> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://nova.laravel.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# The Basics

> Learn how to define searchable columns for your Nova resources.

## Searchable Columns

To define which resource fields are searchable, you may assign an array of database columns to the `search` property of your resource class. This array includes the `id` column by default:

```php theme={null}
/**
 * The columns that should be searched.
 *
 * @var array
 */
public static $search = [
    'id', 'title', 'content',
];
```

<Note>
  If you are using Nova's Scout integration, the `$search` property has no effect on your search results and may be ignored. You should manage the searchable columns within the Algolia or Meilisearch dashboard.
</Note>

## Full-Text Indexes

Typically, Nova searches your database columns using simple `LIKE` clauses. However, if you are using MySQL or Postgres, you may take advantage of any full-text indexes you have defined. To do so, you should define a `searchableColumns` method on your Nova resource class instead of defining a `$search` property.

The `searchableColumns` method should return an array of columns that are searchable. You may include an instance of `Laravel\Nova\Query\Search\SearchableText` within this array to instruct Nova to utilize your full-text indexes when querying a given column:

```php theme={null}
use Laravel\Nova\Query\Search\SearchableText;

/**
 * Get the searchable columns for the resource.
 *
 * @return array
 */
public static function searchableColumns()
{
    return ['id', new SearchableText('title')];
}
```

The array returned by the `searchableColumns` method can also include raw SQL expressions, which allow you to search through derived columns:

```php theme={null}
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;

/**
 * Get the searchable columns for the resource.
 *
 * @return array
 */
public static function searchableColumns()
{
    return ['id', DB::raw("CONCAT(first_name, ' ', last_name)")];
}
```

## Searching Relationships

Laravel Nova also allows you to search against a resource's related models. For example, imagine a `Post` model that is related to a `User` model via an `author` relatonship. You may indicate that this relationship data should be considered when searching for users by returning an instance of `Laravel\Nova\Query\Search\SearchableRelation` from your resource's `searchableColumns` method.

If the `searchableColumns` method does not exist on your resource, you should define it. Once the `searchableColumns` method has been defined, you may remove the `$search` property from your resource:

```php theme={null}
use Laravel\Nova\Query\Search\SearchableRelation;

/**
 * Get the searchable columns for the resource.
 *
 * @return array
 */
public static function searchableColumns()
{
    return ['id', new SearchableRelation('author', 'name')];
}
```

For convenience, you may define a relationship that should be searched by adding the field to your resource's `$search` property using "dot notation":

```php theme={null}
/**
 * The columns that should be searched.
 *
 * @var array
 */
public static $search = [
    'id', 'author.name'
];
```

### MorphTo Relationships

"Morph to" relationships can be made searchable by returning an instance of `Laravel\Nova\Query\Search\SearchableMorphToRelation` from your resource's `searchableColumns` method. The `SearchableMorphToRelation` class allows you to specify which types of morphed models should be searched:

```php theme={null}
use App\Nova\Post;
use Laravel\Nova\Query\Search\SearchableMorphToRelation;

/**
 * Get the searchable columns for the resource.
 *
 * @return array
 */
public static function searchableColumns()
{
    return ['id', new SearchableMorphToRelation('commentable', 'title', [Post::class])];
}
```

## Searching JSON Data

If the database table associated with your resource includes a column that contains a JSON string, you may instruct Nova to search within the JSON string by returning a `Laravel\Nova\Query\Search\SearchableJson` instance from your resource's `searchableColumns` method.

If the `searchableColumns` method does not exist on your resource, you should define it. Once the `searchableColumns` method has been defined, you may remove the `$search` property from your resource:

```php theme={null}
use Laravel\Nova\Query\Search\SearchableJson;

/**
 * Get the searchable columns for the resource.
 *
 * @return array
 */
public static function searchableColumns()
{
    return ['id', new SearchableJson('meta->address->postcode')];
}
```