Search Messages

Add CometChat Android UI Kit message search with query input, scoped results, message selection, and navigation to matching chats.

AI Integration Quick Reference

Field	Value
Package	com.cometchat:chat-uikit-android
Key components	CometChatSearch, CometChatMessageList, CometChatMessageComposer, CometChatMessageHeader
Purpose	Full-text message search across conversations with result routing and navigation
Sample app	GitHub
Related	All Guides

Search Messages lets users locate specific messages across conversations and groups using keyword search, then navigate directly to the result.

Before starting, complete the Getting Started guide.

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Components

Component / Class	Role
CometChatSearch	Main search interface with filter chips and result lists
CometChatMessageList	Displays messages in the selected conversation
CometChatMessageComposer	Message input for the selected conversation
CometChatMessageHeader	Header bar showing conversation context

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Integration Steps

1. Add CometChatSearch to your layout

activity_search.xml

<com.cometchat.chatuikit.search.CometChatSearch
    android:id="@+id/cometchat_search"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent" />

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2. Handle conversation result clicks

When a user taps a conversation result, navigate to the message view for that conversation.

Kotlin

SearchActivity.kt

val search: CometChatSearch = findViewById(R.id.cometchat_search)

search.setOnConversationClicked { view, position, conversation ->
    val intent = Intent(this, ChatActivity::class.java)
    intent.putExtra("conversation", conversation)
    startActivity(intent)
}

Java

SearchActivity.java

CometChatSearch search = findViewById(R.id.cometchat_search);

search.setOnConversationClicked((view, position, conversation) -> {
    Intent intent = new Intent(this, ChatActivity.class);
    intent.putExtra("conversation", conversation);
    startActivity(intent);
});

File: SearchActivity

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3. Handle message result clicks

When a user taps a message result, navigate to the conversation and scroll to that message using setMessageId() on the message list.

Kotlin

SearchActivity.kt

search.setOnMessageClicked { view, position, message ->
    val intent = Intent(this, ChatActivity::class.java)
    if (message.receiverType == CometChatConstants.RECEIVER_TYPE_USER) {
        intent.putExtra("uid", (message.receiver as User).uid)
    } else {
        intent.putExtra("guid", (message.receiver as Group).guid)
    }
    intent.putExtra("messageId", message.id)
    startActivity(intent)
}

Java

SearchActivity.java

search.setOnMessageClicked((view, position, message) -> {
    Intent intent = new Intent(this, ChatActivity.class);
    if (message.getReceiverType().equals(CometChatConstants.RECEIVER_TYPE_USER)) {
        intent.putExtra("uid", ((User) message.getReceiver()).getUid());
    } else {
        intent.putExtra("guid", ((Group) message.getReceiver()).getGuid());
    }
    intent.putExtra("messageId", message.getId());
    startActivity(intent);
});

File: SearchActivity

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4. Scope search to a specific conversation (optional)

Restrict search results to a single user or group conversation.

Kotlin

// Scope to a specific user conversation
search.setUid("alice-uid")

// Or scope to a specific group conversation
search.setGuid("group-guid")

Java

// Scope to a specific user conversation
search.setUid("alice-uid");

// Or scope to a specific group conversation
search.setGuid("group-guid");

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5. Configure search filters (optional)

Control which filter chips appear and which is selected by default.

Kotlin

search.setSearchFilters(
    listOf(
        UIKitConstants.SearchFilter.MESSAGES,
        UIKitConstants.SearchFilter.CONVERSATIONS
    )
)
search.setInitialSearchFilter(UIKitConstants.SearchFilter.MESSAGES)

Java

search.setSearchFilters(
    Arrays.asList(
        UIKitConstants.SearchFilter.MESSAGES,
        UIKitConstants.SearchFilter.CONVERSATIONS
    )
);
search.setInitialSearchFilter(UIKitConstants.SearchFilter.MESSAGES);

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Feature Matrix

Feature	Component / Method	File
Search interface	CometChatSearch	SearchActivity
Conversation results	setOnConversationClicked	SearchActivity
Message results	setOnMessageClicked	SearchActivity
Scoped search	setUid / setGuid	SearchActivity
Filter chips	setSearchFilters / setInitialSearchFilter	SearchActivity

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Next Steps

Search

The search component reference

Message List

Display messages in a conversation

All Guides

Browse all feature and formatter guides

Sample App

Full working sample application on GitHub