Searching in JavaScript Grid control

22 Jul 2021 / 4 minutes to read

You can search records in a Grid, by using the search method with search key as a parameter. This also provides an option to integrate search text box in grid’s toolbar by adding search item to the toolbar.

To search records, inject the Search module in the grid.

Source

Preview

index.ts

index.html

import { Grid, Search, Toolbar } from '@syncfusion/ej2-grids';
import { data } from './datasource.ts';

Grid.Inject(Search, Toolbar);

let grid: Grid = new Grid({
    dataSource: data,
    toolbar: ['Search'],
    columns: [
        { field: 'OrderID', headerText: 'Order ID', textAlign: 'Right', width: 120, type: 'number' },
        { field: 'CustomerID', width: 150, headerText: 'Customer ID', type: 'string' },
        { field: 'Freight', headerText: 'Freight', textAlign: 'Right', width: 120, format: 'C' },
        { field: 'OrderDate', headerText: 'Order Date', textAlign: 'Right', width: 140, format: 'yMd' }
    ],
    height: 272
});
grid.appendTo('#Grid');

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
    <title>EJ2 Grid</title>
    <meta charset="utf-8" />
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
    <meta name="description" content="Typescript Grid Control" />
    <meta name="author" content="Syncfusion" />
    <link href="index.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-base/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-grids/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-buttons/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-popups/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-navigations/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-dropdowns/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-lists/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-inputs/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-calendars/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    
    
    
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-splitbuttons/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    
    
    <script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/systemjs/0.19.38/system.js"></script>
    <script src="systemjs.config.js"></script>
    <style>
        .e-row[aria-selected="true"] .e-customizedExpandcell {
            background-color: #e0e0e0;
        }
        .e-grid.e-gridhover tr[role='row']:hover {
            background-color: #eee;
        }
        .e-expand::before {
        content: '\e5b8';
    }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <div id='loader'>Loading....</div>
    <div id='container'>
        <div id='Grid'></div>        
    </div>
</body>
</html>

Initial search

To apply search at initial rendering, set the fields, operator, key, and ignoreCase in the searchSettings.

Source

Preview

index.ts

index.html

import { Grid, Search, Toolbar } from '@syncfusion/ej2-grids';
import { data } from './datasource.ts';

Grid.Inject(Search, Toolbar);

let grid: Grid = new Grid({
    dataSource: data,
    toolbar: ['Search'],
    searchSettings: { fields: ['CustomerID'], operator: 'contains', key: 'Ha', ignoreCase: true },
    columns: [
        { field: 'OrderID', headerText: 'Order ID', textAlign: 'Right', width: 120 },
        { field: 'CustomerID', headerText: 'Customer ID', width: 150 },
        { field: 'ShipCity', headerText: 'Ship City', width: 150 },
        { field: 'ShipName', headerText: 'Ship Name', width: 150 }
    ],
    height: 272
});
grid.appendTo('#Grid');

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
    <title>EJ2 Grid</title>
    <meta charset="utf-8" />
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
    <meta name="description" content="Typescript Grid Control" />
    <meta name="author" content="Syncfusion" />
    <link href="index.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-base/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-grids/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-buttons/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-popups/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-navigations/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-dropdowns/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-lists/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-inputs/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-calendars/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    
    
    
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-splitbuttons/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    
    
    <script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/systemjs/0.19.38/system.js"></script>
    <script src="systemjs.config.js"></script>
    <style>
        .e-row[aria-selected="true"] .e-customizedExpandcell {
            background-color: #e0e0e0;
        }
        .e-grid.e-gridhover tr[role='row']:hover {
            background-color: #eee;
        }
        .e-expand::before {
        content: '\e5b8';
    }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <div id='loader'>Loading....</div>
    <div id='container'>
        <div id='Grid'></div>        
    </div>
</body>
</html>

By default, grid searches all the bound column values. To customize this behavior define the searchSettings.fields property.

Search operators

The search operator can be defined in the searchSettings.operator property to configure specific searching.

The following operators are supported in searching:

Operator	Description
startsWith	Checks whether a value begins with the specified value.
endsWith	Checks whether a value ends with the specified value.
contains	Checks whether a value contains the specified value.
equal	Checks whether a value is equal to the specified value.
notEqual	Checks for values not equal to the specified value.

By default, the searchSettings.operator value is contains.

Search by external button

To search grid records from an external button, invoke the search method.

Source

Preview

index.ts

index.html

import { Grid } from '@syncfusion/ej2-grids';
import { Button } from '@syncfusion/ej2-buttons';
import { data } from './datasource.ts';

let grid: Grid = new Grid({
    dataSource: data,
    columns: [
        { field: 'OrderID', headerText: 'Order ID', textAlign: 'Right', width: 120 },
        { field: 'CustomerID', headerText: 'Customer ID', width: 150 },
        { field: 'ShipCity', headerText: 'Ship City', width: 150 },
        { field: 'ShipName', headerText: 'Ship Name', width: 150 }
    ],
    height: 260
});
grid.appendTo('#Grid');

let searchBtn: Button = new Button();
searchBtn.appendTo('#search');

document.getElementById('search').addEventListener('click', () => {
    let searchText: string = (<HTMLInputElement>document.getElementsByClassName('searchtext')[0]).value;
    grid.search(searchText);
});

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
    <title>EJ2 Grid</title>
    <meta charset="utf-8" />
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
    <meta name="description" content="Typescript Grid Control" />
    <meta name="author" content="Syncfusion" />
    <link href="index.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-base/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-grids/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-buttons/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-popups/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-navigations/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-dropdowns/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-lists/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-inputs/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-calendars/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    
    
    
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-splitbuttons/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    
    
    <script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/systemjs/0.19.38/system.js"></script>
    <script src="systemjs.config.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
    <div id='loader'>Loading....</div>
    <div id='container'>
        <div class="e-float-input" style="width: 200px; display: inline-block;">
            <input type="text" class="searchtext"/>
            <span class="e-float-line"></span>
            <label class="e-float-text">Search text</label>
        </div>                   
        <button id="search">Search</button>        
        <div id='Grid'></div>        
    </div>
</body>
</html>

Search specific columns

By default, grid searches all visible columns. You can search specific columns by defining the specific column’s field names in the searchSettings.fields property.

Source

Preview

index.ts

index.html

import { Grid, Toolbar } from '@syncfusion/ej2-grids';
import { data } from './datasource.ts';

Grid.Inject(Toolbar);

let grid: Grid = new Grid({
    dataSource: data,
    searchSettings: { fields: ['CustomerID', 'ShipCity', 'ShipName']},
    columns: [
        { field: 'OrderID', headerText: 'Order ID', textAlign: 'Right', width: 100 },
        { field: 'CustomerID', headerText: 'Customer ID', width: 120 },
        { field: 'ShipCity', headerText: 'Ship City', width: 100 },
        { field: 'ShipName', headerText: 'Ship Name', width: 100 }
    ],
    toolbar: ['Search'],
    height: 270
});
grid.appendTo('#Grid');

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
    <title>EJ2 Grid</title>
    <meta charset="utf-8" />
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
    <meta name="description" content="Typescript Grid Control" />
    <meta name="author" content="Syncfusion" />
    <link href="index.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-base/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-buttons/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-popups/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-navigations/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-dropdowns/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-lists/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-inputs/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-calendars/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    
    
    
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-splitbuttons/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    
    
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-grids/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/systemjs/0.19.38/system.js"></script>
    <script src="systemjs.config.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
    <div id='loader'>Loading....</div>
    <div id='container'>
        <div id='Grid'></div>        
    </div>
</body>
</html>

Clear search by external button

To clear the searched grid records from the external button, set searchSettings.key property as empty string.

Source

Preview

index.ts

index.html

import { Grid, Search, Toolbar } from '@syncfusion/ej2-grids';
import { Button } from '@syncfusion/ej2-buttons';
import { data } from './datasource.ts';

Grid.Inject(Search, Toolbar);

let grid: Grid = new Grid({
    dataSource: data,
    toolbar: ['Search'],
    searchSettings: { fields: ['CustomerID'], operator: 'contains', key: 'Ha', ignoreCase: true },
    columns: [
        { field: 'OrderID', headerText: 'Order ID', textAlign: 'Right', width: 120 },
        { field: 'CustomerID', headerText: 'Customer ID', width: 150 },
        { field: 'ShipCity', headerText: 'Ship City', width: 150 },
        { field: 'ShipName', headerText: 'Ship Name', width: 150 }
    ],
    height: 272
});
grid.appendTo('#Grid');

let clearBtn: Button = new Button();
clearBtn.appendTo('#clear');

document.getElementById('clear').addEventListener('click', () => {
    grid.searchSettings.key='';
});

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
    <title>EJ2 Grid</title>
    <meta charset="utf-8" />
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
    <meta name="description" content="Typescript Grid Control" />
    <meta name="author" content="Syncfusion" />
    <link href="index.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-base/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-grids/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-buttons/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-popups/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-navigations/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-dropdowns/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-lists/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-inputs/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-calendars/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    
    
    
    <link href="//cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/ej2-splitbuttons/styles/material.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    
    
    <script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/systemjs/0.19.38/system.js"></script>
    <script src="systemjs.config.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
    <div id='loader'>Loading....</div>
    <div id='container'>
        <button id="clear">Clear Search</button>          
        <div id='Grid'></div>        
    </div>
</body>
</html>

Contents

Initial search
Search operators
Search by external button
Search specific columns
Clear search by external button

Contents

Initial search
Search operators
Search by external button
Search specific columns
Clear search by external button