHub (Aug 19, 2024):

I also need this function very much and I completely agree.

@chenpinetree commented on GitHub (Aug 19, 2024): I also need this function very much and I completely agree.

adam commented

@contributor commented on GitHub (Sep 12, 2024):

You already can search in title/description of a podcast. Though not from top bar search box, but from specific podcast:

@contributor commented on GitHub (Sep 12, 2024): You already can search in title/description of a podcast. Though not from top bar search box, but from specific podcast: ![image](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/85278e5b-6c48-4ca1-aef8-8e91152dd4d1)

adam commented

@chenpinetree commented on GitHub (Sep 12, 2024):

You already can search in title/description of a podcast. Though not from top bar search box, but from specific podcast:

Thank you for the update.
However, could you also add this feature to audiobooks? I’ve prepared fairy tales for my child, and there are hundreds of episodes, each with a different story and title. I’ve placed all these stories in a ‘Children’s Stories’ folder, but there’s no way to search for a specific story when we want to listen to specificc one. If I use the search function now, I have to place this folder inside the ‘Podcasts’ folder. So have to switch between the audiobooks and podcasts databases.

In addition, there are audiobooks with numbered chapters, it's really helpful to have a search feature for the chapters names.

Also, why not add it to the top bar search? Wouldn’t that be more convenient?

@chenpinetree commented on GitHub (Sep 12, 2024): > You already can search in title/description of a podcast. Though not from top bar search box, but from specific podcast: ![image](https://private-user-images.githubusercontent.com/598873/366811182-85278e5b-6c48-4ca1-aef8-8e91152dd4d1.png?jwt=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJnaXRodWIuY29tIiwiYXVkIjoicmF3LmdpdGh1YnVzZXJjb250ZW50LmNvbSIsImtleSI6ImtleTUiLCJleHAiOjE3MjYxNDgzMzUsIm5iZiI6MTcyNjE0ODAzNSwicGF0aCI6Ii81OTg4NzMvMzY2ODExMTgyLTg1Mjc4ZTViLTZjNDgtNGNhMS1hZWY4LThlOTExNTJkZDRkMS5wbmc_WC1BbXotQWxnb3JpdGhtPUFXUzQtSE1BQy1TSEEyNTYmWC1BbXotQ3JlZGVudGlhbD1BS0lBVkNPRFlMU0E1M1BRSzRaQSUyRjIwMjQwOTEyJTJGdXMtZWFzdC0xJTJGczMlMkZhd3M0X3JlcXVlc3QmWC1BbXotRGF0ZT0yMDI0MDkxMlQxMzMzNTVaJlgtQW16LUV4cGlyZXM9MzAwJlgtQW16LVNpZ25hdHVyZT1mYTBjNGFlOGNiZGUwY2I1M2ZiMDdjNjAwNzQzNTgzMjNlNTgxMjMxMTZiYjJmYjRmNWFkOWViZWJmMDVmOWFhJlgtQW16LVNpZ25lZEhlYWRlcnM9aG9zdCZhY3Rvcl9pZD0wJmtleV9pZD0wJnJlcG9faWQ9MCJ9.7YdB9Aj_e_9etUuAZMbpNC6Az9Uf95P6zXfzf_pjGj8) Thank you for the update. However, could you also add this feature to audiobooks? I’ve prepared fairy tales for my child, and there are hundreds of episodes, each with a different story and title. I’ve placed all these stories in a ‘Children’s Stories’ folder, but there’s no way to search for a specific story when we want to listen to specificc one. If I use the search function now, I have to place this folder inside the ‘Podcasts’ folder. So have to switch between the audiobooks and podcasts databases. In addition, there are audiobooks with numbered chapters, it's really helpful to have a search feature for the chapters names. Also, why not add it to the top bar search? Wouldn’t that be more convenient?

adam commented

@rynh commented on GitHub (Sep 12, 2024):

You already can search in title/description of a podcast. Though not from top bar search box, but from specific podcast:

Thanks, didn't notice this in the web view. If this could be added to the mobile app that'd be great.

I think the main search bar may be more intuitive though.

@rynh commented on GitHub (Sep 12, 2024): > You already can search in title/description of a podcast. Though not from top bar search box, but from specific podcast: ![image](https://private-user-images.githubusercontent.com/598873/366811182-85278e5b-6c48-4ca1-aef8-8e91152dd4d1.png?jwt=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJnaXRodWIuY29tIiwiYXVkIjoicmF3LmdpdGh1YnVzZXJjb250ZW50LmNvbSIsImtleSI6ImtleTUiLCJleHAiOjE3MjYxNTEzODEsIm5iZiI6MTcyNjE1MTA4MSwicGF0aCI6Ii81OTg4NzMvMzY2ODExMTgyLTg1Mjc4ZTViLTZjNDgtNGNhMS1hZWY4LThlOTExNTJkZDRkMS5wbmc_WC1BbXotQWxnb3JpdGhtPUFXUzQtSE1BQy1TSEEyNTYmWC1BbXotQ3JlZGVudGlhbD1BS0lBVkNPRFlMU0E1M1BRSzRaQSUyRjIwMjQwOTEyJTJGdXMtZWFzdC0xJTJGczMlMkZhd3M0X3JlcXVlc3QmWC1BbXotRGF0ZT0yMDI0MDkxMlQxNDI0NDFaJlgtQW16LUV4cGlyZXM9MzAwJlgtQW16LVNpZ25hdHVyZT1hZTI4MDlhNTFiNTM3MTcwNWFjOWUzMTNhN2M3ZmRhOTYwNWViNzU1ZmUxY2IyZDdjZjUzZTYxOGZkNGE4MTAzJlgtQW16LVNpZ25lZEhlYWRlcnM9aG9zdCZhY3Rvcl9pZD0wJmtleV9pZD0wJnJlcG9faWQ9MCJ9.AF_ps-piJbKr453Jgbquy1n6q0VAdrutK81KaNuEN88) Thanks, didn't notice this in the web view. If this could be added to the mobile app that'd be great. I think the main search bar may be more intuitive though.

adam commented

@contributor commented on GitHub (Sep 13, 2024):

Sure, using main search would be more convenient

@contributor commented on GitHub (Sep 13, 2024): Sure, using main search would be more convenient

adam commented

@contributor commented on GitHub (Sep 13, 2024):

there’s no way to search for a specific story when we want to listen to specificc one

You can search audiobooks from main search. Title and Subtitle fields are searchable.

@contributor commented on GitHub (Sep 13, 2024): > there’s no way to search for a specific story when we want to listen to specificc one You can search audiobooks from main search. Title and Subtitle fields are searchable.

adam commented

@chenpinetree commented on GitHub (Sep 13, 2024):

there’s no way to search for a specific story when we want to listen to specificc one

You can search audiobooks from main search. Title and Subtitle fields are searchable.

Title of the chapters are not searchable.

@chenpinetree commented on GitHub (Sep 13, 2024): > > there’s no way to search for a specific story when we want to listen to specificc one > > You can search audiobooks from main search. Title and Subtitle fields are searchable. Title of the chapters are not searchable.

adam commented

@ecker00 commented on GitHub (Jan 9, 2025):

Something is odd about the search, seems maybe it limits number of results?

I have over 50 World of Warcraft books in my library, all of them have the word "Warcraft' it the title, desc and file name. But I only see 12 books appear when I search "Warcraft", do not see any reason why it is not listing all hits? I can find other ones if I am more specific like "Lich King".

@ecker00 commented on GitHub (Jan 9, 2025): Something is odd about the search, seems maybe it limits number of results? I have over 50 World of Warcraft books in my library, all of them have the word "Warcraft' it the title, desc and file name. But I only see 12 books appear when I search "Warcraft", do not see any reason why it is not listing all hits? I can find other ones if I am more specific like "Lich King".

adam commented

@xcy7e commented on GitHub (May 10, 2025):

Something is odd about the search, seems maybe it limits number of results?

I have over 50 World of Warcraft books in my library, all of them have the word "Warcraft' it the title, desc and file name. But I only see 12 books appear when I search "Warcraft", do not see any reason why it is not listing all hits? I can find other ones if I am more specific like "Lich King".

Yes, I also only get a maximum of 12 results.

@advplyr is there a way to change the hard Limit? I am sure there is a good reason, the search results are limited to 12 items, but what is it?

@xcy7e commented on GitHub (May 10, 2025): > Something is odd about the search, seems maybe it limits number of results? > > I have over 50 World of Warcraft books in my library, all of them have the word "Warcraft' it the title, desc and file name. But I only see 12 books appear when I search "Warcraft", do not see any reason why it is not listing all hits? I can find other ones if I am more specific like "Lich King". Yes, I also only get a maximum of 12 results. @advplyr is there a way to change the hard Limit? I am sure there is a good reason, the search results are limited to 12 items, but what is it?

adam commented

@advplyr commented on GitHub (May 10, 2025):

Just the size of the payload. The endpoint should be paginated if we want to load a lot of items

@advplyr commented on GitHub (May 10, 2025): Just the size of the payload. The endpoint should be paginated if we want to load a lot of items

adam commented

@xcy7e commented on GitHub (May 11, 2025):

But the list of the whole, unfiltered library is not paginated (or is it, by lazy loading the items after scrolling?).
Or is the underlying process more complicated than I understand?

This prevents me from finding some one-worded titles entirely.

@xcy7e commented on GitHub (May 11, 2025): But the list of the whole, unfiltered library is not paginated (_or is it, by lazy loading the items after scrolling?_). Or is the underlying process more complicated than I understand? This prevents me from finding some one-worded titles entirely.

adam commented

@advplyr commented on GitHub (May 11, 2025):

Yeah it is more complicated.

The library page, authors page and series books page are paginated. Pages are loaded as you scroll. The first few versions of Abs loaded every book, but the server would run out of memory or the browser would get extremely slow for users with large libraries.

This feature request is specific to searching for podcast episodes though. The relevant feature requests for showing more items in search is https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf/issues/923

@advplyr commented on GitHub (May 11, 2025): Yeah it is more complicated. The library page, authors page and series books page are paginated. Pages are loaded as you scroll. The first few versions of Abs loaded every book, but the server would run out of memory or the browser would get extremely slow for users with large libraries. This feature request is specific to searching for podcast episodes though. The relevant feature requests for showing more items in search is https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf/issues/923

adam commented