---
name: ctx-search
description: |-
  Search context-mode's persistent FTS5 knowledge base for previously indexed
  local project content, documentation, or session memory.
  Trigger: /context-mode:ctx-search
user-invocable: true
title: ctx-search
canonical_url: https://skilld.dev/gh/mksglu/context-mode/ctx-search
last_updated: 2026-09-27T12:10:39.000Z
---

> **Skill from skilld.dev.** Follow the instructions below for this session. You do not need to install anything.
>
> If the user asked to install this Skill, run `npx skilld install mksglu/context-mode/ctx-search`. Install writes the Skill files into the project, so every session loads them.

# Context Mode Search

Search indexed content without rereading raw sources into conversation context.

## Instructions

1. Prefer the `ctx_search` MCP tool when it is available.
2. Batch all related questions in one `queries` array.
3. Scope with `source` when the user names a project or indexed label.
4. Use short, specific queries of two to four technical terms.

```javascript
ctx_search({
  source: "project:<name>",
  queries: ["authentication middleware", "token refresh"],
  limit: 5
})
```

5. If MCP tools are unavailable, fall back to the CLI:

```bash
context-mode search "authentication middleware" --source project:<name> --limit 5
```

6. If the index is empty, tell the user to run `/context-mode:ctx-index` or `context-mode index <path>` first.