---
name: "gh-search-repos"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "github-cli"
version: "2.102.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gh-search-repos"
---

# gh-search-repos(1)

Search for repositories

## NAME

gh-search-repos - Search for repositories

## SYNOPSIS

**gh search repos \[\<query\>\] \[flags\]**

## DESCRIPTION

Search for repositories on GitHub.

The command supports constructing queries using the GitHub search syntax, using the parameter and qualifier flags, or a combination of the two.

GitHub search syntax is documented at:

⟨https://docs.github.com/search-github/searching-on-github/searching-for-repositories⟩

For more information on handling search queries containing a hyphen, run **gh search --help**.

## OPTIONS

- **--archived**

  Filter based on the repository archived state {true\|false}

- **--created** **\<date\>**

  Filter based on created at date

- **--followers** **\<number\>**

  Filter based on number of followers

- **--forks** **\<number\>**

  Filter on number of forks

- **--good-first-issues** **\<number\>**

  Filter on number of issues with the 'good first issue' label

- **--help-wanted-issues** **\<number\>**

  Filter on number of issues with the 'help wanted' label

- **--include-forks** **\<string\>**

  Include forks in fetched repositories: {false\|true\|only}

- **-q**, **--jq** **\<expression\>**

  Filter JSON output using a jq expression

- **--json** **\<fields\>**

  Output JSON with the specified fields

- **--language** **\<string\>**

  Filter based on the coding language

- **--license** **\<strings\>**

  Filter based on license type

- **-L**, **--limit** **\<int\> (default 30)**

  Maximum number of repositories to fetch

- **--match** **\<strings\>**

  Restrict search to specific field of repository: {name\|description\|readme}

- **--number-topics** **\<number\>**

  Filter on number of topics

- **--order** **\<string\> (default "desc")**

  Order of repositories returned, ignored unless '--sort' flag is specified: {asc\|desc}

- **--owner** **\<strings\>**

  Filter on owner

- **--size** **\<string\>**

  Filter on a size range, in kilobytes

- **--sort** **\<string\> (default "best-match")**

  Sort fetched repositories: {forks\|help-wanted-issues\|stars\|updated}

- **--stars** **\<number\>**

  Filter on number of stars

- **-t**, **--template** **\<string\>**

  Format JSON output using a Go template; see "gh help formatting"

- **--topic** **\<strings\>**

  Filter on topic

- **--updated** **\<date\>**

  Filter on last updated at date

- **--visibility** **\<strings\>**

  Filter based on visibility: {public\|private\|internal}

- **-w**, **--web**

  Open the search query in the web browser

## JSON FIELDS

**createdAt**, **defaultBranch**, **description**, **forksCount**, **fullName**, **hasDownloads**, **hasIssues**, **hasPages**, **hasProjects**, **hasWiki**, **homepage**, **id**, **isArchived**, **isDisabled**, **isFork**, **isPrivate**, **language**, **license**, **name**, **openIssuesCount**, **owner**, **pushedAt**, **size**, **stargazersCount**, **updatedAt**, **url**, **visibility**, **watchersCount**

## EXIT CODES

0: Successful execution

1: Error

2: Command canceled

4: Authentication required

NOTE: Specific commands may have additional exit codes. Refer to the command's help for more information.

## EXAMPLE

```
# Search repositories matching set of keywords "cli" and "shell"
$ gh search repos cli shell
# Search repositories matching phrase "vim plugin"
$ gh search repos "vim plugin"
# Search repositories using raw search qualifiers as separate arguments
$ gh search repos topic:github 'stars:>5000'
# Search repositories public repos in the microsoft organization
$ gh search repos --owner=microsoft --visibility=public
# Search repositories with a set of topics
$ gh search repos --topic=unix,terminal
# Search repositories by coding language and number of good first issues
$ gh search repos --language=go --good-first-issues=">=10"
# Search repositories without topic "linux"
$ gh search repos -- -topic:linux
# Search repositories excluding archived repositories
$ gh search repos --archived=false
```

## SEE ALSO

**[gh-search(1)](/gh-search/1.md)**