Better Search and Replace

Better Search and Replace

An enhanced search and replace plugin for Obsidian. Provides a floating search bar docked to the top of the editor with live highlighting, real-time diff preview, regex support with capture groups, and more.

Works on both desktop and mobile.

Features

• Floating search bar -- slides in at the top of the editor (not a modal, not a sidebar)
• Real-time match highlighting -- matches are highlighted as you type
• Live diff preview -- matched text is shown with strikethrough (red) and the replacement is shown as green ghost text inline, so you can see exactly what will change before committing
• Regular expression support -- full JavaScript regex with capture groups ($1, $2, $<name>)
• Case sensitive toggle -- match exact case or ignore case
• Whole word toggle -- restrict matches to whole words only
• Match counter -- shows "3 of 12" style count inline with the search field
• Match navigation -- step through matches one at a time with up/down arrows
• Replace current -- replace just the current match
• Replace all -- replace every match at once
• Regex validation -- invalid regex patterns are caught immediately with inline error messages
• Capture group hint -- when regex mode is on, a hint reminds you that $1, $2, $<name> are available
• Customizable colors -- match highlight, current match, strikethrough, and preview colors are all configurable in settings
• Keyboard shortcuts -- Enter/Shift+Enter to navigate, Escape to close, Enter in replace field to replace current, Shift+Enter to replace all
• Command palette integration -- open via "Better Search and Replace: Find and replace in current file"
• Hotkey support -- assign any shortcut (e.g. Cmd/Ctrl+F) to replace the built-in search
• Note toolbar integration -- accessible from the helpers modal when the note-toolbar plugin is installed

How to Use

1. Open the command palette and run Better Search and Replace: Find and replace in current file
2. Type your search query in the search field
3. Matches are highlighted in the editor in real time
4. Use the toggle buttons to enable:
   • .* Regex mode
   • Aa Case sensitivity
   • W Whole word matching
5. Type replacement text in the replace field to see a live diff preview
6. Click Replace to replace the current match, or Replace All to replace every match
7. Press Escape or click the X button to close the search bar

Setting Up a Keyboard Shortcut

To replace Obsidian's built-in Cmd/Ctrl+F with this plugin:

1. Go to Settings > Hotkeys
2. Search for "Better Search and Replace: Find and replace in current file"
3. Click the + button and press your desired key combination (e.g. Cmd/Ctrl+F)
4. If the shortcut conflicts with the built-in search, Obsidian will prompt you to remove the existing binding

Regex Capture Groups

When regex mode is enabled, you can use standard JavaScript replacement patterns in the replace field:

Installation

Obsidian Community Plugin

This plugin is available in the official Obsidian community plugin directory. Install it from Settings > Community plugins > Browse and search for "Better Search and Replace" or "Better Search and Replace by saltyfireball".

Community plugin page: https://community.obsidian.md/plugins/sfb-better-search-and-replace

Using BRAT

You can install this plugin right now using the BRAT plugin:

1. Install BRAT from Settings > Community plugins > Browse (search for "BRAT" by TfTHacker)

2. Open the BRAT settings

3. Under the Beta plugins section, click Add beta plugin

   

4. In the overlay, enter this plugin's repository: https://github.com/saltyfireball/obsidian-better-search-and-replace (or just saltyfireball/obsidian-better-search-and-replace)

   

5. Leave the version set to latest

   

6. Click Add plugin

Manual

1. Download the latest release from the Releases page
2. Copy main.js, manifest.json, and styles.css into your vault's .obsidian/plugins/sfb-better-search-and-replace/ directory
3. Enable the plugin in Settings > Community plugins

Settings

• Default search options -- set whether regex, case sensitivity, and whole word matching are on by default
• Match highlight color -- background color for matched text
• Match strikethrough color -- color of the strikethrough line on matches when replacement is shown
• Replacement preview color -- background color for the ghost replacement text
• Current match highlight color -- background color for the currently selected match

Default colors use the Monokai Pro palette:

• Match: Red (#FF6188) at 25% opacity
• Current match: Yellow (#FFD866) at 35% opacity
• Preview: Green (#A9DC76) at 25% opacity

License

MIT