codebase-search

Use grep with language-specific patterns such as "def function_name" for Python or "function functionName" for JavaScript, filtered by file type. Start broad across the repository, then narrow with directory targeting once you locate the relevant module.

First grep for the function definition, then search for all imports of its module, and finally grep for the function name followed by an opening parenthesis. Read each callsite for context and check related test files to map the full impact.

Use semantic search for conceptual questions like "how is authentication handled" when you do not know exact terms, especially in unfamiliar codebases. Use grep when you know exact function names, error messages, or string literals for fast precise matches.

No results usually come from case sensitivity, misspelled patterns, or files excluded by .gitignore. Try case-insensitive search with -i, broaden the scope by removing directory targets, or switch to semantic search with different terms.

Yes, use the --type flag to filter by language, such as --type py for Python or --type js,ts for JavaScript and TypeScript. You can also exclude patterns with glob flags, for example skipping test files during a search.