---
title: "What is the Instant Search connector?"
date: "2025-02-14T09:44:48+00:00"
summary:
image:
type: "page"
url: "/acquia-dam/what-instant-search-connector"
id: "39f8a3ac-1370-4d76-b224-5ed87bd88485"
---

The Instant Search Connector is an endpoint in our API that allows you to quickly connect external apps, like content management, marketing automation, and customer relationship management systems, and e-commerce tools, to Acquia DAM to search for assets in those apps using the same user interface (UI) that is in the DAM. This functionality reduces the time needed from outside developers to connect assets to other common tools.  
  
You must authenticate through the API to use the Instant Search Connector. After authentication, the UI that is presented allows you to search for assets, see thumbnail previews, select [share links and embed codes](/acquia-dam/what-are-share-links-embed-codes-and-embed-links "What are share links, embed codes, and embed links?") for use, and view, share, and download assets. Assets that display are based on the permissions of the user the API key is linked to.  
  
Enable or disable the display of the search bar with the Connector. More information is available in our [API search connector](http://docs.widenv2.apiary.io/#reference/search-connector) documentation. Alternatively, the [List by Search Query API call](https://widenv2.docs.apiary.io/#reference/assets/assets/list-by-search-query) can be used by your development team to create a search experience that is fully customized to your needs.

![Instant Search Connector](https://acquia.widen.net/content/f1c59813-2427-41ee-a0b8-196083f93ac1/web/ka0Pb0000009EOj00N6g00000WDN1a0EMPb00000FDCUA.png)

Supported searches
------------------

Searching in the Connector is the same as using the [quick search](How-do-I-search-for-assets) in the DAM. The supported search types in the Connector are:

*   Category search
*   Document text search
*   Does not contain search
*   Exact search
*   Field-specific search
*   File format search
*   Filename search
*   Last edit date/last history date search
*   Metadata field search
*   Metadata type search
*   Phrase search
*   Wildcard search

The [quick search article](How-do-I-search-for-assets) provides information about sample searches, complex quick searches, search results, and international characters, which also apply in the Connector.  
  
Searching within and filtering searches are not supported in the Connector.