JIRA provides a powerful issue search facility. You can search for issues across projects, versions and components using a range of search criteria. JIRA also makes custom fields available as search criteria, allowing you to refine your searches even further.

The search can be saved as a filter in JIRA, allowing you to recall the same search and run it again or even share it with other users.

With JIRA searches, you can:

  • Modify and reuse search results
  • Sort and action individual issues
  • Share and export issues
  • Display issues on your dashboard

On this page:

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Step 1. Define your search criteria

The first step in searching for issues is to define the criteria for your new search. You can define your search criteria in three different ways: using the quick search, using the basic search or using the advanced search.

If you have saved a search previously (i.e. as a filter) and want to run it again, you can run the filter to load the saved search criteria.

Search methodDescription
Quick search

The quick search is the fastest way to define search criteria. However, it is less precise than other search methods for complex queries (e.g. project = JIRA AND status = Open AND priority = High). The quick search is in the navigation bar.

For instructions, see Using Quick Search.

Basic search

The basic search is more precise than the quick search, but easier to use than the advanced search. It provides a user-friendly interface that lets you define complex queries, without needing to know how to use JQL

For instructions, see Basic Searching.

Advanced search

The advanced search is the most powerful of the three search methods. You can specify criteria that cannot be defined in the other searchs (e.g. ORDER BY clause). However, you need to know how to construct structured queries using the JIRA Query Language (JQL) to use this feature.

For instructions, see Advanced Searching.

About filters

A JIRA filter is a saved set of search criteria, similar to a bookmark. Some filters are predefined in JIRA – such as My Open Issues, Reported by Me, Recently Viewed, All Issues – these are known as system filters. A filter may also be a set of search criteria defined and saved by a user.

To use a filter, simply click it. Your favorite filters are shown in the panel on the left. You can view all of your filters as well as find filters shared with you here.

When you run a filter, the saved search criteria is loaded for you in the displayed issue view. The criteria is displayed in either the basic search or advanced search, depending the search you are using at the time.

For more information about filters, see Using Filters.

Step 2. Modify the search results

Once you have defined and run your search, you can optionally modify the search results. JIRA lets you change the sort order of the search results, as well as action each of the individual issues.

For instructions, see Using the Issue Navigator.

Screenshot: Example search results in the issue navigator


Step 3. Save your search

To run your search again in future, save your search as a filter. Simply click Save as and enter a name for the filter. The filter is created and added to your favorite filters.

For more information, see Using Filters.

Step 4. Working with search result data

You can export or share the search results in a number of different formats. Search results can be shared via email or RSS. You can export the search results to a number of formats (e.g. Microsoft Excel). You can also display the search results on your dashboard as a list or a chart.

For more information, see Working with Search Result Data.