FindWhiz

Tell search what you mean.

FindWhiz is a search builder in the Firefox toolbar. Add an exact phrase, a site or a file type to your words, and it builds one exact query.

Add to Firefox

This addon requests to update your default search engine to Yahoo.

Find with the exact phrase in a file.

The samples on this page build queries without opening a search.

Same topic, more to go on.

Plain keywords name the subject. A built query adds the phrase and file type you were looking for.

Plain search

tabby cat care

The topic, with no phrase or file type attached.

Built with FindWhiz

tabby cat care "long haired tabby" filetype:jpg

Keep the phrase together and ask for JPG results.

Keep what helps. Leave the rest out.

Each row below is a kind of filter. Switch one off and its operators leave the query.

  1. 1

    Keep a phrase, add alternatives

    An exact phrase keeps words together. Comma separated alternatives become an OR group.

    "long haired tabby"(tabby OR calico)
  2. 2

    Leave out words

    Enter unwanted words with spaces between them. FindWhiz adds the exclusion sign for each one.

    kittens-kittens
  3. 3

    Choose a site and file type

    Use a site chip or your own domain. A file type asks for a format such as JPG or PNG.

    site:wikipedia.orgfiletype:jpg
  4. 4

    Look in a title or address

    Title words and URL words add their own operators. Empty fields add nothing.

    intitle:tabbyinurl:care

The addon puts extra fields under More filters on Search.

Try the Search fields.

This sample builds a query on this page. The top menu has Search, Presets and Filters, plus Settings on its own page.

  • Pick a site chipIt adds site: to the query. Pick it again to clear it.
  • Choose Week or a regionThese become search URL options, not words in the query.
  • Show the search URLRead the address the popup would open.
See the views and every field

Keep a search you want again.

Save up to 20 named forms as saved presets. Each keeps the fields, card order, enabled filters, time and region together.

Load a form to edit it, run it as a search, or delete it. Saving with the same name replaces it.

Use the top menu on the drawing to look at the other views.

A little more room to work.

Open the wider builder from the popup. Your current form goes with it, even when remembering is off.

Search stays on the left. Presets and Filters sit beside it on a wide screen.

FindWhiz builder
FindWhiz

Saved searches

Name this search
Tabby reading listSave current form
Tabby reading list
RunLoadDelete
Cat training videos
RunLoadDelete
Mochi recipes
RunLoadDelete

Filters

  1. Exact phrase
    MoveUpDown
  2. File type
    MoveUpDown
  3. Exclude words
    MoveUpDown
An illustration of the full page builder.

Start where the words are.

Two shortcuts skip the toolbar button.

Select tabby cat care on a page.

CopySearch with FindWhiz

Right click selected text

The "Search with FindWhiz" menu item fills Keywords in the wider builder.

fw

Use the address bar

Type fw, a space and your text for a plain search, or submit without text to open the builder. It follows your result tab setting.

Your searches and data.

FindWhiz receives no search queries. Remembered fields, saved presets and custom site chips stay in Firefox storage.

Read what leaves the browser
Your deviceFields, presets and site chips

Only when you choose Search

Your resultsThe search engine receives the query

With Firefox's optional data setting on, the website records install status notices, as the privacy policy describes.

Build your next search.

Choose the fields, check the preview and open the results.

Add FindWhiz to Firefox