---
name: "xsearch"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "ncbi-entrez-direct"
version: "24.0.20250523+dfsg-1+b1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/xsearch"
---

# xsearch(1)

search an indexed local NCBI Entrez Direct archive

## NAME

xsearch - search an indexed local NCBI Entrez Direct archive

## SYNOPSIS

**xsearch** \[**-h**\[**elp**\]\|\[**--**\]**help**\] **-query**\|**-match**\|**-exact**\|**-title**\|**-words**\|**-pairs** *query...*

## DESCRIPTION

**xsearch** searches an indexed local NCBI PubMed archive as prepared by [**archive-pubmed**(1)](/archive-pubmed/1.md) or the like.

## OPTIONS

- **-query**

  Search on words or phrases in Boolean formulas.

- **-match**

  Perform ranked partial term matching.

- **-exact**

  Strict search for article round-tripping.

- **-title**

  Exact search limited to indexed title field.

- **-words**

  Combine searches for individual informative words.

- **-pairs**

  Combine searches for pairs of adjacent informative words.

- *query...*

  What to search for; may contain standard Boolean operators **AND**, **OR**, and **NOT**, using parentheses as needed for grouping.

- **-h**\[**elp**\]\|\[**--**\]**help**

  Print a summary of options and some usage examples.

## ENVIRONMENT

- **EDIRECT\_LOCAL\_ARCHIVE**

  Local archive directory to use; expected to hold an absolute path.

## SEE ALSO

[**archive-nihocc**(1)](/archive-nihocc/1.md), [**archive-nlmnlp**(1)](/archive-nlmnlp/1.md), [**archive-nmcds**(1)](/archive-nmcds/1.md), [**archive-pids**(1)](/archive-pids/1.md), [**archive-pmc**(1)](/archive-pmc/1.md), [**archive-pubmed**(1)](/archive-pubmed/1.md), [**archive-taxonomy**(1)](/archive-taxonomy/1.md), [**cit2pmid**(1)](/cit2pmid/1.md), [**combine-uid-lists**(1)](/combine-uid-lists/1.md), [**difference-uid-lists**(1)](/difference-uid-lists/1.md), [**download-ncbi-data**(1)](/download-ncbi-data/1.md), [**download-pmc**(1)](/download-pmc/1.md), [**download-pubmed**(1)](/download-pubmed/1.md), [**ecollect**(1)](/ecollect/1.md), [**edict**(1)](/edict/1.md), [**efetch**(1)](/efetch/1.md), [**elink**(1)](/elink/1.md), [**esearch**(1)](/esearch/1.md), [**exclude-uid-lists**(1)](/exclude-uid-lists/1.md), [**filter-stop-words**(1)](/filter-stop-words/1.md), [**intersect-uid-lists**(1)](/intersect-uid-lists/1.md), [**just-top-hits**(1)](/just-top-hits/1.md), [**pair-at-a-time**(1)](/pair-at-a-time/1.md), [**pm-refresh**(1)](/pm-refresh/1.md), [**rchive**(1)](/rchive/1.md), [**word-at-a-time**(1)](/word-at-a-time/1.md), [**xfetch**(1)](/xfetch/1.md), [**xfilter**(1)](/xfilter/1.md), [**xinfo**(1)](/xinfo/1.md), [**xlink**(1)](/xlink/1.md), [**xsearch**(1)](/xsearch/1.md), [**xtract**(1)](/xtract/1.md).