Allow searching across multiple categories

Contribute Feature

AI-generated summary

Users are requesting the ability to search across multiple categories in Discourse, similar to how it currently works for tags. Michael_Hunger initially asked about syntax for multi-category search (e.g., category:10,11,12), but david confirmed it’s not supported and moved the topic to #feature. Michael_Hunger suggested a temporary workaround using URL parameters. Mark_Walkom and dandv supported the request, with dandv noting it would help find unsolved topics across categories, since status:unsolved currently returns inaccurate results. JammyDodger announced that this functionality will be available via the new experimental filters, which are live on Meta for testing here. The feature is marked as completed, indicating it’s now available or soon will be.

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I’m trying to do a search across multiple categories like:

category:10,11,12 but it seems to use only the first one.

Am I missing some syntax? I presumed the same as for tags?

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Searching for status:unsolved returns topics from non-solution enabled categories
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Unfortunately you cannot search across multiple categories, this is only supported for tags. I will move your topic to Contribute > Feature, as it is a reasonable request.

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Thanks David, I wonder if for time being it then would be ok to just append it as local href:

search?q=status%3Anoreplies%20after%3A7%20-tags%3Aknowledge-base%20in%3Aunseen%20order%3Alatest

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Wanted to add this would be handy for us too.

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Searching across categories would provide a workaround for finding unsolved topics in more than one category. Searching for status: unsolved returns unwanted results because it includes topics that don’t have Solved on.

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6

This will be possible with the new filters. :partying_face:

Still experimental though, but live on Meta if you want to give them a try. :+1:

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