Reddit is finally updating its platform to allow its search feature to index comments. This means that you're finally going to be able to search through comments as well as posts, people, and communities, making it much easier to find the specific information you're looking for on Reddit.
Reddit Lets Users Search Through Comments
As Reddit discovered when it surveyed its users about what features they wanted to see added, Redditors want to be able to search for specific comments. And now, as outlined in a post on Upvoted, that feature has become a reality, with Reddit declaring:
With this latest update, for the first time in sixteen years everything on Reddit is now searchable - users, posts, communities, and now comments - making Reddit one of the first platforms with this capability. Additional new features include completely new user interfaces for search and improved search relevance.
When running a search on Reddit, you can now choose between Posts, Comments, Communities, and People. You should be aware that the new search function is only available via the Reddit website right now, which means that you won't be able to search through comments on your mobile app.
How to Use Reddit's New Search Function
The core of how you run searches on Reddit hasn't changed. You'll still have to go to the Reddit homepage and click on the Search Reddit bar. Simply type on the query you're interested in and press Enter or click on the suggested Search for "query".
Once the results are displayed, you'll notice you're on the default Posts page. If you want to look for your specific query in comments made by Redditors, click on the Comments tab at the top. Unlike with posts, you can't choose which order to have them sorted or the time span you want to be covered.
Reddit Pushes More Search Changes
Reddit has also improved the relevance of its search results. So, if you're looking for a specific phrase, you won't get restricted to results with a 100% query match. Instead, similar to what happens when you search on Google, you'll get more search results that may be more relevant even if they're not exact matches.
As a whole, search has also become more accurate by prioritizing the newest content. The posts people click more often on when searching for something will also get a visibility bump in an effort to improve satisfaction levels.
Furthermore, Reddit has created a new look for the search results page on both desktop and mobile to show content in a simpler way, with a cleaner design. Additionally, the main search result section is now Posts, thanks to feedback from Redditors. The goal is to make it easier for users to skim through the results to find what they're looking for.
Better Search, Better Reddit
Reddit's upgraded search feature should come in handy for millions of Reddit users. With more accurate results and more options to use, Redditors should find the feature more useful than before. The latest update is a testament to Reddit's willingness to listen to users.
