VS Code Extensions
MultiSearch Highlighter

MultiSearch Highlighter

by MultiSearchHighlighter

Highlight multiple search terms simultaneously with distinct colors. Pipe-separated multi-term search alongside native VS Code find.

Downloads

21

Rating

— (0)

Version

0.1.0

Last updated

May 06, 2026

A lightweight, secure, and responsive VS Code extension for single-string and multi-string text search with real-time highlighting.

Features

  • Single Search Mode (default) — Search for one term at a time with instant highlighting
  • Multi-Search Mode — Search for up to 10 terms simultaneously, each highlighted in a distinct color
  • Real-time highlighting — Matches appear as you type with sub-50ms responsiveness
  • Match counts — See how many matches each term has in the current file
  • Editor-aware — Highlights follow your active editor tab
  • No keybinding conflicts — Does not override Cmd+F / Ctrl+F or any other shortcuts

Usage

  1. Open the MultiSearch panel from the Activity Bar (sidebar icon) or via Command Palette: MultiSearch: Focus Panel
  2. Type a search term — matches are highlighted immediately
  3. Toggle to Multi mode to add additional search terms (up to 10)
  4. Each term gets a unique highlight color for easy visual distinction

Configuration

Setting Default Description
multisearch.maxTerms 10 Maximum concurrent search terms (1-10)
multisearch.defaultCaseSensitive false Whether search is case-sensitive by default
multisearch.debounceMs 150 Input debounce delay in milliseconds (50-500)

Security

  • All input is sanitized — no code execution from search terms
  • No data transmitted to external services
  • No file system access beyond reading the active editor
  • Content Security Policy enforced in the webview panel
  • Minimal permissions requested

Performance

  • Bundle size: ~25 KB
  • Memory: well under 50 MB with maximum terms active
  • Lazy activation: only loads when you open the panel or invoke the command
  • No background processes when idle

Development

npm install        # Install dependencies
npm run build      # Build the extension
npm run watch      # Build with file watching
npm test           # Run tests
npm run package    # Package as .vsix

License

MIT

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