Search Messages

Add full-text message search across conversations with result routing in CometChat Android UI Kit.

Quick Reference

Field	Value
Packages	com.cometchat:chatuikit-kotlin-android · com.cometchat:chatuikit-compose-android
Key components	CometChatSearch, CometChatMessageList, CometChatMessageComposer, CometChatMessageHeader
Purpose	Full-text message search across conversations with result routing and navigation
Sample app	GitHub
Related	Search Component, 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

Kotlin (XML Views)

activity_search.xml

<com.cometchat.uikit.kotlin.presentation.search.ui.CometChatSearch
    android:id="@+id/cometchat_search"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent" />

Jetpack Compose

SearchScreen.kt

import com.cometchat.uikit.compose.presentation.search.ui.CometChatSearch

@Composable
fun SearchScreen(navController: NavController) {
    CometChatSearch(
        modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize(),
        onConversationClick = { conversation ->
            navController.navigate("messages/${Gson().toJson(conversation)}")
        },
        onMessageClick = { message ->
            if (message.receiverType == CometChatConstants.RECEIVER_TYPE_USER) {
                navController.navigate("messages/user/${(message.receiver as User).uid}/${message.id}")
            } else {
                navController.navigate("messages/group/${(message.receiver as Group).guid}/${message.id}")
            }
        }
    )
}

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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 (XML Views)

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)
}

Jetpack Compose

SearchScreen.kt

// Handled inline via onConversationClick lambda in the CometChatSearch composable above

---

3. Handle message result clicks

When a user taps a message result, navigate to the conversation and scroll to that message.

Kotlin (XML Views)

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)
}

Jetpack Compose

SearchScreen.kt

// Handled inline via onMessageClick lambda in the CometChatSearch composable above

---

4. Scope search to a specific conversation (optional)

Restrict search results to a single user or group conversation.

Kotlin (XML Views)

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

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

Jetpack Compose

// Scope to a specific user conversation
CometChatSearch(
    uid = "alice-uid",
    modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize(),
    onConversationClick = { /* handle click */ },
    onMessageClick = { /* handle click */ }
)

// Or scope to a specific group conversation
CometChatSearch(
    guid = "group-guid",
    modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize(),
    onConversationClick = { /* handle click */ },
    onMessageClick = { /* handle click */ }
)

---

5. Configure search filters (optional)

Control which filter chips appear.

Kotlin (XML Views)

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

Jetpack Compose

import com.cometchat.uikit.core.constants.SearchFilter

CometChatSearch(
    searchFilters = listOf(
        SearchFilter.UNREAD,
        SearchFilter.GROUPS,
        SearchFilter.PHOTOS,
        SearchFilter.VIDEOS
    ),
    modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize(),
    onConversationClick = { /* handle click */ },
    onMessageClick = { /* handle click */ }
)

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Feature Matrix

Feature	Kotlin (XML Views)	Jetpack Compose
Search interface	CometChatSearch XML element	CometChatSearch() composable
Conversation results	setOnConversationClicked	onConversationClick lambda
Message results	setOnMessageClicked	onMessageClick lambda
Scoped search	setUid() / setGuid()	uid / guid parameters
Filter chips	setSearchFilters()	searchFilters parameter
Custom views	setEmptyView(), setErrorView()	emptyView, errorView composable slots

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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