Chapter 3 — Gmail Power Tips 25
Operator Definition Example(s)
filename: Search for an attachment Example: filename:physicshomework.txt
by name or type. Meaning: Messages with an attachment
named physicshomework.txt.
Example: label:work filename:pdf
Meaning: Messages labeled work that also
have a PDF file as an attachment.
“ “(quotes) Used to search for an exact Example: “i’m feeling lucky”
phrase. Meaning: Messages containing the phrase
Capitalization isn’t taken into “i’m feeling lucky” or “I’m feeling lucky”.
consideration. Example: subject:”dinner and a movie”
Meaning: Messages containing the phrase
“dinner and a movie” in the subject.
( ) Used to group words. Example: from:amy(dinner OR movie)
Used to specify terms that Meaning: Messages from Amy that contain
shouldn’t be excluded. either the word “dinner” or the word
“movie”.
Example: subject:(dinner movie)
Meaning: Messages in which the subject
contains both the word “dinner” and the
word “movie”.
in:anywhere Search for messages Example: in:anywhere subject:movie
anywhere in your account. Meaning: Messages in All Mail, Spam, and
Messages in Spam and Trash Trash that contain the word “movie”.
are excluded from searches
by default.
in:inbox Search for messages in Inbox, Example: in:trash from:amy
in:trash Trash, or Spam. Meaning: Messages from Amy that are in
in:spam the trash.
is:starred Search for messages that are Example: is:read is:starred from:David
is:unread starred, unread, or read. Meaning: Messages from David that have
is:read been read and are marked with a star.
cc: Used to specify recipients Example: cc:david
bcc: in the cc: or bcc: fields. Meaning: Messages that were cc-ed to
Search on bcc: cannot retrieve David.
messages on which you were
blind carbon copied.
after: Search for messages after or Example: after:2004/04/17
before: before a certain date. before:2004/04/18
Date must be in yyyy/mm/dd Meaning: Messages sent on April 17, 2004.
format. More precisely: Messages sent on or after
April 17, 2004, but before April 18, 2004.