Search for Code Patterns / Regex Across Repos — Best Syntax Example?

[bright8r]

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Hi, I'm Kiran, and I work at Bright Steel Centre. I want to search globally for a pattern (e.g. all uses of deprecated functions, or matching certain license comments) using regex/advanced query. What is the correct GitHub search syntax to reliably find these across multiple repos?

[SoumenBaral]

Open the GitHub search bar.

Wrap your regex in slashes:

    /oldFunc\s*\(/

Add qualifiers to control where you search:

  org:yourorg — search all repos in your org
  
  repo:user/repo — single repo
  
  path:src/ — limit to folders

extension:js or filename:LICENSE — limit file types

Examples:

Find deprecated function across an org:

 /oldFunc\s*\(/ org:yourorg

Find license headers:

 /Licensed under/ org:yourorg filename:LICENSE

Note: Regex works only in the GitHub web UI code search. For deeper or automated searches, clone repos and use ripgrep (rg) locally.

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