### Class

# GtkSource SearchContext

#### Description [src]

    final class GtkSource.SearchContext : GObject.Object
    {
      /* No available fields */
    }

Search context.

A `GtkSourceSearchContext` is used for the search and replace in a `GtkSourceBuffer`. The search settings are represented by a `GtkSourceSearchSettings` object. There can be a many-to-many relationship between buffers and search settings, with the search contexts in-between: a search settings object can be shared between several search contexts; and a buffer can contain several search contexts at the same time.

The total number of search occurrences can be retrieved with `gtk_source_search_context_get_occurrences_count()`. To know the position of a certain match, use `gtk_source_search_context_get_occurrence_position()`.

The buffer is scanned asynchronously, so it doesn’t block the user interface. For each search, the buffer is scanned at most once. After that, navigating through the occurrences doesn’t require to re-scan the buffer entirely.

To search forward, use `gtk_source_search_context_forward()` or `gtk_source_search_context_forward_async()` for the asynchronous version. The backward search is done similarly. To replace a search match, or all matches, use `gtk_source_search_context_replace()` and `gtk_source_search_context_replace_all()`.

The search occurrences are highlighted by default. To disable it, use `gtk_source_search_context_set_highlight()`. You can enable the search highlighting for several `GtkSourceSearchContext`s attached to the same buffer. Moreover, each of those `GtkSourceSearchContext`s can have a different text style associated. Use `gtk_source_search_context_set_match_style()` to specify the `GtkSourceStyle` to apply on search matches.

Note that the `GtkSourceSearchContext:highlight` and `GtkSourceSearchContext:match-style` properties are in the `GtkSourceSearchContext` class, not `GtkSourceSearchSettings`. Appearance settings should be tied to one, and only one buffer, as different buffers can have different style scheme associated (a `GtkSourceSearchSettings` object can be bound indirectly to several buffers).

The concept of “current match” doesn’t exist yet. A way to highlight differently the current match is to select it.

A search occurrence’s position doesn’t depend on the cursor position or other parameters. Take for instance the buffer “aaaa” with the search text “aa”. The two occurrences are at positions [0:2] and [2:4]. If you begin to search at position 1, you will get the occurrence [2:4], not [1:3]. This is a prerequisite for regular expression searches. The pattern “.*” matches the entire line. If the cursor is at the middle of the line, you don’t want the rest of the line as the occurrence, you want an entire line. (As a side note, regular expression searches can also match multiple lines.)

In the GtkSourceView source code, there is an example of how to use the search and replace API: see the tests/test-search.c file. It is a mini application for the search and replace, with a basic user interface.

#### Ancestors

- GObject

#### Constructors

###### gtk_source_search_context_new

Creates a new search context, associated with `buffer`, and customized with `settings`.

#### Instance methods

###### gtk_source_search_context_backward

Synchronous backward search.

###### gtk_source_search_context_backward_async

The asynchronous version of `gtk_source_search_context_backward()`.

###### gtk_source_search_context_backward_finish

Finishes a backward search started with `gtk_source_search_context_backward_async()`.

###### gtk_source_search_context_forward

Synchronous forward search.

###### gtk_source_search_context_forward_async

The asynchronous version of `gtk_source_search_context_forward()`.

###### gtk_source_search_context_forward_finish

Finishes a forward search started with `gtk_source_search_context_forward_async()`.

###### gtk_source_search_context_get_buffer

No description available.

###### gtk_source_search_context_get_highlight

No description available.

###### gtk_source_search_context_get_match_style

No description available.

###### gtk_source_search_context_get_occurrence_position

Gets the position of a search occurrence.

###### gtk_source_search_context_get_occurrences_count

Gets the total number of search occurrences.

###### gtk_source_search_context_get_regex_error

Regular expression patterns must follow certain rules. If `GtkSourceSearchSettings:search-text` breaks a rule, the error can be retrieved with this function.

###### gtk_source_search_context_get_settings

No description available.

###### gtk_source_search_context_replace

Replaces a search match by another text. If `match_start` and `match_end` doesn’t correspond to a search match, `FALSE` is returned.

###### gtk_source_search_context_replace_all

Replaces all search matches by another text.

###### gtk_source_search_context_set_highlight

Enables or disables the search occurrences highlighting.

###### gtk_source_search_context_set_match_style

Set the style to apply on search matches.

##### Methods inherited from GObject (43)

Please see GObject for a full list of methods.

#### Properties

###### GtkSource.SearchContext:buffer

The `GtkSourceBuffer` associated to the search context.

###### GtkSource.SearchContext:highlight

Highlight the search occurrences.

###### GtkSource.SearchContext:match-style

A `GtkSourceStyle`, or `NULL` for theme’s scheme default style.

###### GtkSource.SearchContext:occurrences-count

The total number of search occurrences. If the search is disabled, the value is 0. If the buffer is not already fully scanned, the value is -1.

###### GtkSource.SearchContext:regex-error

If the regex search pattern doesn’t follow all the rules, this `GError` property will be set. If the pattern is valid, the value is `NULL`.

###### GtkSource.SearchContext:settings

The `GtkSourceSearchSettings` associated to the search context.

#### Signals

##### Signals inherited from GObject (1)

###### GObject::notify

The notify signal is emitted on an object when one of its properties has its value set through g_object_set_property(), g_object_set(), et al.

#### Class structure

    struct GtkSourceSearchContextClass {
      GObjectClass parent_class;

    }

No description available.

###### Class members

`parent_class: GObjectClass`

  No description available.