diff --git a/build.sbt b/build.sbt
index 2c9db4f1..3a1ca00a 100644
--- a/build.sbt
+++ b/build.sbt
@@ -47,7 +47,13 @@ val sharedSettings = Seq(
 
 val testSettings = Seq(
   testFrameworks += new TestFramework("minitest.runner.Framework"),
-  libraryDependencies ++= Dependencies.miniTest ++ Dependencies.logging.map(_ % Test)
+  libraryDependencies ++= Dependencies.miniTest ++ Dependencies.logging.map(_ % Test),
+  Test / fork := true
+)
+
+val testSettingsMUnit = Seq(
+  libraryDependencies ++= Dependencies.munit.map(_ % Test),
+  testFrameworks += new TestFramework("munit.Framework")
 )
 
 lazy val noPublish = Seq(
@@ -80,7 +86,7 @@ val stylesSettings = Seq(
   Compile / resourceGenerators += stylesBuild.taskValue
 )
 
-val webjarSettings = Seq(
+def webjarSettings(queryJS: Project) = Seq(
   Compile / resourceGenerators += Def.task {
     copyWebjarResources(
       Seq((sourceDirectory in Compile).value / "webjar"),
@@ -90,6 +96,18 @@ val webjarSettings = Seq(
       streams.value.log
     )
   }.taskValue,
+  Compile / resourceGenerators += Def.task {
+    val logger = streams.value.log
+    val out = (queryJS/Compile/fullOptJS).value
+    logger.info(s"Produced query js file: ${out.data}")
+    copyWebjarResources(
+      Seq(out.data),
+      (Compile/resourceManaged).value,
+      name.value,
+      version.value,
+      logger
+    )
+  }.taskValue,
   watchSources += Watched.WatchSource(
     (Compile / sourceDirectory).value / "webjar",
     FileFilter.globFilter("*.js") || FileFilter.globFilter("*.css"),
@@ -264,6 +282,28 @@ ${lines.map(_._1).mkString(",\n")}
   )
   .dependsOn(common)
 
+val query =
+  crossProject(JSPlatform, JVMPlatform)
+    .withoutSuffixFor(JVMPlatform)
+    .in(file("modules/query"))
+    .disablePlugins(RevolverPlugin)
+    .settings(sharedSettings)
+    .settings(testSettingsMUnit)
+    .settings(
+      name := "docspell-query",
+      libraryDependencies +=
+        Dependencies.catsParseJS.value,
+      libraryDependencies +=
+        Dependencies.scalaJavaTime.value
+    )
+    .jsSettings(
+      Test / fork := false
+    )
+    .jvmSettings(
+      libraryDependencies +=
+        Dependencies.scalaJsStubs
+    )
+
 val store = project
   .in(file("modules/store"))
   .disablePlugins(RevolverPlugin)
@@ -284,7 +324,7 @@ val store = project
         Dependencies.calevCore ++
         Dependencies.calevFs2
   )
-  .dependsOn(common)
+  .dependsOn(common, query.jvm)
 
 val extract = project
   .in(file("modules/extract"))
@@ -417,7 +457,7 @@ val webapp = project
   .settings(sharedSettings)
   .settings(elmSettings)
   .settings(stylesSettings)
-  .settings(webjarSettings)
+  .settings(webjarSettings(query.js))
   .settings(
     name := "docspell-webapp",
     openapiTargetLanguage := Language.Elm,
@@ -425,6 +465,7 @@ val webapp = project
     openapiSpec := (restapi / Compile / resourceDirectory).value / "docspell-openapi.yml",
     openapiElmConfig := ElmConfig().withJson(ElmJson.decodePipeline)
   )
+  .dependsOn(query.js)
 
 // --- Application(s)
 
@@ -575,6 +616,7 @@ val website = project
 
 val root = project
   .in(file("."))
+  .disablePlugins(RevolverPlugin)
   .settings(sharedSettings)
   .settings(noPublish)
   .settings(
@@ -594,7 +636,9 @@ val root = project
     backend,
     webapp,
     restapi,
-    restserver
+    restserver,
+    query.jvm,
+    query.js
   )
 
 // --- Helpers
diff --git a/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/BackendApp.scala b/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/BackendApp.scala
index 81328296..80df397c 100644
--- a/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/BackendApp.scala
+++ b/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/BackendApp.scala
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ trait BackendApp[F[_]] {
   def userTask: OUserTask[F]
   def folder: OFolder[F]
   def customFields: OCustomFields[F]
+  def simpleSearch: OSimpleSearch[F]
 }
 
 object BackendApp {
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ object BackendApp {
       userTaskImpl     <- OUserTask(utStore, queue, joexImpl)
       folderImpl       <- OFolder(store)
       customFieldsImpl <- OCustomFields(store)
+      simpleSearchImpl = OSimpleSearch(fulltextImpl, itemSearchImpl)
     } yield new BackendApp[F] {
       val login        = loginImpl
       val signup       = signupImpl
@@ -90,6 +92,7 @@ object BackendApp {
       val userTask     = userTaskImpl
       val folder       = folderImpl
       val customFields = customFieldsImpl
+      val simpleSearch = simpleSearchImpl
     }
 
   def apply[F[_]: ConcurrentEffect: ContextShift](
diff --git a/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OFulltext.scala b/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OFulltext.scala
index 52e23571..0dd2348c 100644
--- a/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OFulltext.scala
+++ b/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OFulltext.scala
@@ -159,13 +159,14 @@ object OFulltext {
 
         for {
           folder <- store.transact(QFolder.getMemberFolders(account))
+          now    <- Timestamp.current[F]
           itemIds <- fts
             .searchAll(fq.withFolders(folder))
             .flatMap(r => Stream.emits(r.results.map(_.itemId)))
             .compile
             .to(Set)
-          q = Query.empty(account).copy(itemIds = itemIds.some)
-          res <- store.transact(QItem.searchStats(q))
+          q = Query.empty(account).withFix(_.copy(itemIds = itemIds.some))
+          res <- store.transact(QItem.searchStats(now.toUtcDate)(q))
         } yield res
       }
 
@@ -208,7 +209,7 @@ object OFulltext {
           search <- itemSearch.findItems(0)(q, Batch.all)
           fq = FtsQuery(
             ftsQ.query,
-            q.account.collective,
+            q.fix.account.collective,
             search.map(_.id).toSet,
             Set.empty,
             500,
@@ -220,8 +221,9 @@ object OFulltext {
             .flatMap(r => Stream.emits(r.results.map(_.itemId)))
             .compile
             .to(Set)
-          qnext = q.copy(itemIds = items.some)
-          res <- store.transact(QItem.searchStats(qnext))
+          qnext = q.withFix(_.copy(itemIds = items.some))
+          now <- Timestamp.current[F]
+          res <- store.transact(QItem.searchStats(now.toUtcDate)(qnext))
         } yield res
 
       // Helper
@@ -253,7 +255,7 @@ object OFulltext {
         val sqlResult = search(q, batch)
         val fq = FtsQuery(
           ftsQ.query,
-          q.account.collective,
+          q.fix.account.collective,
           Set.empty,
           Set.empty,
           0,
diff --git a/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OItemSearch.scala b/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OItemSearch.scala
index 46ec929d..a74e451a 100644
--- a/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OItemSearch.scala
+++ b/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OItemSearch.scala
@@ -127,25 +127,39 @@ object OItemSearch {
           .map(opt => opt.flatMap(_.filterCollective(collective)))
 
       def findItems(maxNoteLen: Int)(q: Query, batch: Batch): F[Vector[ListItem]] =
-        store
-          .transact(QItem.findItems(q, maxNoteLen, batch).take(batch.limit.toLong))
-          .compile
-          .toVector
+        Timestamp
+          .current[F]
+          .map(_.toUtcDate)
+          .flatMap { today =>
+            store
+              .transact(
+                QItem.findItems(q, today, maxNoteLen, batch).take(batch.limit.toLong)
+              )
+              .compile
+              .toVector
+          }
 
       def findItemsWithTags(
           maxNoteLen: Int
-      )(q: Query, batch: Batch): F[Vector[ListItemWithTags]] = {
-        val search = QItem.findItems(q, maxNoteLen: Int, batch)
-        store
-          .transact(
-            QItem.findItemsWithTags(q.account.collective, search).take(batch.limit.toLong)
-          )
-          .compile
-          .toVector
-      }
+      )(q: Query, batch: Batch): F[Vector[ListItemWithTags]] =
+        for {
+          now <- Timestamp.current[F]
+          search = QItem.findItems(q, now.toUtcDate, maxNoteLen: Int, batch)
+          res <- store
+            .transact(
+              QItem
+                .findItemsWithTags(q.fix.account.collective, search)
+                .take(batch.limit.toLong)
+            )
+            .compile
+            .toVector
+        } yield res
 
       def findItemsSummary(q: Query): F[SearchSummary] =
-        store.transact(QItem.searchStats(q))
+        Timestamp
+          .current[F]
+          .map(_.toUtcDate)
+          .flatMap(today => store.transact(QItem.searchStats(today)(q)))
 
       def findAttachment(id: Ident, collective: Ident): F[Option[AttachmentData[F]]] =
         store
diff --git a/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OSimpleSearch.scala b/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OSimpleSearch.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1c5e54df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OSimpleSearch.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,221 @@
+package docspell.backend.ops
+
+import cats.effect.Sync
+import cats.implicits._
+
+import docspell.backend.ops.OSimpleSearch._
+import docspell.common._
+import docspell.query._
+import docspell.store.qb.Batch
+import docspell.store.queries.Query
+import docspell.store.queries.SearchSummary
+
+/** A "porcelain" api on top of OFulltext and OItemSearch. */
+trait OSimpleSearch[F[_]] {
+
+  def search(settings: Settings)(q: Query, fulltextQuery: Option[String]): F[Items]
+  def searchSummary(
+      useFTS: Boolean
+  )(q: Query, fulltextQuery: Option[String]): F[SearchSummary]
+
+  def searchByString(
+      settings: Settings
+  )(fix: Query.Fix, q: ItemQueryString): F[StringSearchResult[Items]]
+  def searchSummaryByString(
+      useFTS: Boolean
+  )(fix: Query.Fix, q: ItemQueryString): F[StringSearchResult[SearchSummary]]
+
+}
+
+object OSimpleSearch {
+
+  sealed trait StringSearchResult[+A]
+  object StringSearchResult {
+    case class ParseFailed(error: ParseFailure) extends StringSearchResult[Nothing]
+    def parseFailed[A](error: ParseFailure): StringSearchResult[A] =
+      ParseFailed(error)
+
+    case class FulltextMismatch(error: FulltextExtract.FailureResult)
+        extends StringSearchResult[Nothing]
+    def fulltextMismatch[A](error: FulltextExtract.FailureResult): StringSearchResult[A] =
+      FulltextMismatch(error)
+
+    case class Success[A](value: A) extends StringSearchResult[A]
+  }
+
+  final case class Settings(
+      batch: Batch,
+      useFTS: Boolean,
+      resolveDetails: Boolean,
+      maxNoteLen: Int
+  )
+
+  sealed trait Items {
+    def fold[A](
+        f1: Items.FtsItems => A,
+        f2: Items.FtsItemsFull => A,
+        f3: Vector[OItemSearch.ListItem] => A,
+        f4: Vector[OItemSearch.ListItemWithTags] => A
+    ): A
+
+  }
+  object Items {
+    def ftsItems(indexOnly: Boolean)(items: Vector[OFulltext.FtsItem]): Items =
+      FtsItems(items, indexOnly)
+
+    case class FtsItems(items: Vector[OFulltext.FtsItem], indexOnly: Boolean)
+        extends Items {
+      def fold[A](
+          f1: FtsItems => A,
+          f2: FtsItemsFull => A,
+          f3: Vector[OItemSearch.ListItem] => A,
+          f4: Vector[OItemSearch.ListItemWithTags] => A
+      ): A = f1(this)
+
+    }
+
+    def ftsItemsFull(indexOnly: Boolean)(
+        items: Vector[OFulltext.FtsItemWithTags]
+    ): Items =
+      FtsItemsFull(items, indexOnly)
+
+    case class FtsItemsFull(items: Vector[OFulltext.FtsItemWithTags], indexOnly: Boolean)
+        extends Items {
+      def fold[A](
+          f1: FtsItems => A,
+          f2: FtsItemsFull => A,
+          f3: Vector[OItemSearch.ListItem] => A,
+          f4: Vector[OItemSearch.ListItemWithTags] => A
+      ): A = f2(this)
+    }
+
+    def itemsPlain(items: Vector[OItemSearch.ListItem]): Items =
+      ItemsPlain(items)
+
+    case class ItemsPlain(items: Vector[OItemSearch.ListItem]) extends Items {
+      def fold[A](
+          f1: FtsItems => A,
+          f2: FtsItemsFull => A,
+          f3: Vector[OItemSearch.ListItem] => A,
+          f4: Vector[OItemSearch.ListItemWithTags] => A
+      ): A = f3(items)
+    }
+
+    def itemsFull(items: Vector[OItemSearch.ListItemWithTags]): Items =
+      ItemsFull(items)
+
+    case class ItemsFull(items: Vector[OItemSearch.ListItemWithTags]) extends Items {
+      def fold[A](
+          f1: FtsItems => A,
+          f2: FtsItemsFull => A,
+          f3: Vector[OItemSearch.ListItem] => A,
+          f4: Vector[OItemSearch.ListItemWithTags] => A
+      ): A = f4(items)
+    }
+
+  }
+
+  def apply[F[_]: Sync](fts: OFulltext[F], is: OItemSearch[F]): OSimpleSearch[F] =
+    new Impl(fts, is)
+
+  final class Impl[F[_]: Sync](fts: OFulltext[F], is: OItemSearch[F])
+      extends OSimpleSearch[F] {
+    def searchByString(
+        settings: Settings
+    )(fix: Query.Fix, q: ItemQueryString): F[StringSearchResult[Items]] = {
+      val parsed: Either[StringSearchResult[Items], ItemQuery] =
+        ItemQueryParser.parse(q.query).leftMap(StringSearchResult.parseFailed)
+
+      def makeQuery(iq: ItemQuery): F[StringSearchResult[Items]] =
+        iq.findFulltext match {
+          case FulltextExtract.Result.Success(expr, ftq) =>
+            search(settings)(Query(fix, Query.QueryExpr(iq.copy(expr = expr))), ftq)
+              .map(StringSearchResult.Success.apply)
+          case other: FulltextExtract.FailureResult =>
+            StringSearchResult.fulltextMismatch[Items](other).pure[F]
+        }
+
+      parsed match {
+        case Right(iq) =>
+          makeQuery(iq)
+        case Left(err) =>
+          err.pure[F]
+      }
+    }
+
+    def searchSummaryByString(
+        useFTS: Boolean
+    )(fix: Query.Fix, q: ItemQueryString): F[StringSearchResult[SearchSummary]] = {
+      val parsed: Either[StringSearchResult[SearchSummary], ItemQuery] =
+        ItemQueryParser.parse(q.query).leftMap(StringSearchResult.parseFailed)
+
+      def makeQuery(iq: ItemQuery): F[StringSearchResult[SearchSummary]] =
+        iq.findFulltext match {
+          case FulltextExtract.Result.Success(expr, ftq) =>
+            searchSummary(useFTS)(Query(fix, Query.QueryExpr(iq.copy(expr = expr))), ftq)
+              .map(StringSearchResult.Success.apply)
+          case other: FulltextExtract.FailureResult =>
+            StringSearchResult.fulltextMismatch[SearchSummary](other).pure[F]
+        }
+
+      parsed match {
+        case Right(iq) =>
+          makeQuery(iq)
+        case Left(err) =>
+          err.pure[F]
+      }
+    }
+
+    def searchSummary(
+        useFTS: Boolean
+    )(q: Query, fulltextQuery: Option[String]): F[SearchSummary] =
+      fulltextQuery match {
+        case Some(ftq) if useFTS =>
+          if (q.isEmpty)
+            fts.findIndexOnlySummary(q.fix.account, OFulltext.FtsInput(ftq))
+          else
+            fts
+              .findItemsSummary(q, OFulltext.FtsInput(ftq))
+
+        case _ =>
+          is.findItemsSummary(q)
+      }
+
+    def search(settings: Settings)(q: Query, fulltextQuery: Option[String]): F[Items] =
+      // 1. fulltext only   if fulltextQuery.isDefined && q.isEmpty && useFTS
+      // 2. sql+fulltext    if fulltextQuery.isDefined && q.nonEmpty && useFTS
+      // 3. sql-only        else (if fulltextQuery.isEmpty || !useFTS)
+      fulltextQuery match {
+        case Some(ftq) if settings.useFTS =>
+          if (q.isEmpty)
+            fts
+              .findIndexOnly(settings.maxNoteLen)(
+                OFulltext.FtsInput(ftq),
+                q.fix.account,
+                settings.batch
+              )
+              .map(Items.ftsItemsFull(true))
+          else if (settings.resolveDetails)
+            fts
+              .findItemsWithTags(settings.maxNoteLen)(
+                q,
+                OFulltext.FtsInput(ftq),
+                settings.batch
+              )
+              .map(Items.ftsItemsFull(false))
+          else
+            fts
+              .findItems(settings.maxNoteLen)(q, OFulltext.FtsInput(ftq), settings.batch)
+              .map(Items.ftsItems(false))
+
+        case _ =>
+          if (settings.resolveDetails)
+            is.findItemsWithTags(settings.maxNoteLen)(q, settings.batch)
+              .map(Items.itemsFull)
+          else
+            is.findItems(settings.maxNoteLen)(q, settings.batch)
+              .map(Items.itemsPlain)
+      }
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/modules/common/src/main/scala/docspell/common/ItemQueryString.scala b/modules/common/src/main/scala/docspell/common/ItemQueryString.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8e6e887e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/common/src/main/scala/docspell/common/ItemQueryString.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+package docspell.common
+
+case class ItemQueryString(query: String)
+
+object ItemQueryString {
+
+  def apply(qs: Option[String]): ItemQueryString =
+    ItemQueryString(qs.getOrElse(""))
+}
diff --git a/modules/joex/src/main/scala/docspell/joex/notify/NotifyDueItemsTask.scala b/modules/joex/src/main/scala/docspell/joex/notify/NotifyDueItemsTask.scala
index e31b6fd7..4ce26507 100644
--- a/modules/joex/src/main/scala/docspell/joex/notify/NotifyDueItemsTask.scala
+++ b/modules/joex/src/main/scala/docspell/joex/notify/NotifyDueItemsTask.scala
@@ -72,17 +72,24 @@ object NotifyDueItemsTask {
       q =
         Query
           .empty(ctx.args.account)
-          .copy(
-            states = ItemState.validStates.toList,
-            tagsInclude = ctx.args.tagsInclude,
-            tagsExclude = ctx.args.tagsExclude,
-            dueDateFrom = ctx.args.daysBack.map(back => now - Duration.days(back.toLong)),
-            dueDateTo = Some(now + Duration.days(ctx.args.remindDays.toLong)),
-            orderAsc = Some(_.dueDate)
+          .withOrder(orderAsc = _.dueDate)
+          .withCond(_ =>
+            Query.QueryForm.empty.copy(
+              states = ItemState.validStates.toList,
+              tagsInclude = ctx.args.tagsInclude,
+              tagsExclude = ctx.args.tagsExclude,
+              dueDateFrom =
+                ctx.args.daysBack.map(back => now - Duration.days(back.toLong)),
+              dueDateTo = Some(now + Duration.days(ctx.args.remindDays.toLong))
+            )
           )
       res <-
         ctx.store
-          .transact(QItem.findItems(q, 0, Batch.limit(maxItems)).take(maxItems.toLong))
+          .transact(
+            QItem
+              .findItems(q, now.toUtcDate, 0, Batch.limit(maxItems))
+              .take(maxItems.toLong)
+          )
           .compile
           .toVector
     } yield res
diff --git a/modules/query/js/src/main/scala/docspell/query/js/JSItemQueryParser.scala b/modules/query/js/src/main/scala/docspell/query/js/JSItemQueryParser.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a58371cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/js/src/main/scala/docspell/query/js/JSItemQueryParser.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+package docspell.query.js
+
+import scala.scalajs.js
+import scala.scalajs.js.annotation._
+
+import docspell.query.ItemQueryParser
+
+@JSExportTopLevel("DsItemQueryParser")
+object JSItemQueryParser {
+
+  @JSExport
+  def parseToFailure(input: String): Failure =
+    ItemQueryParser
+      .parse(input)
+      .swap
+      .toOption
+      .map(fr =>
+        new Failure(
+          fr.input,
+          fr.failedAt,
+          js.Array(fr.messages.toList.toSeq.map(_.render): _*)
+        )
+      )
+      .orNull
+
+  @JSExportAll
+  case class Failure(input: String, failedAt: Int, messages: js.Array[String])
+
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/Date.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/Date.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..21ce9b35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/Date.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+package docspell.query
+
+import java.time.LocalDate
+import java.time.Period
+
+import cats.implicits._
+
+sealed trait Date
+
+object Date {
+  def apply(y: Int, m: Int, d: Int): Either[Throwable, DateLiteral] =
+    Either.catchNonFatal(Local(LocalDate.of(y, m, d)))
+
+  def apply(ms: Long): DateLiteral =
+    Millis(ms)
+
+  sealed trait DateLiteral extends Date
+
+  final case class Local(date: LocalDate) extends DateLiteral
+
+  final case class Millis(ms: Long) extends DateLiteral
+
+  case object Today extends DateLiteral
+
+  sealed trait CalcDirection
+  object CalcDirection {
+    case object Plus  extends CalcDirection
+    case object Minus extends CalcDirection
+  }
+
+  case class Calc(date: DateLiteral, calc: CalcDirection, period: Period) extends Date
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/FulltextExtract.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/FulltextExtract.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..769df244
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/FulltextExtract.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+package docspell.query
+
+import cats._
+import cats.implicits._
+
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery.Expr.AndExpr
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery.Expr.NotExpr
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery.Expr.OrExpr
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery._
+
+/** Currently, fulltext in a query is only supported when in "root
+  * AND" position
+  */
+object FulltextExtract {
+
+  sealed trait Result
+  sealed trait SuccessResult extends Result
+  sealed trait FailureResult extends Result
+  object Result {
+    case class Success(query: Expr, fts: Option[String]) extends SuccessResult
+    case object TooMany                                  extends FailureResult
+    case object UnsupportedPosition                      extends FailureResult
+  }
+
+  def findFulltext(expr: Expr): Result =
+    lookForFulltext(expr)
+
+  private def lookForFulltext(expr: Expr): Result =
+    expr match {
+      case Expr.Fulltext(ftq) =>
+        Result.Success(ItemQuery.all.expr, ftq.some)
+      case Expr.AndExpr(inner) =>
+        inner.collect({ case Expr.Fulltext(fq) => fq }) match {
+          case Nil =>
+            checkPosition(expr, 0)
+          case e :: Nil =>
+            val c = foldMap(isFulltextExpr)(expr)
+            if (c > 1) Result.TooMany
+            else Result.Success(expr, e.some)
+          case _ =>
+            Result.TooMany
+        }
+      case _ =>
+        checkPosition(expr, 0)
+    }
+
+  private def checkPosition(expr: Expr, max: Int): Result = {
+    val c = foldMap(isFulltextExpr)(expr)
+    if (c > max) Result.UnsupportedPosition
+    else Result.Success(expr, None)
+  }
+
+  private def foldMap[B: Monoid](f: Expr => B)(expr: Expr): B =
+    expr match {
+      case OrExpr(inner) =>
+        inner.map(foldMap(f)).fold
+      case AndExpr(inner) =>
+        inner.map(foldMap(f)).fold
+      case NotExpr(e) =>
+        f(e)
+      case _ =>
+        f(expr)
+    }
+
+  private def isFulltextExpr(expr: Expr): Int =
+    expr match {
+      case Expr.Fulltext(_) => 1
+      case _                => 0
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/ItemQuery.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/ItemQuery.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e2b7ef06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/ItemQuery.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+package docspell.query
+
+import cats.data.{NonEmptyList => Nel}
+
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery.Attr.{DateAttr, IntAttr, StringAttr}
+
+/** A query evaluates to `true` or `false` given enough details about
+  * an item.
+  *
+  * It may consist of (field,op,value) tuples that specify some checks
+  * against a specific field of an item using some operator or a
+  * combination thereof.
+  */
+final case class ItemQuery(expr: ItemQuery.Expr, raw: Option[String]) {
+  def findFulltext: FulltextExtract.Result =
+    FulltextExtract.findFulltext(expr)
+}
+
+object ItemQuery {
+  val all = ItemQuery(Expr.Exists(Attr.ItemId), Some(""))
+
+  sealed trait Operator
+  object Operator {
+    case object Eq   extends Operator
+    case object Neq  extends Operator
+    case object Like extends Operator
+    case object Gt   extends Operator
+    case object Lt   extends Operator
+    case object Gte  extends Operator
+    case object Lte  extends Operator
+  }
+
+  sealed trait TagOperator
+  object TagOperator {
+    case object AllMatch extends TagOperator
+    case object AnyMatch extends TagOperator
+  }
+
+  sealed trait Attr
+  object Attr {
+    sealed trait StringAttr extends Attr
+    sealed trait DateAttr   extends Attr
+    sealed trait IntAttr    extends Attr
+
+    case object ItemName    extends StringAttr
+    case object ItemSource  extends StringAttr
+    case object ItemNotes   extends StringAttr
+    case object ItemId      extends StringAttr
+    case object Date        extends DateAttr
+    case object DueDate     extends DateAttr
+    case object AttachCount extends IntAttr
+
+    object Correspondent {
+      case object OrgId      extends StringAttr
+      case object OrgName    extends StringAttr
+      case object PersonId   extends StringAttr
+      case object PersonName extends StringAttr
+    }
+
+    object Concerning {
+      case object PersonId   extends StringAttr
+      case object PersonName extends StringAttr
+      case object EquipId    extends StringAttr
+      case object EquipName  extends StringAttr
+    }
+
+    object Folder {
+      case object FolderId   extends StringAttr
+      case object FolderName extends StringAttr
+    }
+  }
+
+  sealed trait Property
+  object Property {
+    final case class StringProperty(attr: StringAttr, value: String) extends Property
+    final case class DateProperty(attr: DateAttr, value: Date)       extends Property
+    final case class IntProperty(attr: IntAttr, value: Int)          extends Property
+
+    def apply(sa: StringAttr, value: String): Property =
+      StringProperty(sa, value)
+
+    def apply(da: DateAttr, value: Date): Property =
+      DateProperty(da, value)
+
+    def apply(na: IntAttr, value: Int): Property =
+      IntProperty(na, value)
+  }
+
+  sealed trait Expr {
+    def negate: Expr =
+      Expr.NotExpr(this)
+  }
+
+  object Expr {
+    final case class AndExpr(expr: Nel[Expr]) extends Expr
+    final case class OrExpr(expr: Nel[Expr])  extends Expr
+    final case class NotExpr(expr: Expr) extends Expr {
+      override def negate: Expr =
+        expr
+    }
+
+    final case class SimpleExpr(op: Operator, prop: Property)      extends Expr
+    final case class Exists(field: Attr)                           extends Expr
+    final case class InExpr(attr: StringAttr, values: Nel[String]) extends Expr
+    final case class InDateExpr(attr: DateAttr, values: Nel[Date]) extends Expr
+    final case class InboxExpr(inbox: Boolean)                     extends Expr
+    final case class DirectionExpr(incoming: Boolean)              extends Expr
+
+    final case class TagIdsMatch(op: TagOperator, tags: Nel[String])      extends Expr
+    final case class TagsMatch(op: TagOperator, tags: Nel[String])        extends Expr
+    final case class TagCategoryMatch(op: TagOperator, cats: Nel[String]) extends Expr
+
+    final case class CustomFieldMatch(name: String, op: Operator, value: String)
+        extends Expr
+    final case class CustomFieldIdMatch(id: String, op: Operator, value: String)
+        extends Expr
+
+    final case class Fulltext(query: String)         extends Expr
+    final case class ChecksumMatch(checksum: String) extends Expr
+    final case class AttachId(id: String)            extends Expr
+
+    // things that can be expressed with terms above
+    sealed trait MacroExpr extends Expr {
+      def body: Expr
+    }
+    final case class NamesMacro(searchTerm: String) extends MacroExpr {
+      val body =
+        Expr.or(
+          like(Attr.ItemName, searchTerm),
+          like(Attr.Correspondent.OrgName, searchTerm),
+          like(Attr.Correspondent.PersonName, searchTerm),
+          like(Attr.Concerning.PersonName, searchTerm),
+          like(Attr.Concerning.EquipName, searchTerm)
+        )
+    }
+
+    final case class CorrMacro(term: String) extends MacroExpr {
+      val body =
+        Expr.or(
+          like(Attr.Correspondent.OrgName, term),
+          like(Attr.Correspondent.PersonName, term)
+        )
+    }
+
+    final case class ConcMacro(term: String) extends MacroExpr {
+      val body =
+        Expr.or(
+          like(Attr.Concerning.PersonName, term),
+          like(Attr.Concerning.EquipName, term)
+        )
+    }
+
+    final case class DateRangeMacro(attr: DateAttr, left: Date, right: Date)
+        extends MacroExpr {
+      val body =
+        and(date(Operator.Gte, attr, left), date(Operator.Lt, attr, right))
+    }
+
+    final case class YearMacro(attr: DateAttr, year: Int) extends MacroExpr {
+      val body =
+        DateRangeMacro(attr, date(year), date(year + 1))
+
+      private def date(y: Int): Date =
+        Date(y, 1, 1).fold(throw _, identity)
+    }
+
+    def or(expr0: Expr, exprs: Expr*): OrExpr =
+      OrExpr(Nel.of(expr0, exprs: _*))
+
+    def and(expr0: Expr, exprs: Expr*): AndExpr =
+      AndExpr(Nel.of(expr0, exprs: _*))
+
+    def string(op: Operator, attr: StringAttr, value: String): SimpleExpr =
+      SimpleExpr(op, Property(attr, value))
+
+    def like(attr: StringAttr, value: String): SimpleExpr =
+      string(Operator.Like, attr, value)
+
+    def date(op: Operator, attr: DateAttr, value: Date): SimpleExpr =
+      SimpleExpr(op, Property(attr, value))
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/ItemQueryParser.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/ItemQueryParser.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2c178140
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/ItemQueryParser.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+package docspell.query
+
+import docspell.query.internal.ExprParser
+import docspell.query.internal.ExprUtil
+
+object ItemQueryParser {
+
+  def parse(input: String): Either[ParseFailure, ItemQuery] =
+    if (input.isEmpty) Right(ItemQuery.all)
+    else {
+      val in = if (input.charAt(0) == '(') input else s"(& $input )"
+      ExprParser
+        .parseQuery(in)
+        .left
+        .map(ParseFailure.fromError(in))
+        .map(q => q.copy(expr = ExprUtil.reduce(q.expr)))
+    }
+
+  def parseUnsafe(input: String): ItemQuery =
+    parse(input).fold(m => sys.error(m.render), identity)
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/ParseFailure.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/ParseFailure.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..128a08c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/ParseFailure.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+package docspell.query
+
+import cats.data.{NonEmptyList => Nel}
+import cats.parse.Parser
+import cats.parse.Parser.Expectation.EndOfString
+import cats.parse.Parser.Expectation.ExpectedFailureAt
+import cats.parse.Parser.Expectation.Fail
+import cats.parse.Parser.Expectation.FailWith
+import cats.parse.Parser.Expectation.InRange
+import cats.parse.Parser.Expectation.Length
+import cats.parse.Parser.Expectation.OneOfStr
+import cats.parse.Parser.Expectation.StartOfString
+
+final case class ParseFailure(
+    input: String,
+    failedAt: Int,
+    messages: Nel[ParseFailure.Message]
+) {
+
+  def render: String = {
+    val items = messages.map(_.render).toList.mkString(", ")
+    s"Failed to read input near $failedAt: $input\nDetails: $items"
+  }
+}
+
+object ParseFailure {
+
+  sealed trait Message {
+    def offset: Int
+    def render: String
+  }
+  final case class SimpleMessage(offset: Int, msg: String) extends Message {
+    def render: String =
+      s"Failed at $offset: $msg"
+  }
+  final case class ExpectMessage(offset: Int, expected: List[String], exhaustive: Boolean)
+      extends Message {
+    def render: String = {
+      val opts = expected.mkString(", ")
+      val dots = if (exhaustive) "" else "…"
+      s"Expected: ${opts}${dots}"
+    }
+  }
+
+  private[query] def fromError(input: String)(pe: Parser.Error): ParseFailure =
+    ParseFailure(
+      input,
+      pe.failedAtOffset,
+      packMsg(Parser.Expectation.unify(pe.expected).map(expectationToMsg))
+    )
+
+  private[query] def packMsg(msg: Nel[Message]): Nel[Message] = {
+    val expectMsg = combineExpected(msg.collect({ case em: ExpectMessage => em }))
+      .sortBy(_.offset)
+      .headOption
+
+    val simpleMsg = msg.collect({ case sm: SimpleMessage => sm })
+
+    Nel.fromListUnsafe((simpleMsg ++ expectMsg).sortBy(_.offset))
+  }
+
+  private[query] def combineExpected(msg: List[ExpectMessage]): List[ExpectMessage] =
+    msg
+      .groupBy(_.offset)
+      .map({ case (offset, es) =>
+        ExpectMessage(
+          offset,
+          es.flatMap(_.expected).distinct.sorted,
+          es.forall(_.exhaustive)
+        )
+      })
+      .toList
+
+  private[query] def expectationToMsg(e: Parser.Expectation): Message =
+    e match {
+      case StartOfString(offset) =>
+        SimpleMessage(offset, "Expected start of string")
+
+      case FailWith(offset, message) =>
+        SimpleMessage(offset, message)
+
+      case InRange(offset, lower, upper) =>
+        if (lower == upper) ExpectMessage(offset, List(lower.toString), true)
+        else {
+          val expect = s"${lower}-${upper}"
+          ExpectMessage(offset, List(expect), true)
+        }
+
+      case Length(offset, expected, actual) =>
+        SimpleMessage(offset, s"Expected input of length $expected, but got $actual")
+
+      case ExpectedFailureAt(offset, matched) =>
+        SimpleMessage(offset, s"Expected failing, but matched '$matched'")
+
+      case EndOfString(offset, length) =>
+        SimpleMessage(offset, s"Expected end of string at length: $length")
+
+      case Fail(offset) =>
+        SimpleMessage(offset, s"Failed to parse near $offset")
+
+      case OneOfStr(offset, strs) =>
+        val options = strs.take(8)
+        ExpectMessage(offset, options.take(7), options.size < 8)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/AttrParser.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/AttrParser.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6d74ea59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/AttrParser.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+import cats.parse.{Parser => P}
+
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery.Attr
+import docspell.query.internal.{Constants => C}
+
+object AttrParser {
+
+  val name: P[Attr.StringAttr] =
+    P.ignoreCase(C.name).as(Attr.ItemName)
+
+  val source: P[Attr.StringAttr] =
+    P.ignoreCase(C.source).as(Attr.ItemSource)
+
+  val id: P[Attr.StringAttr] =
+    P.ignoreCase(C.id).as(Attr.ItemId)
+
+  val date: P[Attr.DateAttr] =
+    P.ignoreCase(C.date).as(Attr.Date)
+
+  val notes: P[Attr.StringAttr] =
+    P.ignoreCase(C.notes).as(Attr.ItemNotes)
+
+  val dueDate: P[Attr.DateAttr] =
+    P.ignoreCase(C.due).as(Attr.DueDate)
+
+  val corrOrgId: P[Attr.StringAttr] =
+    P.ignoreCase(C.corrOrgId)
+      .as(Attr.Correspondent.OrgId)
+
+  val corrOrgName: P[Attr.StringAttr] =
+    P.ignoreCase(C.corrOrgName)
+      .as(Attr.Correspondent.OrgName)
+
+  val corrPersId: P[Attr.StringAttr] =
+    P.ignoreCase(C.corrPersId)
+      .as(Attr.Correspondent.PersonId)
+
+  val corrPersName: P[Attr.StringAttr] =
+    P.ignoreCase(C.corrPersName)
+      .as(Attr.Correspondent.PersonName)
+
+  val concPersId: P[Attr.StringAttr] =
+    P.ignoreCase(C.concPersId)
+      .as(Attr.Concerning.PersonId)
+
+  val concPersName: P[Attr.StringAttr] =
+    P.ignoreCase(C.concPersName)
+      .as(Attr.Concerning.PersonName)
+
+  val concEquipId: P[Attr.StringAttr] =
+    P.ignoreCase(C.concEquipId)
+      .as(Attr.Concerning.EquipId)
+
+  val concEquipName: P[Attr.StringAttr] =
+    P.ignoreCase(C.concEquipName)
+      .as(Attr.Concerning.EquipName)
+
+  val folderId: P[Attr.StringAttr] =
+    P.ignoreCase(C.folderId).as(Attr.Folder.FolderId)
+
+  val folderName: P[Attr.StringAttr] =
+    P.ignoreCase(C.folder).as(Attr.Folder.FolderName)
+
+  val attachCountAttr: P[Attr.IntAttr] =
+    P.ignoreCase(C.attachCount).as(Attr.AttachCount)
+
+  // combining grouped by type
+
+  val intAttr: P[Attr.IntAttr] =
+    attachCountAttr
+
+  val dateAttr: P[Attr.DateAttr] =
+    P.oneOf(List(date, dueDate))
+
+  val stringAttr: P[Attr.StringAttr] =
+    P.oneOf(
+      List(
+        name,
+        source,
+        id,
+        notes,
+        corrOrgId,
+        corrOrgName,
+        corrPersId,
+        corrPersName,
+        concPersId,
+        concPersName,
+        concEquipId,
+        concEquipName,
+        folderId,
+        folderName
+      )
+    )
+
+  val anyAttr: P[Attr] =
+    P.oneOf(List(dateAttr, stringAttr, intAttr))
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/BasicParser.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/BasicParser.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bb38fc90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/BasicParser.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+import cats.data.{NonEmptyList => Nel}
+import cats.parse.{Parser => P, Parser0}
+
+object BasicParser {
+  private[this] val whitespace: P[Unit] = P.charIn(" \t\r\n").void
+
+  val ws0: Parser0[Unit] = whitespace.rep0.void
+  val ws1: P[Unit]       = whitespace.rep.void
+
+  val stringListSep: P[Unit] =
+    (ws0.with1.soft ~ P.char(',') ~ ws0).void
+
+  private[this] val basicString: P[String] =
+    P.charsWhile(c =>
+      c > ' ' && c != '"' && c != '\\' && c != ',' && c != '[' && c != ']' && c != '(' && c != ')'
+    )
+
+  private[this] val identChars: Set[Char] =
+    (('A' to 'Z') ++ ('a' to 'z') ++ ('0' to '9') ++ "-_.").toSet
+
+  val parenAnd: P[Unit] =
+    P.stringIn(List("(&", "(and")).void <* ws0
+
+  val parenClose: P[Unit] =
+    ws0.soft.with1 *> P.char(')')
+
+  val parenOr: P[Unit] =
+    P.stringIn(List("(|", "(or")).void <* ws0
+
+  val identParser: P[String] =
+    P.charsWhile(identChars.contains)
+
+  val singleString: P[String] =
+    basicString.backtrack.orElse(StringUtil.quoted('"'))
+
+  val stringOrMore: P[Nel[String]] =
+    singleString.repSep(stringListSep)
+
+  val bool: P[Boolean] = {
+    val trueP  = P.stringIn(List("yes", "true", "Yes", "True")).as(true)
+    val falseP = P.stringIn(List("no", "false", "No", "False")).as(false)
+    trueP | falseP
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/Constants.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/Constants.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..232d6940
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/Constants.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+object Constants {
+
+  val attachCount   = "attach.count"
+  val attachId      = "attach.id"
+  val cat           = "cat"
+  val checksum      = "checksum"
+  val conc          = "conc"
+  val concEquipId   = "conc.equip.id"
+  val concEquipName = "conc.equip.name"
+  val concPersId    = "conc.pers.id"
+  val concPersName  = "conc.pers.name"
+  val content       = "content"
+  val corr          = "corr"
+  val corrOrgId     = "corr.org.id"
+  val corrOrgName   = "corr.org.name"
+  val corrPersId    = "corr.pers.id"
+  val corrPersName  = "corr.pers.name"
+  val customField   = "f"
+  val customFieldId = "f.id"
+  val date          = "date"
+  val dateIn        = "dateIn"
+  val due           = "due"
+  val dueIn         = "dueIn"
+  val exist         = "exist"
+  val folder        = "folder"
+  val folderId      = "folder.id"
+  val id            = "id"
+  val inbox         = "inbox"
+  val incoming      = "incoming"
+  val name          = "name"
+  val names         = "names"
+  val notPrefix     = '!'
+  val notes         = "notes"
+  val source        = "source"
+  val tag           = "tag"
+  val tagId         = "tag.id"
+  val year          = "year"
+
+  // operators
+  val eqs  = '='
+  val gt   = '>'
+  val gte  = ">="
+  val in   = "~="
+  val like = ':'
+  val lt   = '<'
+  val lte  = "<="
+  val neq  = "!="
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/DateParser.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/DateParser.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..02d99926
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/DateParser.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+import java.time.Period
+
+import cats.data.{NonEmptyList => Nel}
+import cats.parse.{Numbers, Parser => P}
+
+import docspell.query.Date
+
+object DateParser {
+  private[this] val longParser: P[Long] =
+    Numbers.bigInt.map(_.longValue)
+
+  private[this] val digits4: P[Int] =
+    Numbers.digit
+      .repExactlyAs[String](4)
+      .map(_.toInt)
+  private[this] val digits2: P[Int] =
+    Numbers.digit
+      .repExactlyAs[String](2)
+      .map(_.toInt)
+
+  private[this] val month: P[Int] =
+    digits2.filter(n => n >= 1 && n <= 12)
+
+  private[this] val day: P[Int] =
+    digits2.filter(n => n >= 1 && n <= 31)
+
+  private val dateSep: P[Unit] =
+    P.charIn('-', '/').void
+
+  private val dateString: P[((Int, Option[Int]), Option[Int])] =
+    digits4 ~ (dateSep *> month).? ~ (dateSep *> day).?
+
+  private[internal] val dateFromString: P[Date.DateLiteral] =
+    dateString.mapFilter { case ((year, month), day) =>
+      Date(year, month.getOrElse(1), day.getOrElse(1)).toOption
+    }
+
+  private[internal] val dateFromMillis: P[Date.DateLiteral] =
+    P.string("ms") *> longParser.map(Date.apply)
+
+  private val dateFromToday: P[Date.DateLiteral] =
+    P.string("today").as(Date.Today)
+
+  val yearOnly: P[Int] =
+    digits4
+
+  val dateLiteral: P[Date.DateLiteral] =
+    P.oneOf(List(dateFromString, dateFromToday, dateFromMillis))
+
+  // val dateLiteralOrMore: P[NonEmptyList[Date.DateLiteral]] =
+  //   dateLiteral.repSep(BasicParser.stringListSep)
+
+  val dateCalcDirection: P[Date.CalcDirection] =
+    P.oneOf(
+      List(
+        P.char('+').as(Date.CalcDirection.Plus),
+        P.char('-').as(Date.CalcDirection.Minus)
+      )
+    )
+
+  def periodPart(unitSuffix: Char, f: Int => Period): P[Period] =
+    ((Numbers.nonZeroDigit ~ Numbers.digits0).void.string.soft <* P.ignoreCaseChar(
+      unitSuffix
+    ))
+      .map(n => f(n.toInt))
+
+  private[this] val periodMonths: P[Period] =
+    periodPart('m', n => Period.ofMonths(n))
+
+  private[this] val periodDays: P[Period] =
+    periodPart('d', n => Period.ofDays(n))
+
+  val period: P[Period] =
+    periodDays.eitherOr(periodMonths).map(_.fold(identity, identity))
+
+  val periods: P[Period] =
+    period.rep.map(_.reduceLeft((p0, p1) => p0.plus(p1)))
+
+  val dateRange: P[(Date, Date)] =
+    ((dateLiteral <* P.char(';')) ~ dateCalcDirection.eitherOr(P.char('/')) ~ period)
+      .map { case ((date, calc), period) =>
+        calc match {
+          case Right(Date.CalcDirection.Plus) =>
+            (date, Date.Calc(date, Date.CalcDirection.Plus, period))
+          case Right(Date.CalcDirection.Minus) =>
+            (Date.Calc(date, Date.CalcDirection.Minus, period), date)
+          case Left(_) =>
+            (
+              Date.Calc(date, Date.CalcDirection.Minus, period),
+              Date.Calc(date, Date.CalcDirection.Plus, period)
+            )
+        }
+      }
+
+  val date: P[Date] =
+    (dateLiteral ~ (P.char(';') *> dateCalcDirection ~ period).?).map {
+      case (date, Some((c, p))) =>
+        Date.Calc(date, c, p)
+
+      case (date, None) =>
+        date
+    }
+
+  val dateOrMore: P[Nel[Date]] =
+    date.repSep(BasicParser.stringListSep)
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/ExprParser.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/ExprParser.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..de6e9165
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/ExprParser.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+import cats.parse.{Parser => P}
+
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery._
+import docspell.query.internal.{Constants => C}
+
+object ExprParser {
+
+  def and(inner: P[Expr]): P[Expr.AndExpr] =
+    inner
+      .repSep(BasicParser.ws1)
+      .between(BasicParser.parenAnd, BasicParser.parenClose)
+      .map(Expr.AndExpr.apply)
+
+  def or(inner: P[Expr]): P[Expr.OrExpr] =
+    inner
+      .repSep(BasicParser.ws1)
+      .between(BasicParser.parenOr, BasicParser.parenClose)
+      .map(Expr.OrExpr.apply)
+
+  def not(inner: P[Expr]): P[Expr] =
+    (P.char(C.notPrefix) *> inner).map(_.negate)
+
+  val exprParser: P[Expr] =
+    P.recursive[Expr] { recurse =>
+      val andP   = and(recurse)
+      val orP    = or(recurse)
+      val notP   = not(recurse)
+      val macros = MacroParser.all
+      P.oneOf(macros :: SimpleExprParser.simpleExpr :: andP :: orP :: notP :: Nil)
+    }
+
+  def parseQuery(input: String): Either[P.Error, ItemQuery] = {
+    val p = BasicParser.ws0 *> exprParser <* (BasicParser.ws0 ~ P.end)
+    p.parseAll(input).map(expr => ItemQuery(expr, Some(input)))
+  }
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/ExprUtil.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/ExprUtil.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..df81983f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/ExprUtil.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+import cats.data.{NonEmptyList => Nel}
+
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery.Expr._
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery._
+
+object ExprUtil {
+
+  /** Does some basic transformation, like unfolding nested and trees
+    * containing one value etc.
+    */
+  def reduce(expr: Expr): Expr =
+    expr match {
+      case AndExpr(inner) =>
+        val nodes = spliceAnd(inner)
+        if (nodes.tail.isEmpty) reduce(nodes.head)
+        else AndExpr(nodes.map(reduce))
+
+      case OrExpr(inner) =>
+        val nodes = spliceOr(inner)
+        if (nodes.tail.isEmpty) reduce(nodes.head)
+        else OrExpr(nodes.map(reduce))
+
+      case NotExpr(inner) =>
+        inner match {
+          case NotExpr(inner2) =>
+            reduce(inner2)
+          case InboxExpr(flag) =>
+            InboxExpr(!flag)
+          case DirectionExpr(flag) =>
+            DirectionExpr(!flag)
+          case _ =>
+            expr
+        }
+
+      case m: MacroExpr =>
+        reduce(m.body)
+
+      case DirectionExpr(_) =>
+        expr
+
+      case InboxExpr(_) =>
+        expr
+
+      case InExpr(_, _) =>
+        expr
+
+      case InDateExpr(_, _) =>
+        expr
+
+      case TagsMatch(_, _) =>
+        expr
+      case TagIdsMatch(_, _) =>
+        expr
+      case Exists(_) =>
+        expr
+      case Fulltext(_) =>
+        expr
+      case SimpleExpr(_, _) =>
+        expr
+      case TagCategoryMatch(_, _) =>
+        expr
+      case CustomFieldMatch(_, _, _) =>
+        expr
+      case CustomFieldIdMatch(_, _, _) =>
+        expr
+      case ChecksumMatch(_) =>
+        expr
+      case AttachId(_) =>
+        expr
+    }
+
+  private def spliceAnd(nodes: Nel[Expr]): Nel[Expr] =
+    nodes.flatMap {
+      case Expr.AndExpr(inner) =>
+        spliceAnd(inner)
+      case node =>
+        Nel.of(node)
+    }
+  private def spliceOr(nodes: Nel[Expr]): Nel[Expr] =
+    nodes.flatMap {
+      case Expr.OrExpr(inner) =>
+        spliceOr(inner)
+      case node =>
+        Nel.of(node)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/MacroParser.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/MacroParser.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..44b2d93f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/MacroParser.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+import cats.parse.{Parser => P}
+
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery._
+import docspell.query.internal.{Constants => C}
+
+object MacroParser {
+  private def macroDef(name: String): P[Unit] =
+    P.ignoreCase(name).soft.with1 <* P.char(':')
+
+  private def dateRangeMacroImpl(
+      name: String,
+      attr: Attr.DateAttr
+  ): P[Expr.DateRangeMacro] =
+    (macroDef(name) *> DateParser.dateRange).map { case (left, right) =>
+      Expr.DateRangeMacro(attr, left, right)
+    }
+
+  private def yearMacroImpl(name: String, attr: Attr.DateAttr): P[Expr.YearMacro] =
+    (macroDef(name) *> DateParser.yearOnly).map(year => Expr.YearMacro(attr, year))
+
+  val namesMacro: P[Expr.NamesMacro] =
+    (macroDef(C.names) *> BasicParser.singleString).map(Expr.NamesMacro.apply)
+
+  val dateRangeMacro: P[Expr.DateRangeMacro] =
+    dateRangeMacroImpl(C.dateIn, Attr.Date)
+
+  val dueDateRangeMacro: P[Expr.DateRangeMacro] =
+    dateRangeMacroImpl(C.dueIn, Attr.DueDate)
+
+  val yearDateMacro: P[Expr.YearMacro] =
+    yearMacroImpl(C.year, Attr.Date)
+
+  val corrMacro: P[Expr.CorrMacro] =
+    (macroDef(C.corr) *> BasicParser.singleString).map(Expr.CorrMacro.apply)
+
+  val concMacro: P[Expr.ConcMacro] =
+    (macroDef(C.conc) *> BasicParser.singleString).map(Expr.ConcMacro.apply)
+
+  // --- all macro parser
+
+  val all: P[Expr] =
+    P.oneOf(
+      List(
+        namesMacro,
+        dateRangeMacro,
+        dueDateRangeMacro,
+        yearDateMacro,
+        corrMacro,
+        concMacro
+      )
+    )
+
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/OperatorParser.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/OperatorParser.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2b5956a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/OperatorParser.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+import cats.parse.{Parser => P}
+
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery._
+import docspell.query.internal.{Constants => C}
+
+object OperatorParser {
+  private[this] val Eq: P[Operator] =
+    P.char(C.eqs).as(Operator.Eq)
+
+  private[this] val Neq: P[Operator] =
+    P.string(C.neq).as(Operator.Neq)
+
+  private[this] val Like: P[Operator] =
+    P.char(C.like).as(Operator.Like)
+
+  private[this] val Gt: P[Operator] =
+    P.char(C.gt).as(Operator.Gt)
+
+  private[this] val Lt: P[Operator] =
+    P.char(C.lt).as(Operator.Lt)
+
+  private[this] val Gte: P[Operator] =
+    P.string(C.gte).as(Operator.Gte)
+
+  private[this] val Lte: P[Operator] =
+    P.string(C.lte).as(Operator.Lte)
+
+  val op: P[Operator] =
+    P.oneOf(List(Like, Eq, Neq, Gte, Lte, Gt, Lt))
+
+  private[this] val anyOp: P[TagOperator] =
+    P.char(C.like).as(TagOperator.AnyMatch)
+
+  private[this] val allOp: P[TagOperator] =
+    P.char(C.eqs).as(TagOperator.AllMatch)
+
+  val tagOp: P[TagOperator] =
+    P.oneOf(List(anyOp, allOp))
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/SimpleExprParser.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/SimpleExprParser.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..950df0cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/SimpleExprParser.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+import cats.parse.Numbers
+import cats.parse.{Parser => P}
+
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery._
+import docspell.query.internal.{Constants => C}
+
+object SimpleExprParser {
+
+  private[this] val op: P[Operator] =
+    OperatorParser.op.surroundedBy(BasicParser.ws0)
+
+  private[this] val inOp: P[Unit] =
+    P.string(C.in).surroundedBy(BasicParser.ws0)
+
+  private[this] val inOrOpStr =
+    P.eitherOr(op ~ BasicParser.singleString, inOp *> BasicParser.stringOrMore)
+
+  private[this] val inOrOpDate =
+    P.eitherOr(op ~ DateParser.date, inOp *> DateParser.dateOrMore)
+
+  private[this] val opInt =
+    op ~ Numbers.digits.map(_.toInt)
+
+  val stringExpr: P[Expr] =
+    (AttrParser.stringAttr ~ inOrOpStr).map {
+      case (attr, Right((op, value))) =>
+        Expr.SimpleExpr(op, Property.StringProperty(attr, value))
+      case (attr, Left(values)) =>
+        Expr.InExpr(attr, values)
+    }
+
+  val dateExpr: P[Expr] =
+    (AttrParser.dateAttr ~ inOrOpDate).map {
+      case (attr, Right((op, value))) =>
+        Expr.SimpleExpr(op, Property.DateProperty(attr, value))
+      case (attr, Left(values)) =>
+        Expr.InDateExpr(attr, values)
+    }
+
+  val intExpr: P[Expr] =
+    (AttrParser.intAttr ~ opInt).map { case (attr, (op, value)) =>
+      Expr.SimpleExpr(op, Property(attr, value))
+    }
+
+  val existsExpr: P[Expr.Exists] =
+    (P.ignoreCase(C.exist) *> P.char(C.like) *> AttrParser.anyAttr).map(attr =>
+      Expr.Exists(attr)
+    )
+
+  val fulltextExpr: P[Expr.Fulltext] =
+    (P.ignoreCase(C.content) *> P.char(C.like) *> BasicParser.singleString).map(q =>
+      Expr.Fulltext(q)
+    )
+
+  val tagIdExpr: P[Expr.TagIdsMatch] =
+    (P.ignoreCase(C.tagId) *> OperatorParser.tagOp ~ BasicParser.stringOrMore).map {
+      case (op, values) =>
+        Expr.TagIdsMatch(op, values)
+    }
+
+  val tagExpr: P[Expr.TagsMatch] =
+    (P.ignoreCase(C.tag) *> OperatorParser.tagOp ~ BasicParser.stringOrMore).map {
+      case (op, values) =>
+        Expr.TagsMatch(op, values)
+    }
+
+  val catExpr: P[Expr.TagCategoryMatch] =
+    (P.ignoreCase(C.cat) *> OperatorParser.tagOp ~ BasicParser.stringOrMore).map {
+      case (op, values) =>
+        Expr.TagCategoryMatch(op, values)
+    }
+
+  val customFieldExpr: P[Expr.CustomFieldMatch] =
+    (P.string(C.customField) *> P.char(
+      C.like
+    ) *> BasicParser.identParser ~ op ~ BasicParser.singleString)
+      .map { case ((name, op), value) =>
+        Expr.CustomFieldMatch(name, op, value)
+      }
+
+  val customFieldIdExpr: P[Expr.CustomFieldIdMatch] =
+    (P.string(C.customFieldId) *> P.char(
+      C.like
+    ) *> BasicParser.identParser ~ op ~ BasicParser.singleString)
+      .map { case ((name, op), value) =>
+        Expr.CustomFieldIdMatch(name, op, value)
+      }
+
+  val inboxExpr: P[Expr.InboxExpr] =
+    (P.string(C.inbox) *> P.char(C.like) *> BasicParser.bool).map(Expr.InboxExpr.apply)
+
+  val dirExpr: P[Expr.DirectionExpr] =
+    (P.string(C.incoming) *> P.char(C.like) *> BasicParser.bool)
+      .map(Expr.DirectionExpr.apply)
+
+  val checksumExpr: P[Expr.ChecksumMatch] =
+    (P.string(C.checksum) *> P.char(C.like) *> BasicParser.singleString)
+      .map(Expr.ChecksumMatch.apply)
+
+  val attachIdExpr: P[Expr.AttachId] =
+    (P.ignoreCase(C.attachId) *> P.char(C.eqs) *> BasicParser.singleString)
+      .map(Expr.AttachId.apply)
+
+  val simpleExpr: P[Expr] =
+    P.oneOf(
+      List(
+        dateExpr,
+        stringExpr,
+        intExpr,
+        existsExpr,
+        fulltextExpr,
+        tagIdExpr,
+        tagExpr,
+        catExpr,
+        customFieldIdExpr,
+        customFieldExpr,
+        inboxExpr,
+        dirExpr,
+        checksumExpr,
+        attachIdExpr
+      )
+    )
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/StringUtil.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/StringUtil.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fb81ce14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/main/scala/docspell/query/internal/StringUtil.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2021 Typelevel
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of
+ * this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in
+ * the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to
+ * use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of
+ * the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so,
+ * subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+ * copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS
+ * FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR
+ * COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER
+ * IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN
+ * CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+// modified, from
+// https://github.com/typelevel/cats-parse/blob/e7a58ef15925358fbe7a4c0c1a204296e366a06c/bench/src/main/scala/cats/parse/bench/self.scala
+import cats.parse.{Parser => P, Parser0 => P0}
+
+object StringUtil {
+
+  def quoted(q: Char): P[String] =
+    Util.escapedString(q)
+
+  private object Util extends GenericStringUtil {
+    lazy val decodeTable: Map[Char, Char] =
+      Map(
+        ('\\', '\\'),
+        ('\'', '\''),
+        ('\"', '\"'),
+        ('n', '\n'),
+        ('r', '\r'),
+        ('t', '\t')
+      )
+  }
+  abstract private class GenericStringUtil {
+    protected def decodeTable: Map[Char, Char]
+
+    private val encodeTable = decodeTable.iterator.map { case (v, k) =>
+      (k, s"\\$v")
+    }.toMap
+
+    private val nonPrintEscape: Array[String] =
+      (0 until 32).map { c =>
+        val strHex = c.toHexString
+        val strPad = List.fill(4 - strHex.length)('0').mkString
+        s"\\u$strPad$strHex"
+      }.toArray
+
+    val escapedToken: P[Unit] = {
+      val escapes = P.charIn(decodeTable.keys.toSeq)
+
+      val oct  = P.charIn('0' to '7')
+      val octP = P.char('o') ~ oct ~ oct
+
+      val hex  = P.charIn(('0' to '9') ++ ('a' to 'f') ++ ('A' to 'F'))
+      val hex2 = hex ~ hex
+      val hexP = P.char('x') ~ hex2
+
+      val hex4 = hex2 ~ hex2
+      val u4   = P.char('u') ~ hex4
+      val hex8 = hex4 ~ hex4
+      val u8   = P.char('U') ~ hex8
+
+      val after = P.oneOf[Any](escapes :: octP :: hexP :: u4 :: u8 :: Nil)
+      (P.char('\\') ~ after).void
+    }
+
+    /** String content without the delimiter
+      */
+    def undelimitedString(endP: P[Unit]): P[String] =
+      escapedToken.backtrack
+        .orElse((!endP).with1 ~ P.anyChar)
+        .rep
+        .string
+        .flatMap { str =>
+          unescape(str) match {
+            case Right(str1) => P.pure(str1)
+            case Left(_)     => P.fail
+          }
+        }
+
+    private val simpleString: P0[String] =
+      P.charsWhile0(c => c >= ' ' && c != '"' && c != '\\')
+
+    def escapedString(q: Char): P[String] = {
+      val end: P[Unit] = P.char(q)
+      end *> ((simpleString <* end).backtrack
+        .orElse(undelimitedString(end) <* end))
+    }
+
+    def escape(quoteChar: Char, str: String): String = {
+      // We can ignore escaping the opposite character used for the string
+      // x isn't escaped anyway and is kind of a hack here
+      val ignoreEscape =
+        if (quoteChar == '\'') '"' else if (quoteChar == '"') '\'' else 'x'
+      str.flatMap { c =>
+        if (c == ignoreEscape) c.toString
+        else
+          encodeTable.get(c) match {
+            case None =>
+              if (c < ' ') nonPrintEscape(c.toInt)
+              else c.toString
+            case Some(esc) => esc
+          }
+      }
+    }
+
+    def unescape(str: String): Either[Int, String] = {
+      val sb = new java.lang.StringBuilder
+      def decodeNum(idx: Int, size: Int, base: Int): Int = {
+        val end = idx + size
+        if (end <= str.length) {
+          val intStr = str.substring(idx, end)
+          val asInt =
+            try Integer.parseInt(intStr, base)
+            catch { case _: NumberFormatException => ~idx }
+          sb.append(asInt.toChar)
+          end
+        } else ~(str.length)
+      }
+      @annotation.tailrec
+      def loop(idx: Int): Int =
+        if (idx >= str.length) {
+          // done
+          idx
+        } else if (idx < 0) {
+          // error from decodeNum
+          idx
+        } else {
+          val c0 = str.charAt(idx)
+          if (c0 != '\\') {
+            sb.append(c0)
+            loop(idx + 1)
+          } else {
+            // str(idx) == \
+            val nextIdx = idx + 1
+            if (nextIdx >= str.length) {
+              // error we expect there to be a character after \
+              ~idx
+            } else {
+              val c = str.charAt(nextIdx)
+              decodeTable.get(c) match {
+                case Some(d) =>
+                  sb.append(d)
+                  loop(idx + 2)
+                case None =>
+                  c match {
+                    case 'o'   => loop(decodeNum(idx + 2, 2, 8))
+                    case 'x'   => loop(decodeNum(idx + 2, 2, 16))
+                    case 'u'   => loop(decodeNum(idx + 2, 4, 16))
+                    case 'U'   => loop(decodeNum(idx + 2, 8, 16))
+                    case other =>
+                      // \c is interpreted as just \c, if the character isn't escaped
+                      sb.append('\\')
+                      sb.append(other)
+                      loop(idx + 2)
+                  }
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        }
+
+      val res = loop(0)
+      if (res < 0) Left(~res)
+      else Right(sb.toString)
+    }
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/FulltextExtractTest.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/FulltextExtractTest.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..755ea121
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/FulltextExtractTest.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+package docspell.query
+
+import cats.implicits._
+import munit._
+import docspell.query.FulltextExtract.Result
+
+class FulltextExtractTest extends FunSuite {
+
+  def findFts(q: String): Result = {
+    val p = ItemQueryParser.parseUnsafe(q)
+    FulltextExtract.findFulltext(p.expr)
+  }
+
+  def assertFts(qstr: String, expect: Result) =
+    assertEquals(findFts(qstr), expect)
+
+  def assertFtsSuccess(qstr: String, expect: Option[String]) = {
+    val q = ItemQueryParser.parseUnsafe(qstr)
+    assertEquals(findFts(qstr), Result.Success(q.expr, expect))
+  }
+
+  test("find fulltext as root") {
+    assertEquals(findFts("content:what"), Result.Success(ItemQuery.all.expr, "what".some))
+    assertEquals(
+      findFts("content:\"what hello\""),
+      Result.Success(ItemQuery.all.expr, "what hello".some)
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      findFts("content:\"what OR hello\""),
+      Result.Success(ItemQuery.all.expr, "what OR hello".some)
+    )
+
+    assertEquals(
+      findFts("(& content:\"what OR hello\" )"),
+      Result.Success(ItemQuery.all.expr, "what OR hello".some)
+    )
+  }
+
+  test("find no fulltext") {
+    assertFtsSuccess("name:test", None)
+  }
+
+  test("find fulltext within and") {
+    assertFtsSuccess("content:what name:test", "what".some)
+    assertFtsSuccess("names:marc* content:what name:test", "what".some)
+    assertFtsSuccess(
+      "names:marc* date:2021-02 content:\"what else\" name:test",
+      "what else".some
+    )
+  }
+
+  test("too many fulltext searches") {
+    assertFts("content:yes content:no", Result.TooMany)
+    assertFts("content:yes (| name:test content:no)", Result.TooMany)
+    assertFts("content:yes (| name:test (& date:2021-02 content:no))", Result.TooMany)
+  }
+
+  test("wrong fulltext search position") {
+    assertFts("name:test (| date:2021-02 content:yes)", Result.UnsupportedPosition)
+    assertFtsSuccess("name:test (& date:2021-02 content:yes)", "yes".some)
+  }
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/AttrParserTest.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/AttrParserTest.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..34c2270f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/AttrParserTest.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery.Attr
+import docspell.query.internal.AttrParser
+import munit._
+
+class AttrParserTest extends FunSuite {
+
+  test("string attributes") {
+    val p = AttrParser.stringAttr
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("name"), Right(Attr.ItemName))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("source"), Right(Attr.ItemSource))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("id"), Right(Attr.ItemId))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("corr.org.id"), Right(Attr.Correspondent.OrgId))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("corr.org.name"), Right(Attr.Correspondent.OrgName))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("conc.pers.id"), Right(Attr.Concerning.PersonId))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("conc.pers.name"), Right(Attr.Concerning.PersonName))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("folder"), Right(Attr.Folder.FolderName))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("folder.id"), Right(Attr.Folder.FolderId))
+  }
+
+  test("date attributes") {
+    val p = AttrParser.dateAttr
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("date"), Right(Attr.Date))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("due"), Right(Attr.DueDate))
+  }
+
+  test("all attributes parser") {
+    val p = AttrParser.anyAttr
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("date"), Right(Attr.Date))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("name"), Right(Attr.ItemName))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("source"), Right(Attr.ItemSource))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("id"), Right(Attr.ItemId))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("corr.org.id"), Right(Attr.Correspondent.OrgId))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("corr.org.name"), Right(Attr.Correspondent.OrgName))
+  }
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/BasicParserTest.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/BasicParserTest.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e397ce9b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/BasicParserTest.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+import munit._
+import cats.data.{NonEmptyList => Nel}
+import docspell.query.internal.BasicParser
+
+class BasicParserTest extends FunSuite {
+  test("single string values") {
+    val p = BasicParser.singleString
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("abcde"), Right("abcde"))
+    assert(p.parseAll("ab cd").isLeft)
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll(""""ab cd""""), Right("ab cd"))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll(""""and \"this\" is""""), Right("""and "this" is"""))
+  }
+
+  test("string list values") {
+    val p = BasicParser.stringOrMore
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("ab,cd,123"), Right(Nel.of("ab", "cd", "123")))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("a,b"), Right(Nel.of("a", "b")))
+    assert(p.parseAll("[a,b").isLeft)
+  }
+
+  test("stringvalue") {
+    val p = BasicParser.stringOrMore
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("abcde"), Right(Nel.of("abcde")))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll(""""a,b,c""""), Right(Nel.of("a,b,c")))
+
+    assertEquals(p.parse("a, b, c "), Right((" ", Nel.of("a", "b", "c"))))
+  }
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/DateParserTest.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/DateParserTest.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ec836ced
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/DateParserTest.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+import munit._
+import docspell.query.Date
+import java.time.Period
+
+class DateParserTest extends FunSuite with ValueHelper {
+
+  test("local date string") {
+    val p = DateParser.dateFromString
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("2021-02-22"), Right(ld(2021, 2, 22)))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("1999-11-11"), Right(ld(1999, 11, 11)))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("2032-01-21"), Right(ld(2032, 1, 21)))
+    assert(p.parseAll("0-0-0").isLeft)
+    assert(p.parseAll("2021-02-30").isLeft)
+  }
+
+  test("local date millis") {
+    val p = DateParser.dateFromMillis
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("ms0"), Right(Date(0)))
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("ms1600000065463"),
+      Right(Date(1600000065463L))
+    )
+  }
+
+  test("local date") {
+    val p = DateParser.date
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("2021-02-22"), Right(ld(2021, 2, 22)))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("1999-11-11"), Right(ld(1999, 11, 11)))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("ms0"), Right(Date(0)))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("ms1600000065463"), Right(Date(1600000065463L)))
+  }
+
+  test("local partial date") {
+    val p = DateParser.date
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("2021-04"), Right(ld(2021, 4, 1)))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("2021-12"), Right(ld(2021, 12, 1)))
+    assert(p.parseAll("2021-13").isLeft)
+    assert(p.parseAll("2021-28").isLeft)
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("2021"), Right(ld(2021, 1, 1)))
+  }
+
+  test("date calcs") {
+    val p = DateParser.date
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("2020-02;+2d"), Right(ldPlus(2020, 2, 1, Period.ofDays(2))))
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("today;-2m"),
+      Right(Date.Calc(Date.Today, Date.CalcDirection.Minus, Period.ofMonths(2)))
+    )
+  }
+
+  test("period") {
+    val p = DateParser.periods
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("15d"), Right(Period.ofDays(15)))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("15m"), Right(Period.ofMonths(15)))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("15d10m"), Right(Period.ofMonths(10).plus(Period.ofDays(15))))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("10m15d"), Right(Period.ofMonths(10).plus(Period.ofDays(15))))
+  }
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/ExprParserTest.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/ExprParserTest.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..07e14e9b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/ExprParserTest.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery._
+import munit._
+import cats.data.{NonEmptyList => Nel}
+
+class ExprParserTest extends FunSuite with ValueHelper {
+
+  test("simple expr") {
+    val p = ExprParser.exprParser
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("name:hello"),
+      Right(stringExpr(Operator.Like, Attr.ItemName, "hello"))
+    )
+  }
+
+  test("and") {
+    val p = ExprParser.exprParser
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("(& name:hello source=webapp )"),
+      Right(
+        Expr.AndExpr(
+          Nel.of(
+            stringExpr(Operator.Like, Attr.ItemName, "hello"),
+            stringExpr(Operator.Eq, Attr.ItemSource, "webapp")
+          )
+        )
+      )
+    )
+  }
+
+  test("or") {
+    val p = ExprParser.exprParser
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("(| name:hello source=webapp )"),
+      Right(
+        Expr.OrExpr(
+          Nel.of(
+            stringExpr(Operator.Like, Attr.ItemName, "hello"),
+            stringExpr(Operator.Eq, Attr.ItemSource, "webapp")
+          )
+        )
+      )
+    )
+  }
+
+  test("tag list inside and/or") {
+    val p = ExprParser.exprParser
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("(& tag:a,b,c)"),
+      Right(
+        Expr.AndExpr(
+          Nel.of(
+            Expr.TagsMatch(TagOperator.AnyMatch, Nel.of("a", "b", "c"))
+          )
+        )
+      )
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("(& tag:a,b,c )"),
+      Right(
+        Expr.AndExpr(
+          Nel.of(
+            Expr.TagsMatch(TagOperator.AnyMatch, Nel.of("a", "b", "c"))
+          )
+        )
+      )
+    )
+  }
+
+  test("nest and/ with simple expr") {
+    val p = ExprParser.exprParser
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("(& (& f:usd=\"4.99\" ) source:*test* )"),
+      Right(
+        Expr.and(
+          Expr.and(Expr.CustomFieldMatch("usd", Operator.Eq, "4.99")),
+          Expr.string(Operator.Like, Attr.ItemSource, "*test*")
+        )
+      )
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("(& (& f:usd=\"4.99\" ) (| source:*test*) )"),
+      Right(
+        Expr.and(
+          Expr.and(Expr.CustomFieldMatch("usd", Operator.Eq, "4.99")),
+          Expr.or(Expr.string(Operator.Like, Attr.ItemSource, "*test*"))
+        )
+      )
+    )
+  }
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/ItemQueryParserTest.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/ItemQueryParserTest.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..52e35fc4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/ItemQueryParserTest.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+import cats.implicits._
+
+import munit._
+import docspell.query.ItemQueryParser
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery
+
+class ItemQueryParserTest extends FunSuite {
+
+  test("reduce ands") {
+    val q    = ItemQueryParser.parseUnsafe("(&(&(&(& name:hello))))")
+    val expr = ExprUtil.reduce(q.expr)
+    assertEquals(expr, ItemQueryParser.parseUnsafe("name:hello").expr)
+  }
+
+  test("reduce ors") {
+    val q    = ItemQueryParser.parseUnsafe("(|(|(|(| name:hello))))")
+    val expr = ExprUtil.reduce(q.expr)
+    assertEquals(expr, ItemQueryParser.parseUnsafe("name:hello").expr)
+  }
+
+  test("reduce and/or") {
+    val q    = ItemQueryParser.parseUnsafe("(|(&(&(| name:hello))))")
+    val expr = ExprUtil.reduce(q.expr)
+    assertEquals(expr, ItemQueryParser.parseUnsafe("name:hello").expr)
+  }
+
+  test("reduce inner and/or") {
+    val q    = ItemQueryParser.parseUnsafe("(& name:hello (| name:world))")
+    val expr = ExprUtil.reduce(q.expr)
+    assertEquals(expr, ItemQueryParser.parseUnsafe("(& name:hello name:world)").expr)
+  }
+
+  test("omit and-parens around root structure") {
+    val q      = ItemQueryParser.parseUnsafe("name:hello date>2020-02-02")
+    val expect = ItemQueryParser.parseUnsafe("(& name:hello date>2020-02-02 )")
+    assertEquals(expect, q)
+  }
+
+  test("return all if query is empty") {
+    val q = ItemQueryParser.parseUnsafe("")
+    assertEquals(ItemQuery.all, q)
+  }
+
+  test("splice inner and nodes") {
+    val raw = "(& name:hello (& date:2021-02 name:world) (& name:hello) )"
+    val q   = ItemQueryParser.parseUnsafe(raw)
+    val expect =
+      ItemQueryParser.parseUnsafe("name:hello date:2021-02 name:world name:hello")
+    assertEquals(expect.copy(raw = raw.some), q)
+  }
+
+  test("splice inner or nodes") {
+    val raw = "(| name:hello (| date:2021-02 name:world) (| name:hello) )"
+    val q   = ItemQueryParser.parseUnsafe(raw)
+    val expect =
+      ItemQueryParser.parseUnsafe("(| name:hello date:2021-02 name:world name:hello )")
+    assertEquals(expect.copy(raw = raw.some), q)
+  }
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/MacroParserTest.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/MacroParserTest.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..15855916
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/MacroParserTest.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+import munit._
+//import cats.parse.{Parser => P}
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery.Expr
+
+class MacroParserTest extends FunSuite {
+
+  test("recognize names shortcut") {
+    val p = MacroParser.namesMacro
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("names:test"), Right(Expr.NamesMacro("test")))
+    assert(p.parseAll("$names:test").isLeft)
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/OperatorParserTest.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/OperatorParserTest.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1a5a8af0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/OperatorParserTest.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+import munit._
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery.{Operator, TagOperator}
+import docspell.query.internal.OperatorParser
+
+class OperatorParserTest extends FunSuite {
+  test("operator values") {
+    val p = OperatorParser.op
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("="), Right(Operator.Eq))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("!="), Right(Operator.Neq))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll(":"), Right(Operator.Like))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("<"), Right(Operator.Lt))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll(">"), Right(Operator.Gt))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("<="), Right(Operator.Lte))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll(">="), Right(Operator.Gte))
+  }
+
+  test("tag operators") {
+    val p = OperatorParser.tagOp
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll(":"), Right(TagOperator.AnyMatch))
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("="), Right(TagOperator.AllMatch))
+  }
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/SimpleExprParserTest.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/SimpleExprParserTest.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..35660dfa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/SimpleExprParserTest.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+import cats.data.{NonEmptyList => Nel}
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery._
+import munit._
+import docspell.query.Date
+import java.time.Period
+
+class SimpleExprParserTest extends FunSuite with ValueHelper {
+
+  test("string expr") {
+    val p = SimpleExprParser.stringExpr
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("name:hello"),
+      Right(stringExpr(Operator.Like, Attr.ItemName, "hello"))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("name:  hello"),
+      Right(stringExpr(Operator.Like, Attr.ItemName, "hello"))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("name:\"hello world\""),
+      Right(stringExpr(Operator.Like, Attr.ItemName, "hello world"))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("name : \"hello world\""),
+      Right(stringExpr(Operator.Like, Attr.ItemName, "hello world"))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("conc.pers.id=Aaiet-aied"),
+      Right(stringExpr(Operator.Eq, Attr.Concerning.PersonId, "Aaiet-aied"))
+    )
+    assert(p.parseAll("conc.pers.id=Aaiet,aied").isLeft)
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("name~=hello,world"),
+      Right(Expr.InExpr(Attr.ItemName, Nel.of("hello", "world")))
+    )
+  }
+
+  test("date expr") {
+    val p = SimpleExprParser.dateExpr
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("date:2021-03-14"),
+      Right(dateExpr(Operator.Like, Attr.Date, ld(2021, 3, 14)))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("due<2021-03-14"),
+      Right(dateExpr(Operator.Lt, Attr.DueDate, ld(2021, 3, 14)))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("due~=2021-03-14,2021-03-13"),
+      Right(Expr.InDateExpr(Attr.DueDate, Nel.of(ld(2021, 3, 14), ld(2021, 3, 13))))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("due>2021"),
+      Right(dateExpr(Operator.Gt, Attr.DueDate, ld(2021, 1, 1)))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("date<2021-01"),
+      Right(dateExpr(Operator.Lt, Attr.Date, ld(2021, 1, 1)))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("date<today"),
+      Right(dateExpr(Operator.Lt, Attr.Date, Date.Today))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("date>today;-2m"),
+      Right(
+        dateExpr(
+          Operator.Gt,
+          Attr.Date,
+          Date.Calc(Date.Today, Date.CalcDirection.Minus, Period.ofMonths(2))
+        )
+      )
+    )
+  }
+
+  test("exists expr") {
+    val p = SimpleExprParser.existsExpr
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("exist:name"), Right(Expr.Exists(Attr.ItemName)))
+    assert(p.parseAll("exist:blabla").isLeft)
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("exist:conc.pers.id"),
+      Right(Expr.Exists(Attr.Concerning.PersonId))
+    )
+  }
+
+  test("fulltext expr") {
+    val p = SimpleExprParser.fulltextExpr
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("content:test"), Right(Expr.Fulltext("test")))
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("content:\"hello world\""),
+      Right(Expr.Fulltext("hello world"))
+    )
+  }
+
+  test("category expr") {
+    val p = SimpleExprParser.catExpr
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("cat:expense,doctype"),
+      Right(Expr.TagCategoryMatch(TagOperator.AnyMatch, Nel.of("expense", "doctype")))
+    )
+  }
+
+  test("custom field") {
+    val p = SimpleExprParser.customFieldExpr
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("f:usd=26.66"),
+      Right(Expr.CustomFieldMatch("usd", Operator.Eq, "26.66"))
+    )
+  }
+
+  test("tag id expr") {
+    val p = SimpleExprParser.tagIdExpr
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("tag.id:a,b,c"),
+      Right(Expr.TagIdsMatch(TagOperator.AnyMatch, Nel.of("a", "b", "c")))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("tag.id:a"),
+      Right(Expr.TagIdsMatch(TagOperator.AnyMatch, Nel.of("a")))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("tag.id=a,b,c"),
+      Right(Expr.TagIdsMatch(TagOperator.AllMatch, Nel.of("a", "b", "c")))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("tag.id=a"),
+      Right(Expr.TagIdsMatch(TagOperator.AllMatch, Nel.of("a")))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("tag.id=a,\"x y\""),
+      Right(Expr.TagIdsMatch(TagOperator.AllMatch, Nel.of("a", "x y")))
+    )
+  }
+
+  test("simple expr") {
+    val p = SimpleExprParser.simpleExpr
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("name:hello"),
+      Right(stringExpr(Operator.Like, Attr.ItemName, "hello"))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("name:hello"),
+      Right(stringExpr(Operator.Like, Attr.ItemName, "hello"))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("due:2021-03-14"),
+      Right(dateExpr(Operator.Like, Attr.DueDate, ld(2021, 3, 14)))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("due<2021-03-14"),
+      Right(dateExpr(Operator.Lt, Attr.DueDate, ld(2021, 3, 14)))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("exist:conc.pers.id"),
+      Right(Expr.Exists(Attr.Concerning.PersonId))
+    )
+    assertEquals(p.parseAll("content:test"), Right(Expr.Fulltext("test")))
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("tag.id:a"),
+      Right(Expr.TagIdsMatch(TagOperator.AnyMatch, Nel.of("a")))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("tag.id=a,b,c"),
+      Right(Expr.TagIdsMatch(TagOperator.AllMatch, Nel.of("a", "b", "c")))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("cat:expense,doctype"),
+      Right(Expr.TagCategoryMatch(TagOperator.AnyMatch, Nel.of("expense", "doctype")))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("f:usd=26.66"),
+      Right(Expr.CustomFieldMatch("usd", Operator.Eq, "26.66"))
+    )
+    assertEquals(
+      p.parseAll("f:usd=\"26.66\""),
+      Right(Expr.CustomFieldMatch("usd", Operator.Eq, "26.66"))
+    )
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/ValueHelper.scala b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/ValueHelper.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f2729f18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/query/shared/src/test/scala/docspell/query/internal/ValueHelper.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package docspell.query.internal
+
+import docspell.query.Date
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery._
+import java.time.Period
+
+trait ValueHelper {
+
+  def ld(year: Int, m: Int, d: Int): Date.DateLiteral =
+    Date(year, m, d).fold(throw _, identity)
+
+  def ldPlus(year: Int, m: Int, d: Int, p: Period): Date.Calc =
+    Date.Calc(ld(year, m, d), Date.CalcDirection.Plus, p)
+
+  def ldMinus(year: Int, m: Int, d: Int, p: Period): Date.Calc =
+    Date.Calc(ld(year, m, d), Date.CalcDirection.Minus, p)
+
+  def stringExpr(op: Operator, name: Attr.StringAttr, value: String): Expr.SimpleExpr =
+    Expr.SimpleExpr(op, Property.StringProperty(name, value))
+
+  def dateExpr(op: Operator, name: Attr.DateAttr, value: Date): Expr.SimpleExpr =
+    Expr.SimpleExpr(op, Property.DateProperty(name, value))
+
+}
diff --git a/modules/restapi/src/main/resources/docspell-openapi.yml b/modules/restapi/src/main/resources/docspell-openapi.yml
index 8623ade1..951f2395 100644
--- a/modules/restapi/src/main/resources/docspell-openapi.yml
+++ b/modules/restapi/src/main/resources/docspell-openapi.yml
@@ -1310,16 +1310,17 @@ paths:
                 $ref: "#/components/schemas/BasicResult"
 
 
-  /sec/item/search:
+  /sec/item/searchForm:
     post:
-      tags: [ Item ]
+      tags: [ Item Search ]
       summary: Search for items.
+      deprecated: true
       description: |
         Search for items given a search form. The results are grouped
         by month and are sorted by item date (newest first). Tags and
         attachments are *not* resolved. The results will always
         contain an empty list for item tags and attachments. Use
-        `/searchWithTags` to also retrieve all tags and a list of
+        `/searchFormWithTags` to also retrieve all tags and a list of
         attachments of an item.
 
         The `fulltext` field can be used to restrict the results by
@@ -1328,6 +1329,8 @@ paths:
         The customfields used in the search query are allowed to be
         specified by either field id or field name. The values may
         contain the wildcard `*` at beginning or end.
+
+        **NOTE** This is deprecated in favor for using a search query.
       security:
         - authTokenHeader: []
       requestBody:
@@ -1342,10 +1345,11 @@ paths:
             application/json:
               schema:
                 $ref: "#/components/schemas/ItemLightList"
-  /sec/item/searchWithTags:
+  /sec/item/searchFormWithTags:
     post:
-      tags: [ Item ]
+      tags: [ Item Search ]
       summary: Search for items.
+      deprecated: true
       description: |
         Search for items given a search form. The results are grouped
         by month by default. For each item, its tags and attachments
@@ -1355,6 +1359,8 @@ paths:
 
         The `fulltext` field can be used to restrict the results by
         using full-text search in the documents contents.
+
+        **NOTE** This is deprecated in favor for using search query.
       security:
         - authTokenHeader: []
       requestBody:
@@ -1369,9 +1375,60 @@ paths:
             application/json:
               schema:
                 $ref: "#/components/schemas/ItemLightList"
+
+  /sec/item/search:
+    get:
+      tags: [ Item Search ]
+      summary: Search for items.
+      description: |
+        Search for items given a search query. The results are grouped
+        by month and are sorted by item date (newest first). Tags and
+        attachments are *not* resolved. The results will always
+        contain an empty list for item tags and attachments. Set
+        `withDetails` to `true` for retrieving all tags and a list of
+        attachments of an item.
+      security:
+        - authTokenHeader: []
+      parameters:
+        - $ref: "#/components/parameters/q"
+        - $ref: "#/components/parameters/limit"
+        - $ref: "#/components/parameters/offset"
+        - $ref: "#/components/parameters/withDetails"
+      responses:
+        200:
+          description: Ok
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema:
+                $ref: "#/components/schemas/ItemLightList"
+    post:
+      tags: [ Item Search ]
+      summary: Search for items.
+      description: |
+        Search for items given a search query. The results are grouped
+        by month and are sorted by item date (newest first). Tags and
+        attachments are *not* resolved. The results will always
+        contain an empty list for item tags and attachments. Use
+        `withDetails` to also retrieve all tags and a list of
+        attachments of an item.
+      security:
+        - authTokenHeader: []
+      requestBody:
+        content:
+          application/json:
+            schema:
+              $ref: "#/components/schemas/ItemQuery"
+      responses:
+        200:
+          description: Ok
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema:
+                $ref: "#/components/schemas/ItemLightList"
+
   /sec/item/searchIndex:
     post:
-      tags: [ Item ]
+      tags: [ Item Search ]
       summary: Search for items using full-text search only.
       description: |
         Search for items by only using the full-text search index.
@@ -1391,7 +1448,7 @@ paths:
         content:
           application/json:
             schema:
-              $ref: "#/components/schemas/ItemFtsSearch"
+              $ref: "#/components/schemas/ItemQuery"
       responses:
         200:
           description: Ok
@@ -1400,12 +1457,15 @@ paths:
               schema:
                 $ref: "#/components/schemas/ItemLightList"
 
-  /sec/item/searchStats:
+  /sec/item/searchFormStats:
     post:
-      tags: [ Item ]
+      tags: [ Item Search ]
       summary: Get basic statistics about the data of a search.
+      deprecated: true
       description: |
         Takes a search query and returns a summary about the results.
+
+        **NOTE** This is deprecated in favor of using a search query.
       security:
         - authTokenHeader: []
       requestBody:
@@ -1420,6 +1480,44 @@ paths:
             application/json:
               schema:
                 $ref: "#/components/schemas/SearchStats"
+  /sec/item/searchStats:
+    post:
+      tags: [ Item Search ]
+      summary: Get basic statistics about search results.
+      description: |
+        Instead of returning the results of a query, uses it to return
+        a summary.
+      security:
+        - authTokenHeader: []
+      requestBody:
+        content:
+          application/json:
+            schema:
+              $ref: "#/components/schemas/ItemQuery"
+      responses:
+        200:
+          description: Ok
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema:
+                $ref: "#/components/schemas/SearchStats"
+    get:
+      tags: [ Item Search ]
+      summary: Get basic statistics about search results.
+      description: |
+        Instead of returning the results of a query, uses it to return
+        a summary.
+      security:
+        - authTokenHeader: []
+      parameters:
+        - $ref: "#/components/parameters/q"
+      responses:
+        200:
+          description: Ok
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema:
+                $ref: "#/components/schemas/SearchStats"
 
   /sec/item/{id}:
     get:
@@ -3777,22 +3875,12 @@ components:
           type: array
           items:
             $ref: "#/components/schemas/IdName"
-    FolderMember:
+    ItemQuery:
       description: |
-        Information to add or remove a folder member.
-      required:
-        - userId
-      properties:
-        userId:
-          type: string
-          format: ident
-    ItemFtsSearch:
-      description: |
-        Query description for a full-text only search.
+        Query description for a search. Is used for fulltext-only
+        searches and combined searches.
       required:
         - query
-        - offset
-        - limit
       properties:
         offset:
           type: integer
@@ -3804,6 +3892,9 @@ components:
             The maximum number of results to return. Note that this
             limit is a soft limit, there is some hard limit on the
             server, too.
+        withDetails:
+          type: boolean
+          default: false
         query:
           type: string
           description: |
@@ -5547,6 +5638,26 @@ components:
       required: false
       schema:
         type: string
+    limit:
+      name: limit
+      in: query
+      description: A limit for a search query
+      schema:
+        type: integer
+        format: int32
+    offset:
+      name: offset
+      in: query
+      description: A offset into the results for a search query
+      schema:
+        type: integer
+        format: int32
+    withDetails:
+      name: withDetails
+      in: query
+      description: Whether to return details to each item.
+      schema:
+        type: boolean
     name:
       name: name
       in: path
diff --git a/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/conv/Conversions.scala b/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/conv/Conversions.scala
index 4aebc8c8..cede3845 100644
--- a/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/conv/Conversions.scala
+++ b/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/conv/Conversions.scala
@@ -145,31 +145,32 @@ trait Conversions {
 
   def mkQuery(m: ItemSearch, account: AccountId): OItemSearch.Query =
     OItemSearch.Query(
-      account,
-      m.name,
-      if (m.inbox) Seq(ItemState.Created)
-      else ItemState.validStates.toList,
-      m.direction,
-      m.corrPerson,
-      m.corrOrg,
-      m.concPerson,
-      m.concEquip,
-      m.folder,
-      m.tagsInclude.map(Ident.unsafe),
-      m.tagsExclude.map(Ident.unsafe),
-      m.tagCategoriesInclude,
-      m.tagCategoriesExclude,
-      m.dateFrom,
-      m.dateUntil,
-      m.dueDateFrom,
-      m.dueDateUntil,
-      m.allNames,
-      m.itemSubset
-        .map(_.ids.flatMap(i => Ident.fromString(i).toOption).toSet)
-        .filter(_.nonEmpty),
-      m.customValues.map(mkCustomValue),
-      m.source,
-      None
+      OItemSearch.Query.Fix(account, None, None),
+      OItemSearch.Query.QueryForm(
+        m.name,
+        if (m.inbox) Seq(ItemState.Created)
+        else ItemState.validStates.toList,
+        m.direction,
+        m.corrPerson,
+        m.corrOrg,
+        m.concPerson,
+        m.concEquip,
+        m.folder,
+        m.tagsInclude.map(Ident.unsafe),
+        m.tagsExclude.map(Ident.unsafe),
+        m.tagCategoriesInclude,
+        m.tagCategoriesExclude,
+        m.dateFrom,
+        m.dateUntil,
+        m.dueDateFrom,
+        m.dueDateUntil,
+        m.allNames,
+        m.itemSubset
+          .map(_.ids.flatMap(i => Ident.fromString(i).toOption).toSet)
+          .filter(_.nonEmpty),
+        m.customValues.map(mkCustomValue),
+        m.source
+      )
     )
 
   def mkCustomValue(v: CustomFieldValue): OItemSearch.CustomValue =
@@ -182,7 +183,7 @@ trait Conversions {
       ItemLightGroup(g._1, g._2.map(mkItemLight).toList)
 
     val gs =
-      groups.map(mkGroup _).toList.sortWith((g1, g2) => g1.name.compareTo(g2.name) >= 0)
+      groups.map(mkGroup).toList.sortWith((g1, g2) => g1.name.compareTo(g2.name) >= 0)
     ItemLightList(gs)
   }
 
@@ -223,6 +224,10 @@ trait Conversions {
     if (v.isEmpty) ItemLightList(Nil)
     else ItemLightList(List(ItemLightGroup("Results", v.map(mkItemLightWithTags).toList)))
 
+  def mkItemListFtsPlain(v: Vector[OFulltext.FtsItem]): ItemLightList =
+    if (v.isEmpty) ItemLightList(Nil)
+    else ItemLightList(List(ItemLightGroup("Results", v.map(mkItemLight).toList)))
+
   def mkItemLight(i: OItemSearch.ListItem): ItemLight =
     ItemLight(
       i.id,
diff --git a/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/http4s/QueryParam.scala b/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/http4s/QueryParam.scala
index aa846c7e..6907c2c4 100644
--- a/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/http4s/QueryParam.scala
+++ b/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/http4s/QueryParam.scala
@@ -25,5 +25,10 @@ object QueryParam {
 
   object QueryOpt extends OptionalQueryParamDecoderMatcher[QueryString]("q")
 
+  object Query       extends OptionalQueryParamDecoderMatcher[String]("q")
+  object Limit       extends OptionalQueryParamDecoderMatcher[Int]("limit")
+  object Offset      extends OptionalQueryParamDecoderMatcher[Int]("offset")
+  object WithDetails extends OptionalQueryParamDecoderMatcher[Boolean]("withDetails")
+
   object WithFallback extends OptionalQueryParamDecoderMatcher[Boolean]("withFallback")
 }
diff --git a/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/routes/ItemRoutes.scala b/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/routes/ItemRoutes.scala
index e0b0c5b8..2e7fbbb5 100644
--- a/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/routes/ItemRoutes.scala
+++ b/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/routes/ItemRoutes.scala
@@ -9,9 +9,13 @@ import docspell.backend.BackendApp
 import docspell.backend.auth.AuthToken
 import docspell.backend.ops.OCustomFields.{RemoveValue, SetValue}
 import docspell.backend.ops.OFulltext
-import docspell.backend.ops.OItemSearch.Batch
+import docspell.backend.ops.OItemSearch.{Batch, Query}
+import docspell.backend.ops.OSimpleSearch
+import docspell.backend.ops.OSimpleSearch.StringSearchResult
 import docspell.common._
 import docspell.common.syntax.all._
+import docspell.query.FulltextExtract.Result.TooMany
+import docspell.query.FulltextExtract.Result.UnsupportedPosition
 import docspell.restapi.model._
 import docspell.restserver.Config
 import docspell.restserver.conv.Conversions
@@ -46,7 +50,60 @@ object ItemRoutes {
           resp <- Ok(Conversions.basicResult(res, "Task submitted"))
         } yield resp
 
+      case GET -> Root / "search" :? QP.Query(q) :? QP.Limit(limit) :? QP.Offset(
+            offset
+          ) :? QP.WithDetails(detailFlag) =>
+        val batch = Batch(offset.getOrElse(0), limit.getOrElse(cfg.maxItemPageSize))
+          .restrictLimitTo(cfg.maxItemPageSize)
+        val itemQuery = ItemQueryString(q)
+        val settings = OSimpleSearch.Settings(
+          batch,
+          cfg.fullTextSearch.enabled,
+          detailFlag.getOrElse(false),
+          cfg.maxNoteLength
+        )
+        val fixQuery = Query.Fix(user.account, None, None)
+        searchItems(backend, dsl)(settings, fixQuery, itemQuery)
+
+      case GET -> Root / "searchStats" :? QP.Query(q) =>
+        val itemQuery = ItemQueryString(q)
+        val fixQuery  = Query.Fix(user.account, None, None)
+        searchItemStats(backend, dsl)(cfg.fullTextSearch.enabled, fixQuery, itemQuery)
+
       case req @ POST -> Root / "search" =>
+        for {
+          userQuery <- req.as[ItemQuery]
+          batch = Batch(
+            userQuery.offset.getOrElse(0),
+            userQuery.limit.getOrElse(cfg.maxItemPageSize)
+          ).restrictLimitTo(
+            cfg.maxItemPageSize
+          )
+          itemQuery = ItemQueryString(userQuery.query)
+          settings = OSimpleSearch.Settings(
+            batch,
+            cfg.fullTextSearch.enabled,
+            userQuery.withDetails.getOrElse(false),
+            cfg.maxNoteLength
+          )
+          fixQuery = Query.Fix(user.account, None, None)
+          resp <- searchItems(backend, dsl)(settings, fixQuery, itemQuery)
+        } yield resp
+
+      case req @ POST -> Root / "searchStats" =>
+        for {
+          userQuery <- req.as[ItemQuery]
+          itemQuery = ItemQueryString(userQuery.query)
+          fixQuery  = Query.Fix(user.account, None, None)
+          resp <- searchItemStats(backend, dsl)(
+            cfg.fullTextSearch.enabled,
+            fixQuery,
+            itemQuery
+          )
+        } yield resp
+
+      //DEPRECATED
+      case req @ POST -> Root / "searchForm" =>
         for {
           mask <- req.as[ItemSearch]
           _    <- logger.ftrace(s"Got search mask: $mask")
@@ -85,7 +142,8 @@ object ItemRoutes {
           }
         } yield resp
 
-      case req @ POST -> Root / "searchWithTags" =>
+      //DEPRECATED
+      case req @ POST -> Root / "searchFormWithTags" =>
         for {
           mask <- req.as[ItemSearch]
           _    <- logger.ftrace(s"Got search mask: $mask")
@@ -125,7 +183,7 @@ object ItemRoutes {
 
       case req @ POST -> Root / "searchIndex" =>
         for {
-          mask <- req.as[ItemFtsSearch]
+          mask <- req.as[ItemQuery]
           resp <- mask.query match {
             case q if q.length > 1 =>
               val ftsIn = OFulltext.FtsInput(q)
@@ -133,7 +191,10 @@ object ItemRoutes {
                 items <- backend.fulltext.findIndexOnly(cfg.maxNoteLength)(
                   ftsIn,
                   user.account,
-                  Batch(mask.offset, mask.limit).restrictLimitTo(cfg.maxItemPageSize)
+                  Batch(
+                    mask.offset.getOrElse(0),
+                    mask.limit.getOrElse(cfg.maxItemPageSize)
+                  ).restrictLimitTo(cfg.maxItemPageSize)
                 )
                 ok <- Ok(Conversions.mkItemListWithTagsFtsPlain(items))
               } yield ok
@@ -143,7 +204,8 @@ object ItemRoutes {
           }
         } yield resp
 
-      case req @ POST -> Root / "searchStats" =>
+      //DEPRECATED
+      case req @ POST -> Root / "searchFormStats" =>
         for {
           mask <- req.as[ItemSearch]
           query = Conversions.mkQuery(mask, user.account)
@@ -429,6 +491,71 @@ object ItemRoutes {
     }
   }
 
+  def searchItems[F[_]: Sync](
+      backend: BackendApp[F],
+      dsl: Http4sDsl[F]
+  )(settings: OSimpleSearch.Settings, fixQuery: Query.Fix, itemQuery: ItemQueryString) = {
+    import dsl._
+
+    def convertFts(res: OSimpleSearch.Items.FtsItems): ItemLightList =
+      if (res.indexOnly) Conversions.mkItemListFtsPlain(res.items)
+      else Conversions.mkItemListFts(res.items)
+
+    def convertFtsFull(res: OSimpleSearch.Items.FtsItemsFull): ItemLightList =
+      if (res.indexOnly) Conversions.mkItemListWithTagsFtsPlain(res.items)
+      else Conversions.mkItemListWithTagsFts(res.items)
+
+    backend.simpleSearch
+      .searchByString(settings)(fixQuery, itemQuery)
+      .flatMap {
+        case StringSearchResult.Success(items) =>
+          Ok(
+            items.fold(
+              convertFts,
+              convertFtsFull,
+              Conversions.mkItemList,
+              Conversions.mkItemListWithTags
+            )
+          )
+        case StringSearchResult.FulltextMismatch(TooMany) =>
+          BadRequest(BasicResult(false, "Only one fulltext search term is allowed."))
+        case StringSearchResult.FulltextMismatch(UnsupportedPosition) =>
+          BadRequest(
+            BasicResult(
+              false,
+              "Fulltext search must be in root position or inside the first AND."
+            )
+          )
+        case StringSearchResult.ParseFailed(pf) =>
+          BadRequest(BasicResult(false, s"Error reading query: ${pf.render}"))
+      }
+  }
+
+  def searchItemStats[F[_]: Sync](
+      backend: BackendApp[F],
+      dsl: Http4sDsl[F]
+  )(ftsEnabled: Boolean, fixQuery: Query.Fix, itemQuery: ItemQueryString) = {
+    import dsl._
+    backend.simpleSearch
+      .searchSummaryByString(ftsEnabled)(fixQuery, itemQuery)
+      .flatMap {
+        case StringSearchResult.Success(summary) =>
+          Ok(Conversions.mkSearchStats(summary))
+        case StringSearchResult.FulltextMismatch(TooMany) =>
+          BadRequest(BasicResult(false, "Only one fulltext search term is allowed."))
+        case StringSearchResult.FulltextMismatch(UnsupportedPosition) =>
+          BadRequest(
+            BasicResult(
+              false,
+              "Fulltext search must be in root position or inside the first AND."
+            )
+          )
+        case StringSearchResult.ParseFailed(pf) =>
+          BadRequest(BasicResult(false, s"Error reading query: ${pf.render}"))
+      }
+
+  }
+
   implicit final class OptionString(opt: Option[String]) {
     def notEmpty: Option[String] =
       opt.map(_.trim).filter(_.nonEmpty)
@@ -453,12 +580,12 @@ object ItemRoutes {
     private val itemSearchMonoid: Monoid[ItemSearch] =
       cats.derived.semiauto.monoid
 
-    def unapply(m: ItemSearch): Option[ItemFtsSearch] =
+    def unapply(m: ItemSearch): Option[ItemQuery] =
       m.fullText match {
         case Some(fq) =>
           val me = m.copy(fullText = None, offset = 0, limit = 0)
           if (itemSearchMonoid.empty == me)
-            Some(ItemFtsSearch(m.offset, m.limit, fq))
+            Some(ItemQuery(m.offset.some, m.limit.some, Some(false), fq))
           else None
         case _ =>
           None
diff --git a/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/webapp/TemplateRoutes.scala b/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/webapp/TemplateRoutes.scala
index b920168a..9d59c201 100644
--- a/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/webapp/TemplateRoutes.scala
+++ b/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/webapp/TemplateRoutes.scala
@@ -170,7 +170,8 @@ object TemplateRoutes {
         chooseUi(uiVersion),
         Seq(
           "/app/assets" + Webjars.clipboardjs + "/clipboard.min.js",
-          s"/app/assets/docspell-webapp/${BuildInfo.version}/docspell-app.js"
+          s"/app/assets/docspell-webapp/${BuildInfo.version}/docspell-app.js",
+          s"/app/assets/docspell-webapp/${BuildInfo.version}/docspell-query-opt.js"
         ),
         s"/app/assets/docspell-webapp/${BuildInfo.version}/favicon",
         s"/app/assets/docspell-webapp/${BuildInfo.version}/docspell.js",
diff --git a/modules/store/src/main/resources/db/migration/h2/V1.21.0__cast_function.sql b/modules/store/src/main/resources/db/migration/h2/V1.21.0__cast_function.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..146bf3d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/store/src/main/resources/db/migration/h2/V1.21.0__cast_function.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+DROP ALIAS IF EXISTS CAST_TO_NUMERIC;
+CREATE ALIAS CAST_TO_NUMERIC AS '
+import java.text.*;
+import java.math.*;
+@CODE
+BigDecimal castToNumeric(String s) throws Exception {
+  try { return new BigDecimal(s); }
+  catch (Exception e) {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+'
diff --git a/modules/store/src/main/resources/db/migration/mariadb/V1.21.0__cast_function.sql b/modules/store/src/main/resources/db/migration/mariadb/V1.21.0__cast_function.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..24ae76de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/store/src/main/resources/db/migration/mariadb/V1.21.0__cast_function.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+-- Create a function to cast to a numeric, if an error occurs return null
+-- Could not get it working with decimal type, so using double
+create or replace function CAST_TO_NUMERIC (s char(255))
+returns double deterministic
+return cast(s as double);
diff --git a/modules/store/src/main/resources/db/migration/postgresql/V1.21.0__cast_function.sql b/modules/store/src/main/resources/db/migration/postgresql/V1.21.0__cast_function.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b603275c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/store/src/main/resources/db/migration/postgresql/V1.21.0__cast_function.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+-- Create a function to cast to a numeric, if an error occurs return null
+create or replace function CAST_TO_NUMERIC(text) returns numeric as $$
+begin
+    return cast($1 as numeric);
+exception
+    when invalid_text_representation then
+        return null;
+end;
+$$ language plpgsql immutable;
diff --git a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/Column.scala b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/Column.scala
index 3e59a62c..e5e13749 100644
--- a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/Column.scala
+++ b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/Column.scala
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@ package docspell.store.qb
 case class Column[A](name: String, table: TableDef) {
   def inTable(t: TableDef): Column[A] =
     copy(table = t)
+
+  def cast[B]: Column[B] =
+    this.asInstanceOf[Column[B]]
 }
 
 object Column {}
diff --git a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/Condition.scala b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/Condition.scala
index 0b0c0692..9a329033 100644
--- a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/Condition.scala
+++ b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/Condition.scala
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ object Condition {
       val P: Put[A]
   ) extends Condition
 
-  case class CompareFVal[A](dbf: DBFunction, op: Operator, value: A)(implicit
+  case class CompareFVal[A](sel: SelectExpr, op: Operator, value: A)(implicit
       val P: Put[A]
   ) extends Condition
 
@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@ object Condition {
       extends Condition
 
   case class InSubSelect[A](col: Column[A], subSelect: Select) extends Condition
-  case class InValues[A](col: Column[A], values: NonEmptyList[A], lower: Boolean)(implicit
-      val P: Put[A]
+  case class InValues[A](sel: SelectExpr, values: NonEmptyList[A], lower: Boolean)(
+      implicit val P: Put[A]
   ) extends Condition
 
-  case class IsNull(col: Column[_]) extends Condition
+  case class IsNull(sel: SelectExpr) extends Condition
 
   case class And(inner: NonEmptyList[Condition]) extends Condition {
     def append(other: Condition): And =
diff --git a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/DBFunction.scala b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/DBFunction.scala
index 58cca850..40db91b2 100644
--- a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/DBFunction.scala
+++ b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/DBFunction.scala
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ object DBFunction {
 
   case class Cast(expr: SelectExpr, newType: String) extends DBFunction
 
+  case class CastNumeric(expr: SelectExpr) extends DBFunction
+
   case class Avg(expr: SelectExpr) extends DBFunction
 
   case class Sum(expr: SelectExpr) extends DBFunction
diff --git a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/DSL.scala b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/DSL.scala
index e90439bf..d2e78be1 100644
--- a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/DSL.scala
+++ b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/DSL.scala
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ trait DSL extends DoobieMeta {
   def cast(expr: SelectExpr, targetType: String): DBFunction =
     DBFunction.Cast(expr, targetType)
 
+  def castNumeric(expr: SelectExpr): DBFunction =
+    DBFunction.CastNumeric(expr)
+
   def coalesce(expr: SelectExpr, more: SelectExpr*): DBFunction.Coalesce =
     DBFunction.Coalesce(expr, more.toVector)
 
@@ -174,13 +177,13 @@ trait DSL extends DoobieMeta {
       Condition.CompareVal(col, Operator.LowerEq, value)
 
     def ====(value: String): Condition =
-      Condition.CompareVal(col.asInstanceOf[Column[String]], Operator.Eq, value)
+      Condition.CompareVal(col.cast[String], Operator.Eq, value)
 
     def like(value: A)(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
       Condition.CompareVal(col, Operator.LowerLike, value)
 
     def likes(value: String): Condition =
-      Condition.CompareVal(col.asInstanceOf[Column[String]], Operator.LowerLike, value)
+      Condition.CompareVal(col.cast[String], Operator.LowerLike, value)
 
     def <=(value: A)(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
       Condition.CompareVal(col, Operator.Lte, value)
@@ -204,22 +207,22 @@ trait DSL extends DoobieMeta {
       in(subsel).negate
 
     def in(values: Nel[A])(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
-      Condition.InValues(col, values, false)
+      Condition.InValues(col.s, values, false)
 
     def notIn(values: Nel[A])(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
       in(values).negate
 
     def inLower(values: Nel[A])(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
-      Condition.InValues(col, values, true)
+      Condition.InValues(col.s, values, true)
 
     def notInLower(values: Nel[A])(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
-      Condition.InValues(col, values, true).negate
+      Condition.InValues(col.s, values, true).negate
 
     def isNull: Condition =
-      Condition.IsNull(col)
+      Condition.IsNull(col.s)
 
     def isNotNull: Condition =
-      Condition.IsNull(col).negate
+      Condition.IsNull(col.s).negate
 
     def ===(other: Column[A]): Condition =
       Condition.CompareCol(col, Operator.Eq, other)
@@ -264,31 +267,31 @@ trait DSL extends DoobieMeta {
       SelectExpr.SelectFun(dbf, Some(otherCol.name))
 
     def ===[A](value: A)(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
-      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf, Operator.Eq, value)
+      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf.s, Operator.Eq, value)
 
     def ====(value: String): Condition =
-      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf, Operator.Eq, value)
+      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf.s, Operator.Eq, value)
 
     def like[A](value: A)(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
-      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf, Operator.LowerLike, value)
+      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf.s, Operator.LowerLike, value)
 
     def likes(value: String): Condition =
-      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf, Operator.LowerLike, value)
+      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf.s, Operator.LowerLike, value)
 
     def <=[A](value: A)(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
-      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf, Operator.Lte, value)
+      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf.s, Operator.Lte, value)
 
     def >=[A](value: A)(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
-      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf, Operator.Gte, value)
+      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf.s, Operator.Gte, value)
 
     def >[A](value: A)(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
-      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf, Operator.Gt, value)
+      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf.s, Operator.Gt, value)
 
     def <[A](value: A)(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
-      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf, Operator.Lt, value)
+      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf.s, Operator.Lt, value)
 
     def <>[A](value: A)(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
-      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf, Operator.Neq, value)
+      Condition.CompareFVal(dbf.s, Operator.Neq, value)
 
     def -[A](value: A)(implicit P: Put[A]): DBFunction =
       DBFunction.Calc(
@@ -297,6 +300,35 @@ trait DSL extends DoobieMeta {
         SelectExpr.SelectConstant(value, None)
       )
   }
+
+  implicit final class SelectExprOps(sel: SelectExpr) {
+    def isNull: Condition =
+      Condition.IsNull(sel)
+
+    def isNotNull: Condition =
+      Condition.IsNull(sel).negate
+
+    def ===[A](value: A)(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
+      Condition.CompareFVal(sel, Operator.Eq, value)
+
+    def <=[A](value: A)(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
+      Condition.CompareFVal(sel, Operator.Lte, value)
+
+    def >=[A](value: A)(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
+      Condition.CompareFVal(sel, Operator.Gte, value)
+
+    def >[A](value: A)(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
+      Condition.CompareFVal(sel, Operator.Gt, value)
+
+    def <[A](value: A)(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
+      Condition.CompareFVal(sel, Operator.Lt, value)
+
+    def <>[A](value: A)(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
+      Condition.CompareFVal(sel, Operator.Neq, value)
+
+    def in[A](values: Nel[A])(implicit P: Put[A]): Condition =
+      Condition.InValues(sel, values, false)
+  }
 }
 
 object DSL extends DSL {
diff --git a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/generator/ItemQueryGenerator.scala b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/generator/ItemQueryGenerator.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6a721270
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/generator/ItemQueryGenerator.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,299 @@
+package docspell.store.qb.generator
+
+import java.time.Instant
+import java.time.LocalDate
+
+import cats.data.{NonEmptyList => Nel}
+
+import docspell.common._
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery._
+import docspell.query.{Date, ItemQuery}
+import docspell.store.qb.DSL._
+import docspell.store.qb.{Operator => QOp, _}
+import docspell.store.queries.QItem
+import docspell.store.queries.QueryWildcard
+import docspell.store.records._
+
+import doobie.util.Put
+
+object ItemQueryGenerator {
+
+  def apply(today: LocalDate, tables: Tables, coll: Ident)(q: ItemQuery)(implicit
+      PT: Put[Timestamp]
+  ): Condition =
+    fromExpr(today, tables, coll)(q.expr)
+
+  final def fromExpr(today: LocalDate, tables: Tables, coll: Ident)(
+      expr: Expr
+  )(implicit PT: Put[Timestamp]): Condition =
+    expr match {
+      case Expr.AndExpr(inner) =>
+        Condition.And(inner.map(fromExpr(today, tables, coll)))
+
+      case Expr.OrExpr(inner) =>
+        Condition.Or(inner.map(fromExpr(today, tables, coll)))
+
+      case Expr.NotExpr(inner) =>
+        inner match {
+          case Expr.Exists(notExists) =>
+            anyColumn(tables)(notExists).isNull
+
+          case Expr.TagIdsMatch(op, tags) =>
+            val ids = tags.toList.flatMap(s => Ident.fromString(s).toOption)
+            Nel
+              .fromList(ids)
+              .map { nel =>
+                op match {
+                  case TagOperator.AnyMatch =>
+                    tables.item.id.notIn(TagItemName.itemsWithEitherTag(nel))
+                  case TagOperator.AllMatch =>
+                    tables.item.id.notIn(TagItemName.itemsWithAllTags(nel))
+                }
+              }
+              .getOrElse(Condition.unit)
+          case Expr.TagsMatch(op, tags) =>
+            op match {
+              case TagOperator.AllMatch =>
+                tables.item.id.notIn(TagItemName.itemsWithAllTagNameOrIds(tags))
+
+              case TagOperator.AnyMatch =>
+                tables.item.id.notIn(TagItemName.itemsWithEitherTagNameOrIds(tags))
+            }
+
+          case Expr.TagCategoryMatch(op, cats) =>
+            op match {
+              case TagOperator.AllMatch =>
+                tables.item.id.notIn(TagItemName.itemsInAllCategories(cats))
+
+              case TagOperator.AnyMatch =>
+                tables.item.id.notIn(TagItemName.itemsInEitherCategory(cats))
+            }
+
+          case Expr.Fulltext(_) =>
+            Condition.unit
+
+          case _ =>
+            Condition.Not(fromExpr(today, tables, coll)(inner))
+        }
+
+      case Expr.Exists(field) =>
+        anyColumn(tables)(field).isNotNull
+
+      case Expr.SimpleExpr(op, Property.StringProperty(attr, value)) =>
+        val col = stringColumn(tables)(attr)
+        op match {
+          case Operator.Like =>
+            Condition.CompareVal(col, makeOp(op), QueryWildcard.lower(value))
+          case _ =>
+            Condition.CompareVal(col, makeOp(op), value)
+        }
+
+      case Expr.SimpleExpr(op, Property.DateProperty(attr, value)) =>
+        val dt       = dateToTimestamp(today)(value)
+        val col      = timestampColumn(tables)(attr)
+        val noLikeOp = if (op == Operator.Like) Operator.Eq else op
+        Condition.CompareFVal(col, makeOp(noLikeOp), dt)
+
+      case Expr.SimpleExpr(op, Property.IntProperty(attr, value)) =>
+        val col = intColumn(tables)(attr)
+        Condition.CompareVal(col, makeOp(op), value)
+
+      case Expr.InExpr(attr, values) =>
+        val col = stringColumn(tables)(attr)
+        if (values.tail.isEmpty) col === values.head
+        else col.in(values)
+
+      case Expr.InDateExpr(attr, values) =>
+        val col = timestampColumn(tables)(attr)
+        val dts = values.map(dateToTimestamp(today))
+        if (values.tail.isEmpty) col === dts.head
+        else col.in(dts)
+
+      case Expr.DirectionExpr(incoming) =>
+        if (incoming) tables.item.incoming === Direction.Incoming
+        else tables.item.incoming === Direction.Outgoing
+
+      case Expr.InboxExpr(flag) =>
+        if (flag) tables.item.state === ItemState.created
+        else tables.item.state === ItemState.confirmed
+
+      case Expr.TagIdsMatch(op, tags) =>
+        val ids = tags.toList.flatMap(s => Ident.fromString(s).toOption)
+        Nel
+          .fromList(ids)
+          .map { nel =>
+            op match {
+              case TagOperator.AnyMatch =>
+                tables.item.id.in(TagItemName.itemsWithEitherTag(nel))
+              case TagOperator.AllMatch =>
+                tables.item.id.in(TagItemName.itemsWithAllTags(nel))
+            }
+          }
+          .getOrElse(Condition.unit)
+
+      case Expr.TagsMatch(op, tags) =>
+        op match {
+          case TagOperator.AllMatch =>
+            tables.item.id.in(TagItemName.itemsWithAllTagNameOrIds(tags))
+
+          case TagOperator.AnyMatch =>
+            tables.item.id.in(TagItemName.itemsWithEitherTagNameOrIds(tags))
+        }
+
+      case Expr.TagCategoryMatch(op, cats) =>
+        op match {
+          case TagOperator.AllMatch =>
+            tables.item.id.in(TagItemName.itemsInAllCategories(cats))
+
+          case TagOperator.AnyMatch =>
+            tables.item.id.in(TagItemName.itemsInEitherCategory(cats))
+        }
+
+      case Expr.CustomFieldMatch(field, op, value) =>
+        tables.item.id.in(
+          itemsWithCustomField(_.name ==== field)(coll, makeOp(op), value)
+        )
+
+      case Expr.CustomFieldIdMatch(field, op, value) =>
+        tables.item.id.in(itemsWithCustomField(_.id ==== field)(coll, makeOp(op), value))
+
+      case Expr.ChecksumMatch(checksum) =>
+        val select = QItem.findByChecksumQuery(checksum, coll, Set.empty)
+        tables.item.id.in(select.withSelect(Nel.of(RItem.as("i").id.s)))
+
+      case Expr.AttachId(id) =>
+        tables.item.id.in(
+          Select(
+            select(RAttachment.T.itemId),
+            from(RAttachment.T),
+            RAttachment.T.id.cast[String] === id
+          ).distinct
+        )
+
+      case Expr.Fulltext(_) =>
+        // not supported here
+        Condition.unit
+
+      case _: Expr.MacroExpr =>
+        Condition.unit
+    }
+
+  private def dateToTimestamp(today: LocalDate)(date: Date): Timestamp =
+    date match {
+      case d: Date.DateLiteral =>
+        val ld = dateLiteralToDate(today)(d)
+        Timestamp.atUtc(ld.atStartOfDay)
+      case Date.Calc(date, c, period) =>
+        val ld = c match {
+          case Date.CalcDirection.Plus =>
+            dateLiteralToDate(today)(date).plus(period)
+          case Date.CalcDirection.Minus =>
+            dateLiteralToDate(today)(date).minus(period)
+        }
+        Timestamp.atUtc(ld.atStartOfDay())
+    }
+
+  private def dateLiteralToDate(today: LocalDate)(dateLit: Date.DateLiteral): LocalDate =
+    dateLit match {
+      case Date.Local(date) =>
+        date
+      case Date.Millis(ms) =>
+        Instant.ofEpochMilli(ms).atZone(Timestamp.UTC).toLocalDate()
+      case Date.Today =>
+        today
+    }
+
+  private def anyColumn(tables: Tables)(attr: Attr): SelectExpr =
+    attr match {
+      case s: Attr.StringAttr =>
+        stringColumn(tables)(s).s
+      case t: Attr.DateAttr =>
+        timestampColumn(tables)(t)
+      case n: Attr.IntAttr =>
+        intColumn(tables)(n).s
+    }
+
+  private def timestampColumn(tables: Tables)(attr: Attr.DateAttr): SelectExpr =
+    attr match {
+      case Attr.Date =>
+        coalesce(tables.item.itemDate.s, tables.item.created.s).s
+      case Attr.DueDate =>
+        tables.item.dueDate.s
+    }
+
+  private def stringColumn(tables: Tables)(attr: Attr.StringAttr): Column[String] =
+    attr match {
+      case Attr.ItemId                   => tables.item.id.cast[String]
+      case Attr.ItemName                 => tables.item.name
+      case Attr.ItemSource               => tables.item.source
+      case Attr.ItemNotes                => tables.item.notes
+      case Attr.Correspondent.OrgId      => tables.corrOrg.oid.cast[String]
+      case Attr.Correspondent.OrgName    => tables.corrOrg.name
+      case Attr.Correspondent.PersonId   => tables.corrPers.pid.cast[String]
+      case Attr.Correspondent.PersonName => tables.corrPers.name
+      case Attr.Concerning.PersonId      => tables.concPers.pid.cast[String]
+      case Attr.Concerning.PersonName    => tables.concPers.name
+      case Attr.Concerning.EquipId       => tables.concEquip.eid.cast[String]
+      case Attr.Concerning.EquipName     => tables.concEquip.name
+      case Attr.Folder.FolderId          => tables.folder.id.cast[String]
+      case Attr.Folder.FolderName        => tables.folder.name
+    }
+
+  private def intColumn(tables: Tables)(attr: Attr.IntAttr): Column[Int] =
+    attr match {
+      case Attr.AttachCount => tables.attachCount.num
+    }
+
+  private def makeOp(operator: Operator): QOp =
+    operator match {
+      case Operator.Eq =>
+        QOp.Eq
+      case Operator.Neq =>
+        QOp.Neq
+      case Operator.Like =>
+        QOp.LowerLike
+      case Operator.Gt =>
+        QOp.Gt
+      case Operator.Lt =>
+        QOp.Lt
+      case Operator.Gte =>
+        QOp.Gte
+      case Operator.Lte =>
+        QOp.Lte
+    }
+
+  private def itemsWithCustomField(
+      sel: RCustomField.Table => Condition
+  )(coll: Ident, op: QOp, value: String): Select = {
+    val cf  = RCustomField.as("cf")
+    val cfv = RCustomFieldValue.as("cfv")
+
+    val baseSelect =
+      Select(
+        select(cfv.itemId),
+        from(cfv).innerJoin(cf, sel(cf) && cf.cid === coll && cf.id === cfv.field)
+      )
+
+    if (op == QOp.LowerLike) {
+      val v = QueryWildcard.lower(value)
+      baseSelect.where(Condition.CompareVal(cfv.value, op, v))
+    } else {
+      val stringCmp =
+        Condition.CompareVal(cfv.value, op, value)
+
+      value.toDoubleOption
+        .map { n =>
+          val numericCmp = Condition.CompareFVal(castNumeric(cfv.value.s).s, op, n)
+          val fieldIsNumeric =
+            cf.ftype === CustomFieldType.Numeric || cf.ftype === CustomFieldType.Money
+          val fieldNotNumeric =
+            cf.ftype <> CustomFieldType.Numeric && cf.ftype <> CustomFieldType.Money
+          baseSelect.where(
+            (fieldIsNumeric && numericCmp) || (fieldNotNumeric && stringCmp)
+          )
+        }
+        .getOrElse(baseSelect.where(stringCmp))
+    }
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/generator/Tables.scala b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/generator/Tables.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0d30c99c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/generator/Tables.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+package docspell.store.qb.generator
+
+import docspell.store.queries.AttachCountTable
+import docspell.store.records._
+
+final case class Tables(
+    item: RItem.Table,
+    corrOrg: ROrganization.Table,
+    corrPers: RPerson.Table,
+    concPers: RPerson.Table,
+    concEquip: REquipment.Table,
+    folder: RFolder.Table,
+    attach: RAttachment.Table,
+    meta: RAttachmentMeta.Table,
+    attachCount: AttachCountTable
+)
diff --git a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/impl/ConditionBuilder.scala b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/impl/ConditionBuilder.scala
index f110bb92..c9e50575 100644
--- a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/impl/ConditionBuilder.scala
+++ b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/impl/ConditionBuilder.scala
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ object ConditionBuilder {
           case Operator.LowerEq =>
             lower(dbf)
           case _ =>
-            DBFunctionBuilder.build(dbf)
+            SelectExprBuilder.build(dbf)
         }
         dbfFrag ++ opFrag ++ valFrag
 
@@ -105,13 +105,13 @@ object ConditionBuilder {
         SelectExprBuilder.column(col) ++ sql" IN (" ++ sub ++ parenClose
 
       case c @ Condition.InValues(col, values, toLower) =>
-        val cfrag = if (toLower) lower(col) else SelectExprBuilder.column(col)
+        val cfrag = if (toLower) lower(col) else SelectExprBuilder.build(col)
         cfrag ++ sql" IN (" ++ values.toList
           .map(a => buildValue(a)(c.P))
           .reduce(_ ++ comma ++ _) ++ parenClose
 
       case Condition.IsNull(col) =>
-        SelectExprBuilder.column(col) ++ fr" is null"
+        SelectExprBuilder.build(col) ++ fr" is null"
 
       case Condition.And(ands) =>
         val inner = ands.map(build).reduceLeft(_ ++ and ++ _)
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ object ConditionBuilder {
         else parenOpen ++ inner ++ parenClose
 
       case Condition.Not(Condition.IsNull(col)) =>
-        SelectExprBuilder.column(col) ++ fr" is not null"
+        SelectExprBuilder.build(col) ++ fr" is not null"
 
       case Condition.Not(c) =>
         fr"NOT" ++ build(c)
@@ -159,6 +159,9 @@ object ConditionBuilder {
   def buildOptValue[A: Put](v: Option[A]): Fragment =
     fr"$v"
 
+  def lower(sel: SelectExpr): Fragment =
+    Fragment.const0("LOWER(") ++ SelectExprBuilder.build(sel) ++ parenClose
+
   def lower(col: Column[_]): Fragment =
     Fragment.const0("LOWER(") ++ SelectExprBuilder.column(col) ++ parenClose
 
diff --git a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/impl/DBFunctionBuilder.scala b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/impl/DBFunctionBuilder.scala
index 3a75569a..c57a9ac3 100644
--- a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/impl/DBFunctionBuilder.scala
+++ b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/qb/impl/DBFunctionBuilder.scala
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ object DBFunctionBuilder extends CommonBuilder {
           fr" AS" ++ Fragment.const(newType) ++
           sql")"
 
+      case DBFunction.CastNumeric(f) =>
+        sql"CAST_TO_NUMERIC(" ++ SelectExprBuilder.build(f) ++ sql")"
+
       case DBFunction.Avg(expr) =>
         sql"AVG(" ++ SelectExprBuilder.build(expr) ++ fr")"
 
diff --git a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/queries/AttachCountTable.scala b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/queries/AttachCountTable.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2ed6fc3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/queries/AttachCountTable.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+package docspell.store.queries
+
+import docspell.common.Ident
+import docspell.store.qb.Column
+import docspell.store.qb.TableDef
+
+final case class AttachCountTable(aliasName: String) extends TableDef {
+  val tableName             = "attachs"
+  val alias: Option[String] = Some(aliasName)
+
+  val num    = Column[Int]("num", this)
+  val itemId = Column[Ident]("item_id", this)
+
+  def as(alias: String): AttachCountTable =
+    copy(aliasName = alias)
+}
diff --git a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/queries/QItem.scala b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/queries/QItem.scala
index 751d5706..c1ee5f2c 100644
--- a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/queries/QItem.scala
+++ b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/queries/QItem.scala
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 package docspell.store.queries
 
+import java.time.LocalDate
+
 import cats.data.{NonEmptyList => Nel}
 import cats.effect.Sync
 import cats.effect.concurrent.Ref
@@ -8,9 +10,11 @@ import fs2.Stream
 
 import docspell.common.syntax.all._
 import docspell.common.{IdRef, _}
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery
 import docspell.store.Store
 import docspell.store.qb.DSL._
 import docspell.store.qb._
+import docspell.store.qb.generator.{ItemQueryGenerator, Tables}
 import docspell.store.records._
 
 import doobie.implicits._
@@ -117,18 +121,11 @@ object QItem {
       .map(nel => intersect(nel.map(singleSelect)))
   }
 
-  private def findItemsBase(q: Query, noteMaxLen: Int): Select = {
-    object Attachs extends TableDef {
-      val tableName = "attachs"
-      val aliasName = "cta"
-      val alias     = Some(aliasName)
-      val num       = Column[Int]("num", this)
-      val itemId    = Column[Ident]("item_id", this)
-    }
+  private def findItemsBase(q: Query.Fix, noteMaxLen: Int): Select = {
+    val attachs = AttachCountTable("cta")
+    val coll    = q.account.collective
 
-    val coll = q.account.collective
-
-    val baseSelect = Select(
+    Select(
       select(
         i.id.s,
         i.name.s,
@@ -138,7 +135,7 @@ object QItem {
         i.source.s,
         i.incoming.s,
         i.created.s,
-        coalesce(Attachs.num.s, const(0)).s,
+        coalesce(attachs.num.s, const(0)).s,
         org.oid.s,
         org.name.s,
         pers0.pid.s,
@@ -158,41 +155,40 @@ object QItem {
         .leftJoin(f, f.id === i.folder && f.collective === coll)
         .leftJoin(
           Select(
-            select(countAll.as(Attachs.num), a.itemId.as(Attachs.itemId)),
+            select(countAll.as(attachs.num), a.itemId.as(attachs.itemId)),
             from(a)
               .innerJoin(i, i.id === a.itemId),
             i.cid === q.account.collective,
             GroupBy(a.itemId)
           ),
-          Attachs.aliasName,
-          Attachs.itemId === i.id
+          attachs.aliasName,
+          attachs.itemId === i.id
         )
         .leftJoin(pers0, pers0.pid === i.corrPerson && pers0.cid === coll)
         .leftJoin(org, org.oid === i.corrOrg && org.cid === coll)
         .leftJoin(pers1, pers1.pid === i.concPerson && pers1.cid === coll)
         .leftJoin(equip, equip.eid === i.concEquipment && equip.cid === coll),
       where(
-        i.cid === coll &&? Nel.fromList(q.states.toList).map(nel => i.state.in(nel)) &&
-          or(i.folder.isNull, i.folder.in(QFolder.findMemberFolderIds(q.account)))
+        i.cid === coll &&? q.itemIds.map(s =>
+          Nel.fromList(s.toList).map(nel => i.id.in(nel)).getOrElse(i.id.isNull)
+        )
+          && or(
+            i.folder.isNull,
+            i.folder.in(QFolder.findMemberFolderIds(q.account))
+          )
       )
     ).distinct.orderBy(
       q.orderAsc
         .map(of => OrderBy.asc(coalesce(of(i).s, i.created.s).s))
         .getOrElse(OrderBy.desc(coalesce(i.itemDate.s, i.created.s).s))
     )
-
-    findCustomFieldValuesForColl(coll, q.customValues) match {
-      case Some(itemIds) =>
-        baseSelect.changeWhere(c => c && i.id.in(itemIds))
-      case None =>
-        baseSelect
-    }
   }
 
-  def queryCondition(q: Query): Condition =
+  def queryCondFromForm(coll: Ident, q: Query.QueryForm): Condition =
     Condition.unit &&?
       q.direction.map(d => i.incoming === d) &&?
       q.name.map(n => i.name.like(QueryWildcard.lower(n))) &&?
+      Nel.fromList(q.states.toList).map(nel => i.state.in(nel)) &&?
       q.allNames
         .map(QueryWildcard.lower)
         .map(n =>
@@ -221,40 +217,56 @@ object QItem {
         .map(subsel => i.id.in(subsel)) &&?
       TagItemName
         .itemsWithEitherTagOrCategory(q.tagsExclude, q.tagCategoryExcl)
-        .map(subsel => i.id.notIn(subsel))
+        .map(subsel => i.id.notIn(subsel)) &&?
+      findCustomFieldValuesForColl(coll, q.customValues)
+        .map(itemIds => i.id.in(itemIds))
+
+  def queryCondFromExpr(today: LocalDate, coll: Ident, q: ItemQuery): Condition = {
+    val tables = Tables(i, org, pers0, pers1, equip, f, a, m, AttachCountTable("cta"))
+    ItemQueryGenerator.fromExpr(today, tables, coll)(q.expr)
+  }
+
+  def queryCondition(today: LocalDate, coll: Ident, cond: Query.QueryCond): Condition =
+    cond match {
+      case fm: Query.QueryForm =>
+        queryCondFromForm(coll, fm)
+      case expr: Query.QueryExpr =>
+        queryCondFromExpr(today, coll, expr.q)
+    }
 
   def findItems(
       q: Query,
+      today: LocalDate,
       maxNoteLen: Int,
       batch: Batch
   ): Stream[ConnectionIO, ListItem] = {
-    val sql = findItemsBase(q, maxNoteLen)
-      .changeWhere(c => c && queryCondition(q))
+    val sql = findItemsBase(q.fix, maxNoteLen)
+      .changeWhere(c => c && queryCondition(today, q.fix.account.collective, q.cond))
       .limit(batch)
       .build
     logger.trace(s"List $batch items: $sql")
     sql.query[ListItem].stream
   }
 
-  def searchStats(q: Query): ConnectionIO[SearchSummary] =
+  def searchStats(today: LocalDate)(q: Query): ConnectionIO[SearchSummary] =
     for {
-      count   <- searchCountSummary(q)
-      tags    <- searchTagSummary(q)
-      fields  <- searchFieldSummary(q)
-      folders <- searchFolderSummary(q)
+      count   <- searchCountSummary(today)(q)
+      tags    <- searchTagSummary(today)(q)
+      fields  <- searchFieldSummary(today)(q)
+      folders <- searchFolderSummary(today)(q)
     } yield SearchSummary(count, tags, fields, folders)
 
-  def searchTagSummary(q: Query): ConnectionIO[List[TagCount]] = {
+  def searchTagSummary(today: LocalDate)(q: Query): ConnectionIO[List[TagCount]] = {
     val tagFrom =
       from(ti)
         .innerJoin(tag, tag.tid === ti.tagId)
         .innerJoin(i, i.id === ti.itemId)
 
     val tagCloud =
-      findItemsBase(q, 0).unwrap
+      findItemsBase(q.fix, 0).unwrap
         .withSelect(select(tag.all).append(count(i.id).as("num")))
         .changeFrom(_.prepend(tagFrom))
-        .changeWhere(c => c && queryCondition(q))
+        .changeWhere(c => c && queryCondition(today, q.fix.account.collective, q.cond))
         .groupBy(tag.tid)
         .build
         .query[TagCount]
@@ -264,40 +276,40 @@ object QItem {
     // are not included they are fetched separately
     for {
       existing <- tagCloud
-      other    <- RTag.findOthers(q.account.collective, existing.map(_.tag.tagId))
+      other    <- RTag.findOthers(q.fix.account.collective, existing.map(_.tag.tagId))
     } yield existing ++ other.map(TagCount(_, 0))
   }
 
-  def searchCountSummary(q: Query): ConnectionIO[Int] =
-    findItemsBase(q, 0).unwrap
+  def searchCountSummary(today: LocalDate)(q: Query): ConnectionIO[Int] =
+    findItemsBase(q.fix, 0).unwrap
       .withSelect(Nel.of(count(i.id).as("num")))
-      .changeWhere(c => c && queryCondition(q))
+      .changeWhere(c => c && queryCondition(today, q.fix.account.collective, q.cond))
       .build
       .query[Int]
       .unique
 
-  def searchFolderSummary(q: Query): ConnectionIO[List[FolderCount]] = {
+  def searchFolderSummary(today: LocalDate)(q: Query): ConnectionIO[List[FolderCount]] = {
     val fu = RUser.as("fu")
-    findItemsBase(q, 0).unwrap
+    findItemsBase(q.fix, 0).unwrap
       .withSelect(select(f.id, f.name, f.owner, fu.login).append(count(i.id).as("num")))
       .changeFrom(_.innerJoin(fu, fu.uid === f.owner))
-      .changeWhere(c => c && queryCondition(q))
+      .changeWhere(c => c && queryCondition(today, q.fix.account.collective, q.cond))
       .groupBy(f.id, f.name, f.owner, fu.login)
       .build
       .query[FolderCount]
       .to[List]
   }
 
-  def searchFieldSummary(q: Query): ConnectionIO[List[FieldStats]] = {
+  def searchFieldSummary(today: LocalDate)(q: Query): ConnectionIO[List[FieldStats]] = {
     val fieldJoin =
       from(cv)
         .innerJoin(cf, cf.id === cv.field)
         .innerJoin(i, i.id === cv.itemId)
 
     val base =
-      findItemsBase(q, 0).unwrap
+      findItemsBase(q.fix, 0).unwrap
         .changeFrom(_.prepend(fieldJoin))
-        .changeWhere(c => c && queryCondition(q))
+        .changeWhere(c => c && queryCondition(today, q.fix.account.collective, q.cond))
         .groupBy(GroupBy(cf.all))
 
     val basicFields = Nel.of(
@@ -374,7 +386,7 @@ object QItem {
           )
         )
 
-      val from = findItemsBase(q, maxNoteLen)
+      val from = findItemsBase(q.fix, maxNoteLen)
         .appendCte(cte)
         .appendSelect(Tids.weight.s)
         .changeFrom(_.innerJoin(Tids, Tids.itemId === i.id))
@@ -490,6 +502,16 @@ object QItem {
       collective: Ident,
       excludeFileMeta: Set[Ident]
   ): ConnectionIO[Vector[RItem]] = {
+    val qq = findByChecksumQuery(checksum, collective, excludeFileMeta).build
+    logger.debug(s"FindByChecksum: $qq")
+    qq.query[RItem].to[Vector]
+  }
+
+  def findByChecksumQuery(
+      checksum: String,
+      collective: Ident,
+      excludeFileMeta: Set[Ident]
+  ): Select = {
     val m1  = RFileMeta.as("m1")
     val m2  = RFileMeta.as("m2")
     val m3  = RFileMeta.as("m3")
@@ -498,26 +520,23 @@ object QItem {
     val s   = RAttachmentSource.as("s")
     val r   = RAttachmentArchive.as("r")
     val fms = Nel.of(m1, m2, m3)
-    val qq =
-      Select(
-        select(i.all),
-        from(i)
-          .innerJoin(a, a.itemId === i.id)
-          .innerJoin(s, s.id === a.id)
-          .innerJoin(m1, m1.id === a.fileId)
-          .innerJoin(m2, m2.id === s.fileId)
-          .leftJoin(r, r.id === a.id)
-          .leftJoin(m3, m3.id === r.fileId),
-        where(
-          i.cid === collective &&
-            Condition.Or(fms.map(m => m.checksum === checksum)) &&?
-            Nel
-              .fromList(excludeFileMeta.toList)
-              .map(excl => Condition.And(fms.map(m => m.id.isNull || m.id.notIn(excl))))
-        )
-      ).distinct.build
-    logger.debug(s"FindByChecksum: $qq")
-    qq.query[RItem].to[Vector]
+    Select(
+      select(i.all),
+      from(i)
+        .innerJoin(a, a.itemId === i.id)
+        .innerJoin(s, s.id === a.id)
+        .innerJoin(m1, m1.id === a.fileId)
+        .innerJoin(m2, m2.id === s.fileId)
+        .leftJoin(r, r.id === a.id)
+        .leftJoin(m3, m3.id === r.fileId),
+      where(
+        i.cid === collective &&
+          Condition.Or(fms.map(m => m.checksum === checksum)) &&?
+          Nel
+            .fromList(excludeFileMeta.toList)
+            .map(excl => Condition.And(fms.map(m => m.id.isNull || m.id.notIn(excl))))
+      )
+    ).distinct
   }
 
   final case class NameAndNotes(
diff --git a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/queries/Query.scala b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/queries/Query.scala
index 0d68bdef..6be04a1e 100644
--- a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/queries/Query.scala
+++ b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/queries/Query.scala
@@ -1,57 +1,104 @@
 package docspell.store.queries
 
 import docspell.common._
+import docspell.query.ItemQuery
+import docspell.store.qb.Column
 import docspell.store.records.RItem
 
-case class Query(
-    account: AccountId,
-    name: Option[String],
-    states: Seq[ItemState],
-    direction: Option[Direction],
-    corrPerson: Option[Ident],
-    corrOrg: Option[Ident],
-    concPerson: Option[Ident],
-    concEquip: Option[Ident],
-    folder: Option[Ident],
-    tagsInclude: List[Ident],
-    tagsExclude: List[Ident],
-    tagCategoryIncl: List[String],
-    tagCategoryExcl: List[String],
-    dateFrom: Option[Timestamp],
-    dateTo: Option[Timestamp],
-    dueDateFrom: Option[Timestamp],
-    dueDateTo: Option[Timestamp],
-    allNames: Option[String],
-    itemIds: Option[Set[Ident]],
-    customValues: Seq[CustomValue],
-    source: Option[String],
-    orderAsc: Option[RItem.Table => docspell.store.qb.Column[_]]
-)
+case class Query(fix: Query.Fix, cond: Query.QueryCond) {
+  def withCond(f: Query.QueryCond => Query.QueryCond): Query =
+    copy(cond = f(cond))
+
+  def withOrder(orderAsc: RItem.Table => Column[_]): Query =
+    withFix(_.copy(orderAsc = Some(orderAsc)))
+
+  def withFix(f: Query.Fix => Query.Fix): Query =
+    copy(fix = f(fix))
+
+  def isEmpty: Boolean =
+    fix.isEmpty && cond.isEmpty
+
+  def nonEmpty: Boolean =
+    !isEmpty
+}
 
 object Query {
+
+  case class Fix(
+      account: AccountId,
+      itemIds: Option[Set[Ident]],
+      orderAsc: Option[RItem.Table => Column[_]]
+  ) {
+
+    def isEmpty: Boolean =
+      itemIds.isEmpty
+  }
+
+  sealed trait QueryCond {
+    def isEmpty: Boolean
+
+    def nonEmpty: Boolean =
+      !isEmpty
+  }
+
+  case class QueryForm(
+      name: Option[String],
+      states: Seq[ItemState],
+      direction: Option[Direction],
+      corrPerson: Option[Ident],
+      corrOrg: Option[Ident],
+      concPerson: Option[Ident],
+      concEquip: Option[Ident],
+      folder: Option[Ident],
+      tagsInclude: List[Ident],
+      tagsExclude: List[Ident],
+      tagCategoryIncl: List[String],
+      tagCategoryExcl: List[String],
+      dateFrom: Option[Timestamp],
+      dateTo: Option[Timestamp],
+      dueDateFrom: Option[Timestamp],
+      dueDateTo: Option[Timestamp],
+      allNames: Option[String],
+      itemIds: Option[Set[Ident]],
+      customValues: Seq[CustomValue],
+      source: Option[String]
+  ) extends QueryCond {
+
+    def isEmpty: Boolean =
+      this == QueryForm.empty
+  }
+  object QueryForm {
+    val empty =
+      QueryForm(
+        None,
+        Seq.empty,
+        None,
+        None,
+        None,
+        None,
+        None,
+        None,
+        Nil,
+        Nil,
+        Nil,
+        Nil,
+        None,
+        None,
+        None,
+        None,
+        None,
+        None,
+        Seq.empty,
+        None
+      )
+  }
+
+  case class QueryExpr(q: ItemQuery) extends QueryCond {
+    def isEmpty: Boolean =
+      q.expr == ItemQuery.all.expr
+  }
+
   def empty(account: AccountId): Query =
-    Query(
-      account,
-      None,
-      Seq.empty,
-      None,
-      None,
-      None,
-      None,
-      None,
-      None,
-      Nil,
-      Nil,
-      Nil,
-      Nil,
-      None,
-      None,
-      None,
-      None,
-      None,
-      None,
-      Seq.empty,
-      None,
-      None
-    )
+    Query(Fix(account, None, None), QueryForm.empty)
+
 }
diff --git a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/queries/QueryWildcard.scala b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/queries/QueryWildcard.scala
index 5ab70d20..16a2f1bb 100644
--- a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/queries/QueryWildcard.scala
+++ b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/queries/QueryWildcard.scala
@@ -19,4 +19,11 @@ object QueryWildcard {
     else res
   }
 
+  def atEnd(s: String): String =
+    if (s.endsWith("*")) s"${s.dropRight(1)}%"
+    else s
+
+  def addAtEnd(s: String): String =
+    if (s.endsWith("*")) atEnd(s)
+    else s"${s}%"
 }
diff --git a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/records/TagItemName.scala b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/records/TagItemName.scala
index 71d261bf..012dad4c 100644
--- a/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/records/TagItemName.scala
+++ b/modules/store/src/main/scala/docspell/store/records/TagItemName.scala
@@ -42,9 +42,27 @@ object TagItemName {
   def itemsWithEitherTag(tags: NonEmptyList[Ident]): Select =
     Select(ti.itemId.s, from(ti), orTags(tags)).distinct
 
+  def itemsWithEitherTagNameOrIds(tags: NonEmptyList[String]): Select =
+    Select(
+      ti.itemId.s,
+      from(ti).innerJoin(t, t.tid === ti.tagId),
+      ti.tagId.cast[String].in(tags) || t.name.inLower(tags.map(_.toLowerCase))
+    ).distinct
+
   def itemsWithAllTags(tags: NonEmptyList[Ident]): Select =
     intersect(tags.map(tid => Select(ti.itemId.s, from(ti), ti.tagId === tid).distinct))
 
+  def itemsWithAllTagNameOrIds(tags: NonEmptyList[String]): Select =
+    intersect(
+      tags.map(tag =>
+        Select(
+          ti.itemId.s,
+          from(ti).innerJoin(t, t.tid === ti.tagId),
+          ti.tagId ==== tag || t.name.lowerEq(tag.toLowerCase)
+        ).distinct
+      )
+    )
+
   def itemsWithEitherTagOrCategory(
       tags: NonEmptyList[Ident],
       cats: NonEmptyList[String]
diff --git a/modules/store/src/test/scala/docspell/store/StoreFixture.scala b/modules/store/src/test/scala/docspell/store/StoreFixture.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..839eb242
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/store/src/test/scala/docspell/store/StoreFixture.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package docspell.store
+
+import cats.effect._
+import docspell.common.LenientUri
+import docspell.store.impl.StoreImpl
+import doobie._
+import org.h2.jdbcx.JdbcConnectionPool
+
+import scala.concurrent.ExecutionContext
+
+trait StoreFixture {
+  def withStore(db: String)(code: Store[IO] => IO[Unit]): Unit = {
+    //StoreFixture.store(StoreFixture.memoryDB(db)).use(code).unsafeRunSync()
+    val jdbc  = StoreFixture.memoryDB(db)
+    val xa    = StoreFixture.globalXA(jdbc)
+    val store = new StoreImpl[IO](jdbc, xa)
+    store.migrate.unsafeRunSync()
+    code(store).unsafeRunSync()
+  }
+
+  def withXA(db: String)(code: Transactor[IO] => IO[Unit]): Unit =
+    StoreFixture.makeXA(StoreFixture.memoryDB(db)).use(code).unsafeRunSync()
+
+}
+
+object StoreFixture {
+  implicit def contextShift: ContextShift[IO] =
+    IO.contextShift(ExecutionContext.global)
+
+  def memoryDB(dbname: String): JdbcConfig =
+    JdbcConfig(
+      LenientUri.unsafe(
+        s"jdbc:h2:mem:$dbname;MODE=PostgreSQL;DATABASE_TO_LOWER=TRUE;DB_CLOSE_DELAY=-1"
+      ),
+      "sa",
+      ""
+    )
+
+  def globalXA(jdbc: JdbcConfig): Transactor[IO] =
+    Transactor.fromDriverManager(
+      "org.h2.Driver",
+      jdbc.url.asString,
+      jdbc.user,
+      jdbc.password
+    )
+
+  def makeXA(jdbc: JdbcConfig): Resource[IO, Transactor[IO]] = {
+    def jdbcConnPool =
+      JdbcConnectionPool.create(jdbc.url.asString, jdbc.user, jdbc.password)
+
+    val makePool = Resource.make(IO(jdbcConnPool))(cp => IO(cp.dispose()))
+
+    for {
+      ec      <- ExecutionContexts.cachedThreadPool[IO]
+      blocker <- Blocker[IO]
+      pool    <- makePool
+      xa = Transactor.fromDataSource[IO].apply(pool, ec, blocker)
+    } yield xa
+  }
+
+  def store(jdbc: JdbcConfig): Resource[IO, Store[IO]] =
+    for {
+      xa <- makeXA(jdbc)
+      store = new StoreImpl[IO](jdbc, xa)
+      _ <- Resource.liftF(store.migrate)
+    } yield store
+}
diff --git a/modules/store/src/test/scala/docspell/store/generator/ItemQueryGeneratorTest.scala b/modules/store/src/test/scala/docspell/store/generator/ItemQueryGeneratorTest.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ebc8fd33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/store/src/test/scala/docspell/store/generator/ItemQueryGeneratorTest.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+package docspell.store.generator
+
+import java.time.LocalDate
+
+import docspell.store.records._
+import minitest._
+import docspell.common._
+import docspell.query.ItemQueryParser
+import docspell.store.queries.AttachCountTable
+import docspell.store.qb.DSL._
+import docspell.store.qb.generator.{ItemQueryGenerator, Tables}
+
+object ItemQueryGeneratorTest extends SimpleTestSuite {
+  import docspell.store.impl.DoobieMeta._
+
+  val tables = Tables(
+    RItem.as("i"),
+    ROrganization.as("co"),
+    RPerson.as("cp"),
+    RPerson.as("np"),
+    REquipment.as("ne"),
+    RFolder.as("f"),
+    RAttachment.as("a"),
+    RAttachmentMeta.as("m"),
+    AttachCountTable("cta")
+  )
+  val now: LocalDate = LocalDate.of(2021, 2, 25)
+
+  def mkTimestamp(year: Int, month: Int, day: Int): Timestamp =
+    Timestamp.atUtc(LocalDate.of(year, month, day).atStartOfDay())
+
+  test("basic test") {
+    val q = ItemQueryParser
+      .parseUnsafe("(& name:hello date>=2020-02-01 (| source:expense* folder=test ))")
+    val cond = ItemQueryGenerator(now, tables, Ident.unsafe("coll"))(q)
+    val expect =
+      tables.item.name.like("hello") &&
+        coalesce(tables.item.itemDate.s, tables.item.created.s) >=
+        mkTimestamp(2020, 2, 1) &&
+        (tables.item.source.like("expense%") || tables.folder.name === "test")
+
+    assertEquals(cond, expect)
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Api.elm b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Api.elm
index efc1d551..30202fd6 100644
--- a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Api.elm
+++ b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Api.elm
@@ -156,10 +156,10 @@ import Api.Model.ImapSettings exposing (ImapSettings)
 import Api.Model.ImapSettingsList exposing (ImapSettingsList)
 import Api.Model.InviteResult exposing (InviteResult)
 import Api.Model.ItemDetail exposing (ItemDetail)
-import Api.Model.ItemFtsSearch exposing (ItemFtsSearch)
 import Api.Model.ItemInsights exposing (ItemInsights)
 import Api.Model.ItemLightList exposing (ItemLightList)
 import Api.Model.ItemProposals exposing (ItemProposals)
+import Api.Model.ItemQuery exposing (ItemQuery)
 import Api.Model.ItemSearch exposing (ItemSearch)
 import Api.Model.ItemUploadMeta exposing (ItemUploadMeta)
 import Api.Model.ItemsAndDate exposing (ItemsAndDate)
@@ -1684,34 +1684,34 @@ moveAttachmentBefore flags itemId data receive =
 
 itemIndexSearch :
     Flags
-    -> ItemFtsSearch
+    -> ItemQuery
     -> (Result Http.Error ItemLightList -> msg)
     -> Cmd msg
 itemIndexSearch flags query receive =
     Http2.authPost
         { url = flags.config.baseUrl ++ "/api/v1/sec/item/searchIndex"
         , account = getAccount flags
-        , body = Http.jsonBody (Api.Model.ItemFtsSearch.encode query)
+        , body = Http.jsonBody (Api.Model.ItemQuery.encode query)
         , expect = Http.expectJson receive Api.Model.ItemLightList.decoder
         }
 
 
-itemSearch : Flags -> ItemSearch -> (Result Http.Error ItemLightList -> msg) -> Cmd msg
+itemSearch : Flags -> ItemQuery -> (Result Http.Error ItemLightList -> msg) -> Cmd msg
 itemSearch flags search receive =
     Http2.authPost
-        { url = flags.config.baseUrl ++ "/api/v1/sec/item/searchWithTags"
+        { url = flags.config.baseUrl ++ "/api/v1/sec/item/search"
         , account = getAccount flags
-        , body = Http.jsonBody (Api.Model.ItemSearch.encode search)
+        , body = Http.jsonBody (Api.Model.ItemQuery.encode search)
         , expect = Http.expectJson receive Api.Model.ItemLightList.decoder
         }
 
 
-itemSearchStats : Flags -> ItemSearch -> (Result Http.Error SearchStats -> msg) -> Cmd msg
+itemSearchStats : Flags -> ItemQuery -> (Result Http.Error SearchStats -> msg) -> Cmd msg
 itemSearchStats flags search receive =
     Http2.authPost
         { url = flags.config.baseUrl ++ "/api/v1/sec/item/searchStats"
         , account = getAccount flags
-        , body = Http.jsonBody (Api.Model.ItemSearch.encode search)
+        , body = Http.jsonBody (Api.Model.ItemQuery.encode search)
         , expect = Http.expectJson receive Api.Model.SearchStats.decoder
         }
 
diff --git a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Comp/PowerSearchInput.elm b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Comp/PowerSearchInput.elm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2a868fa0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Comp/PowerSearchInput.elm
@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+module Comp.PowerSearchInput exposing
+    ( Action(..)
+    , Model
+    , Msg
+    , init
+    , update
+    , viewInput
+    , viewResult
+    )
+
+import Data.DropdownStyle
+import Data.QueryParseResult exposing (QueryParseResult)
+import Html exposing (..)
+import Html.Attributes exposing (..)
+import Html.Events exposing (onInput)
+import Ports
+import Styles as S
+import Throttle exposing (Throttle)
+import Time
+import Util.Html exposing (KeyCode(..))
+import Util.Maybe
+
+
+type alias Model =
+    { input : Maybe String
+    , result : QueryParseResult
+    , parseThrottle : Throttle Msg
+    }
+
+
+init : Model
+init =
+    { input = Nothing
+    , result = Data.QueryParseResult.success
+    , parseThrottle = Throttle.create 1
+    }
+
+
+type Msg
+    = SetSearch String
+    | KeyUpMsg (Maybe KeyCode)
+    | ParseResultMsg QueryParseResult
+    | UpdateThrottle
+
+
+type Action
+    = NoAction
+    | SubmitSearch
+
+
+type alias Result =
+    { model : Model
+    , cmd : Cmd Msg
+    , action : Action
+    , subs : Sub Msg
+    }
+
+
+
+--- Update
+
+
+update : Msg -> Model -> Result
+update msg model =
+    case msg of
+        SetSearch str ->
+            let
+                parseCmd =
+                    Ports.checkSearchQueryString str
+
+                parseSub =
+                    Ports.receiveCheckQueryResult ParseResultMsg
+
+                ( newThrottle, cmd ) =
+                    Throttle.try parseCmd model.parseThrottle
+
+                model_ =
+                    { model
+                        | input = Util.Maybe.fromString str
+                        , parseThrottle = newThrottle
+                        , result =
+                            if str == "" then
+                                Data.QueryParseResult.success
+
+                            else
+                                model.result
+                    }
+            in
+            { model = model_
+            , cmd = cmd
+            , action = NoAction
+            , subs = Sub.batch [ throttleUpdate model_, parseSub ]
+            }
+
+        KeyUpMsg (Just Enter) ->
+            Result model Cmd.none SubmitSearch Sub.none
+
+        KeyUpMsg _ ->
+            let
+                parseSub =
+                    Ports.receiveCheckQueryResult ParseResultMsg
+            in
+            Result model Cmd.none NoAction (Sub.batch [ throttleUpdate model, parseSub ])
+
+        ParseResultMsg lm ->
+            Result { model | result = lm } Cmd.none NoAction Sub.none
+
+        UpdateThrottle ->
+            let
+                parseSub =
+                    Ports.receiveCheckQueryResult ParseResultMsg
+
+                ( newThrottle, cmd ) =
+                    Throttle.update model.parseThrottle
+
+                model_ =
+                    { model | parseThrottle = newThrottle }
+            in
+            { model = model_
+            , cmd = cmd
+            , action = NoAction
+            , subs = Sub.batch [ throttleUpdate model_, parseSub ]
+            }
+
+
+throttleUpdate : Model -> Sub Msg
+throttleUpdate model =
+    Throttle.ifNeeded
+        (Time.every 100 (\_ -> UpdateThrottle))
+        model.parseThrottle
+
+
+
+--- View
+
+
+viewInput : List (Attribute Msg) -> Model -> Html Msg
+viewInput attrs model =
+    input
+        (attrs
+            ++ [ type_ "text"
+               , placeholder "Search query …"
+               , onInput SetSearch
+               , Util.Html.onKeyUpCode KeyUpMsg
+               , Maybe.map value model.input
+                    |> Maybe.withDefault (value "")
+               , class S.textInput
+               , class "text-sm "
+               ]
+        )
+        []
+
+
+viewResult : List ( String, Bool ) -> Model -> Html Msg
+viewResult classes model =
+    div
+        [ classList [ ( "hidden", model.result.success ) ]
+        , classList classes
+        , class resultStyle
+        ]
+        [ p [ class "font-mono text-sm" ]
+            [ text model.result.input
+            ]
+        , pre [ class "font-mono text-sm" ]
+            [ List.repeat model.result.index " "
+                |> String.join ""
+                |> text
+            , text "^"
+            ]
+        , ul []
+            (List.map (\line -> li [] [ text line ]) model.result.messages)
+        ]
+
+
+resultStyle : String
+resultStyle =
+    S.warnMessageColors ++ " absolute left-0 max-h-44 w-full overflow-y-auto z-50 shadow-lg transition duration-200 top-9 border-0 border-b border-l border-r rounded-b px-2 py-2"
diff --git a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Comp/SearchMenu.elm b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Comp/SearchMenu.elm
index 5a88fee6..669d71b7 100644
--- a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Comp/SearchMenu.elm
+++ b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Comp/SearchMenu.elm
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module Comp.SearchMenu exposing
     , Msg(..)
     , NextState
     , TextSearchModel
-    , getItemSearch
+    , getItemQuery
     , init
     , isFulltextSearch
     , isNamesSearch
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import Api.Model.EquipmentList exposing (EquipmentList)
 import Api.Model.FolderStats exposing (FolderStats)
 import Api.Model.IdName exposing (IdName)
 import Api.Model.ItemFieldValue exposing (ItemFieldValue)
-import Api.Model.ItemSearch exposing (ItemSearch)
+import Api.Model.ItemQuery exposing (ItemQuery)
 import Api.Model.PersonList exposing (PersonList)
 import Api.Model.ReferenceList exposing (ReferenceList)
 import Api.Model.SearchStats exposing (SearchStats)
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import Data.DropdownStyle as DS
 import Data.Fields
 import Data.Flags exposing (Flags)
 import Data.Icons as Icons
+import Data.ItemQuery as Q exposing (ItemQuery)
 import Data.PersonUse
 import Data.UiSettings exposing (UiSettings)
 import DatePicker exposing (DatePicker)
@@ -234,11 +235,21 @@ getDirection model =
             Nothing
 
 
-getItemSearch : Model -> ItemSearch
-getItemSearch model =
+getItemQuery : Model -> Maybe ItemQuery
+getItemQuery model =
     let
-        e =
-            Api.Model.ItemSearch.empty
+        when flag body =
+            if flag then
+                Just body
+
+            else
+                Nothing
+
+        whenNot flag body =
+            when (not flag) body
+
+        whenNotEmpty list f =
+            whenNot (List.isEmpty list) (f list)
 
         amendWildcards s =
             if String.startsWith "\"" s && String.endsWith "\"" s then
@@ -254,35 +265,52 @@ getItemSearch model =
         textSearch =
             textSearchValue model.textSearchModel
     in
-    { e
-        | tagsInclude = model.tagSelection.includeTags |> List.map .tag |> List.map .id
-        , tagsExclude = model.tagSelection.excludeTags |> List.map .tag |> List.map .id
-        , corrPerson = Comp.Dropdown.getSelected model.corrPersonModel |> List.map .id |> List.head
-        , corrOrg = Comp.Dropdown.getSelected model.orgModel |> List.map .id |> List.head
-        , concPerson = Comp.Dropdown.getSelected model.concPersonModel |> List.map .id |> List.head
-        , concEquip = Comp.Dropdown.getSelected model.concEquipmentModel |> List.map .id |> List.head
-        , folder = model.selectedFolder |> Maybe.map .id
-        , direction =
-            Comp.Dropdown.getSelected model.directionModel
-                |> List.head
-                |> Maybe.map Data.Direction.toString
-        , inbox = model.inboxCheckbox
-        , dateFrom = model.fromDate
-        , dateUntil = model.untilDate
-        , dueDateFrom = model.fromDueDate
-        , dueDateUntil = model.untilDueDate
-        , name =
-            model.nameModel
-                |> Maybe.map amendWildcards
-        , allNames =
-            textSearch.nameSearch
-                |> Maybe.map amendWildcards
-        , fullText = textSearch.fullText
-        , tagCategoriesInclude = model.tagSelection.includeCats |> List.map .name
-        , tagCategoriesExclude = model.tagSelection.excludeCats |> List.map .name
-        , customValues = Data.CustomFieldChange.toFieldValues model.customValues
-        , source = model.sourceModel
-    }
+    Q.and
+        [ when model.inboxCheckbox (Q.Inbox True)
+        , whenNotEmpty (model.tagSelection.includeTags |> List.map (.tag >> .id))
+            (Q.TagIds Q.AllMatch)
+        , whenNotEmpty (model.tagSelection.excludeTags |> List.map (.tag >> .id))
+            (\ids -> Q.Not (Q.TagIds Q.AnyMatch ids))
+        , whenNotEmpty (model.tagSelection.includeCats |> List.map .name)
+            (Q.CatNames Q.AllMatch)
+        , whenNotEmpty (model.tagSelection.excludeCats |> List.map .name)
+            (\ids -> Q.Not <| Q.CatNames Q.AnyMatch ids)
+        , model.selectedFolder |> Maybe.map .id |> Maybe.map (Q.FolderId Q.Eq)
+        , Comp.Dropdown.getSelected model.orgModel
+            |> List.map .id
+            |> List.head
+            |> Maybe.map (Q.CorrOrgId Q.Eq)
+        , Comp.Dropdown.getSelected model.corrPersonModel
+            |> List.map .id
+            |> List.head
+            |> Maybe.map (Q.CorrPersId Q.Eq)
+        , Comp.Dropdown.getSelected model.concPersonModel
+            |> List.map .id
+            |> List.head
+            |> Maybe.map (Q.ConcPersId Q.Eq)
+        , Comp.Dropdown.getSelected model.concEquipmentModel
+            |> List.map .id
+            |> List.head
+            |> Maybe.map (Q.ConcEquipId Q.Eq)
+        , whenNotEmpty (Data.CustomFieldChange.toFieldValues model.customValues)
+            (List.map (Q.CustomFieldId Q.Like) >> Q.And)
+        , Maybe.map (Q.DateMs Q.Gte) model.fromDate
+        , Maybe.map (Q.DateMs Q.Lte) model.untilDate
+        , Maybe.map (Q.DueDateMs Q.Gte) model.fromDueDate
+        , Maybe.map (Q.DueDateMs Q.Lte) model.untilDueDate
+        , Maybe.map (Q.Source Q.Like) model.sourceModel
+        , model.nameModel
+            |> Maybe.map amendWildcards
+            |> Maybe.map (Q.ItemName Q.Like)
+        , textSearch.nameSearch
+            |> Maybe.map amendWildcards
+            |> Maybe.map Q.AllNames
+        , Comp.Dropdown.getSelected model.directionModel
+            |> List.head
+            |> Maybe.map Q.Dir
+        , textSearch.fullText
+            |> Maybe.map Q.Contents
+        ]
 
 
 resetModel : Model -> Model
@@ -437,7 +465,7 @@ updateDrop ddm flags settings msg model =
             { model = mdp
             , cmd =
                 Cmd.batch
-                    [ Api.itemSearchStats flags Api.Model.ItemSearch.empty GetAllTagsResp
+                    [ Api.itemSearchStats flags Api.Model.ItemQuery.empty GetAllTagsResp
                     , Api.getOrgLight flags GetOrgResp
                     , Api.getEquipments flags "" GetEquipResp
                     , Api.getPersons flags "" GetPersonResp
@@ -450,7 +478,7 @@ updateDrop ddm flags settings msg model =
 
         ResetForm ->
             { model = resetModel model
-            , cmd = Api.itemSearchStats flags Api.Model.ItemSearch.empty GetAllTagsResp
+            , cmd = Api.itemSearchStats flags Api.Model.ItemQuery.empty GetAllTagsResp
             , stateChange = True
             , dragDrop = DD.DragDropData ddm Nothing
             }
diff --git a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Comp/UiSettingsForm.elm b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Comp/UiSettingsForm.elm
index 9594c7e5..14cbc18c 100644
--- a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Comp/UiSettingsForm.elm
+++ b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Comp/UiSettingsForm.elm
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ type alias Model =
     , showPatternHelp : Bool
     , searchStatsVisible : Bool
     , sideMenuVisible : Bool
+    , powerSearchEnabled : Bool
     , openTabs : Set String
     }
 
@@ -151,6 +152,7 @@ init flags settings =
       , showPatternHelp = False
       , searchStatsVisible = settings.searchStatsVisible
       , sideMenuVisible = settings.sideMenuVisible
+      , powerSearchEnabled = settings.powerSearchEnabled
       , openTabs = Set.empty
       }
     , Api.getTags flags "" GetTagsResp
@@ -178,6 +180,7 @@ type Msg
     | ToggleSearchStatsVisible
     | ToggleAkkordionTab String
     | ToggleSideMenuVisible
+    | TogglePowerSearch
 
 
 
@@ -460,6 +463,15 @@ update sett msg model =
             , Just { sett | sideMenuVisible = next }
             )
 
+        TogglePowerSearch ->
+            let
+                next =
+                    not model.powerSearchEnabled
+            in
+            ( { model | powerSearchEnabled = next }
+            , Just { sett | powerSearchEnabled = next }
+            )
+
 
 
 --- View
@@ -763,6 +775,15 @@ settingFormTabs flags _ model =
                         , label = "Show basic search statistics by default"
                         }
                 ]
+            , div [ class "mb-4" ]
+                [ MB.viewItem <|
+                    MB.Checkbox
+                        { id = "uisetting-powersearch-enabled"
+                        , value = model.powerSearchEnabled
+                        , tagger = \_ -> TogglePowerSearch
+                        , label = "Enable power-user search bar"
+                        }
+                ]
             ]
       }
     , { title = "Item Cards"
diff --git a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/CustomFieldChange.elm b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/CustomFieldChange.elm
index 04f69b1c..2ee75c02 100644
--- a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/CustomFieldChange.elm
+++ b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/CustomFieldChange.elm
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ module Data.CustomFieldChange exposing
 
 import Api.Model.CustomField exposing (CustomField)
 import Api.Model.CustomFieldValue exposing (CustomFieldValue)
-import Api.Model.ItemFieldValue exposing (ItemFieldValue)
 import Dict exposing (Dict)
 
 
diff --git a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/ItemQuery.elm b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/ItemQuery.elm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f301abe6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/ItemQuery.elm
@@ -0,0 +1,210 @@
+module Data.ItemQuery exposing
+    ( AttrMatch(..)
+    , ItemQuery(..)
+    , TagMatch(..)
+    , and
+    , render
+    , renderMaybe
+    , request
+    )
+
+{-| Models the query language for the purpose of generating a query string.
+-}
+
+import Api.Model.CustomFieldValue exposing (CustomFieldValue)
+import Api.Model.ItemQuery as RQ
+import Data.Direction exposing (Direction)
+
+
+type TagMatch
+    = AnyMatch
+    | AllMatch
+
+
+type AttrMatch
+    = Eq
+    | Neq
+    | Lt
+    | Gt
+    | Lte
+    | Gte
+    | Like
+
+
+type ItemQuery
+    = Inbox Bool
+    | And (List ItemQuery)
+    | Or (List ItemQuery)
+    | Not ItemQuery
+    | TagIds TagMatch (List String)
+    | CatNames TagMatch (List String)
+    | FolderId AttrMatch String
+    | CorrOrgId AttrMatch String
+    | CorrPersId AttrMatch String
+    | ConcPersId AttrMatch String
+    | ConcEquipId AttrMatch String
+    | CustomField AttrMatch CustomFieldValue
+    | CustomFieldId AttrMatch CustomFieldValue
+    | DateMs AttrMatch Int
+    | DueDateMs AttrMatch Int
+    | Source AttrMatch String
+    | Dir Direction
+    | ItemIdIn (List String)
+    | ItemName AttrMatch String
+    | AllNames String
+    | Contents String
+    | Fragment String
+
+
+and : List (Maybe ItemQuery) -> Maybe ItemQuery
+and list =
+    case List.filterMap identity list of
+        [] ->
+            Nothing
+
+        es ->
+            Just (And es)
+
+
+request : Maybe ItemQuery -> RQ.ItemQuery
+request mq =
+    { offset = Nothing
+    , limit = Nothing
+    , withDetails = Just True
+    , query = renderMaybe mq
+    }
+
+
+renderMaybe : Maybe ItemQuery -> String
+renderMaybe mq =
+    Maybe.map render mq
+        |> Maybe.withDefault ""
+
+
+render : ItemQuery -> String
+render q =
+    let
+        boolStr flag =
+            if flag then
+                "yes"
+
+            else
+                "no"
+
+        between left right str =
+            left ++ str ++ right
+
+        surround lr str =
+            between lr lr str
+
+        tagMatchStr tm =
+            case tm of
+                AnyMatch ->
+                    ":"
+
+                AllMatch ->
+                    "="
+
+        quoteStr =
+            String.replace "\"" "\\\""
+                >> surround "\""
+    in
+    case q of
+        And inner ->
+            List.map render inner
+                |> String.join " "
+                |> between "(& " " )"
+
+        Or inner ->
+            List.map render inner
+                |> String.join " "
+                |> between "(| " " )"
+
+        Not inner ->
+            "!" ++ render inner
+
+        Inbox flag ->
+            "inbox:" ++ boolStr flag
+
+        TagIds m ids ->
+            List.map quoteStr ids
+                |> String.join ","
+                |> between ("tag.id" ++ tagMatchStr m) ""
+
+        CatNames m ids ->
+            List.map quoteStr ids
+                |> String.join ","
+                |> between ("cat" ++ tagMatchStr m) ""
+
+        FolderId m id ->
+            "folder.id" ++ attrMatch m ++ quoteStr id
+
+        CorrOrgId m id ->
+            "corr.org.id" ++ attrMatch m ++ quoteStr id
+
+        CorrPersId m id ->
+            "corr.pers.id" ++ attrMatch m ++ quoteStr id
+
+        ConcPersId m id ->
+            "conc.pers.id" ++ attrMatch m ++ quoteStr id
+
+        ConcEquipId m id ->
+            "conc.equip.id" ++ attrMatch m ++ quoteStr id
+
+        CustomField m kv ->
+            "f:" ++ kv.field ++ attrMatch m ++ quoteStr kv.value
+
+        CustomFieldId m kv ->
+            "f.id:" ++ kv.field ++ attrMatch m ++ quoteStr kv.value
+
+        DateMs m ms ->
+            "date" ++ attrMatch m ++ "ms" ++ String.fromInt ms
+
+        DueDateMs m ms ->
+            "due" ++ attrMatch m ++ "ms" ++ String.fromInt ms
+
+        Source m str ->
+            "source" ++ attrMatch m ++ quoteStr str
+
+        Dir dir ->
+            "incoming:" ++ boolStr (dir == Data.Direction.Incoming)
+
+        ItemIdIn ids ->
+            "id~=" ++ String.join "," ids
+
+        ItemName m str ->
+            "name" ++ attrMatch m ++ quoteStr str
+
+        AllNames str ->
+            "$names:" ++ quoteStr str
+
+        Contents str ->
+            "content:" ++ quoteStr str
+
+        Fragment str ->
+            "(& " ++ str ++ " )"
+
+
+attrMatch : AttrMatch -> String
+attrMatch am =
+    case am of
+        Eq ->
+            "="
+
+        Neq ->
+            "!="
+
+        Like ->
+            ":"
+
+        Gt ->
+            ">"
+
+        Gte ->
+            ">="
+
+        Lt ->
+            "<"
+
+        Lte ->
+            "<="
diff --git a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/QueryParseResult.elm b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/QueryParseResult.elm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bb0046ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/QueryParseResult.elm
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+module Data.QueryParseResult exposing (QueryParseResult, success)
+
+
+type alias QueryParseResult =
+    { success : Bool
+    , input : String
+    , index : Int
+    , messages : List String
+    }
+
+
+success : QueryParseResult
+success =
+    QueryParseResult True "" 0 []
diff --git a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/UiSettings.elm b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/UiSettings.elm
index 0153b63c..988eb2d4 100644
--- a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/UiSettings.elm
+++ b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Data/UiSettings.elm
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ type alias StoredUiSettings =
     , cardPreviewFullWidth : Bool
     , uiTheme : Maybe String
     , sideMenuVisible : Bool
+    , powerSearchEnabled : Bool
     }
 
 
@@ -92,6 +93,7 @@ type alias UiSettings =
     , cardPreviewFullWidth : Bool
     , uiTheme : UiTheme
     , sideMenuVisible : Bool
+    , powerSearchEnabled : Bool
     }
 
 
@@ -162,6 +164,7 @@ defaults =
     , cardPreviewFullWidth = False
     , uiTheme = Data.UiTheme.Light
     , sideMenuVisible = True
+    , powerSearchEnabled = False
     }
 
 
@@ -213,6 +216,7 @@ merge given fallback =
         Maybe.andThen Data.UiTheme.fromString given.uiTheme
             |> Maybe.withDefault fallback.uiTheme
     , sideMenuVisible = given.sideMenuVisible
+    , powerSearchEnabled = given.powerSearchEnabled
     }
 
 
@@ -249,6 +253,7 @@ toStoredUiSettings settings =
     , cardPreviewFullWidth = settings.cardPreviewFullWidth
     , uiTheme = Just (Data.UiTheme.toString settings.uiTheme)
     , sideMenuVisible = settings.sideMenuVisible
+    , powerSearchEnabled = settings.powerSearchEnabled
     }
 
 
diff --git a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Page/Home/Data.elm b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Page/Home/Data.elm
index b0bf156c..7e6246cb 100644
--- a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Page/Home/Data.elm
+++ b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Page/Home/Data.elm
@@ -27,10 +27,12 @@ import Comp.ItemCardList
 import Comp.ItemDetail.FormChange exposing (FormChange)
 import Comp.ItemDetail.MultiEditMenu exposing (SaveNameState(..))
 import Comp.LinkTarget exposing (LinkTarget)
+import Comp.PowerSearchInput
 import Comp.SearchMenu
 import Comp.YesNoDimmer
 import Data.Flags exposing (Flags)
 import Data.ItemNav exposing (ItemNav)
+import Data.ItemQuery as Q
 import Data.Items
 import Data.UiSettings exposing (UiSettings)
 import Http
@@ -55,6 +57,7 @@ type alias Model =
     , dragDropData : DD.DragDropData
     , scrollToCard : Maybe String
     , searchStats : SearchStats
+    , powerSearchInput : Comp.PowerSearchInput.Model
     }
 
 
@@ -120,6 +123,7 @@ init flags viewMode =
     , scrollToCard = Nothing
     , viewMode = viewMode
     , searchStats = Api.Model.SearchStats.empty
+    , powerSearchInput = Comp.PowerSearchInput.init
     }
 
 
@@ -193,6 +197,8 @@ type Msg
     | SetLinkTarget LinkTarget
     | SearchStatsResp (Result Http.Error SearchStats)
     | TogglePreviewFullWidth
+    | PowerSearchMsg Comp.PowerSearchInput.Msg
+    | KeyUpPowerSearchbarMsg (Maybe KeyCode)
 
 
 type SearchType
@@ -239,12 +245,16 @@ doSearchDefaultCmd : SearchParam -> Model -> Cmd Msg
 doSearchDefaultCmd param model =
     let
         smask =
-            Comp.SearchMenu.getItemSearch model.searchMenuModel
+            Q.request <|
+                Q.and
+                    [ Comp.SearchMenu.getItemQuery model.searchMenuModel
+                    , Maybe.map Q.Fragment model.powerSearchInput.input
+                    ]
 
         mask =
             { smask
-                | limit = param.pageSize
-                , offset = param.offset
+                | limit = Just param.pageSize
+                , offset = Just param.offset
             }
     in
     if param.offset == 0 then
diff --git a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Page/Home/Update.elm b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Page/Home/Update.elm
index a2cddb7f..9d8efee9 100644
--- a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Page/Home/Update.elm
+++ b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Page/Home/Update.elm
@@ -1,18 +1,18 @@
 module Page.Home.Update exposing (update)
 
 import Api
-import Api.Model.IdList exposing (IdList)
 import Api.Model.ItemLightList exposing (ItemLightList)
-import Api.Model.ItemSearch
 import Browser.Navigation as Nav
 import Comp.FixedDropdown
 import Comp.ItemCardList
 import Comp.ItemDetail.FormChange exposing (FormChange(..))
 import Comp.ItemDetail.MultiEditMenu exposing (SaveNameState(..))
 import Comp.LinkTarget exposing (LinkTarget)
+import Comp.PowerSearchInput
 import Comp.SearchMenu
 import Comp.YesNoDimmer
 import Data.Flags exposing (Flags)
+import Data.ItemQuery as Q
 import Data.ItemSelection
 import Data.Items
 import Data.UiSettings exposing (UiSettings)
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ update mId key flags settings msg model =
         ResetSearch ->
             let
                 nm =
-                    { model | searchOffset = 0 }
+                    { model | searchOffset = 0, powerSearchInput = Comp.PowerSearchInput.init }
             in
             update mId key flags settings (SearchMenuMsg Comp.SearchMenu.ResetForm) nm
 
@@ -579,6 +579,30 @@ update mId key flags settings msg model =
             in
             noSub ( model, cmd )
 
+        PowerSearchMsg lm ->
+            let
+                result =
+                    Comp.PowerSearchInput.update lm model.powerSearchInput
+
+                cmd_ =
+                    Cmd.map PowerSearchMsg result.cmd
+
+                model_ =
+                    { model | powerSearchInput = result.model }
+            in
+            case result.action of
+                Comp.PowerSearchInput.NoAction ->
+                    ( model_, cmd_, Sub.map PowerSearchMsg result.subs )
+
+                Comp.PowerSearchInput.SubmitSearch ->
+                    update mId key flags settings (DoSearch model_.searchTypeDropdownValue) model_
+
+        KeyUpPowerSearchbarMsg (Just Enter) ->
+            update mId key flags settings (DoSearch model.searchTypeDropdownValue) model
+
+        KeyUpPowerSearchbarMsg _ ->
+            withSub ( model, Cmd.none )
+
 
 
 --- Helpers
@@ -648,16 +672,15 @@ loadChangedItems flags ids =
 
     else
         let
-            searchInit =
-                Api.Model.ItemSearch.empty
-
             idList =
-                IdList (Set.toList ids)
+                Set.toList ids
+
+            searchInit =
+                Q.request (Just <| Q.ItemIdIn idList)
 
             search =
                 { searchInit
-                    | itemSubset = Just idList
-                    , limit = Set.size ids
+                    | limit = Just <| Set.size ids
                 }
         in
         Api.itemSearch flags search ReplaceChangedItemsResp
diff --git a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Page/Home/View.elm b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Page/Home/View.elm
index f4d8124d..c12a31c9 100644
--- a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Page/Home/View.elm
+++ b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Page/Home/View.elm
@@ -320,8 +320,9 @@ viewSearchBar flags model =
         [ a
             [ classList
                 [ ( "search-menu-toggle ui icon button", True )
-                , ( "primary", not (searchMenuFilled model) )
-                , ( "secondary", searchMenuFilled model )
+
+                -- , ( "primary", not (searchMenuFilled model) )
+                -- , ( "secondary", searchMenuFilled model )
                 ]
             , onClick ToggleSearchMenu
             , href "#"
@@ -332,24 +333,23 @@ viewSearchBar flags model =
         , div [ class "right menu" ]
             [ div [ class "fitted item" ]
                 [ div [ class "ui left icon right action input" ]
-                    [ i
-                        [ classList
-                            [ ( "search link icon", not model.searchInProgress )
-                            , ( "loading spinner icon", model.searchInProgress )
-                            ]
-                        , href "#"
-                        , onClick (DoSearch model.searchTypeDropdownValue)
-                        ]
-                        (if hasMoreSearch model then
-                            [ i [ class "icons search-corner-icons" ]
-                                [ i [ class "tiny blue circle icon" ] []
-                                ]
-                            ]
-
-                         else
-                            []
-                        )
-                    , input
+                    [ -- i
+                      --    [ classList
+                      --        [ ( "search link icon", not model.searchInProgress )
+                      --        , ( "loading spinner icon", model.searchInProgress )
+                      --        ]
+                      --    , href "#"
+                      --    , onClick (DoSearch model.searchTypeDropdownValue)
+                      --    ]
+                      --    (if hasMoreSearch model then
+                      --        [ i [ class "icons search-corner-icons" ]
+                      --            [ i [ class "tiny blue circle icon" ] []
+                      --            ]
+                      --        ]
+                      --     else
+                      --        []
+                      --    )
+                      input
                         [ type_ "text"
                         , placeholder
                             (case model.searchTypeDropdownValue of
@@ -384,27 +384,6 @@ viewSearchBar flags model =
         ]
 
 
-searchMenuFilled : Model -> Bool
-searchMenuFilled model =
-    let
-        is =
-            Comp.SearchMenu.getItemSearch model.searchMenuModel
-    in
-    is /= Api.Model.ItemSearch.empty
-
-
-hasMoreSearch : Model -> Bool
-hasMoreSearch model =
-    let
-        is =
-            Comp.SearchMenu.getItemSearch model.searchMenuModel
-
-        is_ =
-            { is | allNames = Nothing, fullText = Nothing }
-    in
-    is_ /= Api.Model.ItemSearch.empty
-
-
 deleteAllDimmer : Comp.YesNoDimmer.Settings
 deleteAllDimmer =
     { message = "Really delete all selected items?"
diff --git a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Page/Home/View2.elm b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Page/Home/View2.elm
index ee8c3bdb..4b6d6f8e 100644
--- a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Page/Home/View2.elm
+++ b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Page/Home/View2.elm
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ module Page.Home.View2 exposing (viewContent, viewSidebar)
 import Comp.Basic as B
 import Comp.ItemCardList
 import Comp.MenuBar as MB
+import Comp.PowerSearchInput
 import Comp.SearchMenu
 import Comp.SearchStatsView
 import Comp.YesNoDimmer
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ itemsBar flags settings model =
 
 
 defaultMenuBar : Flags -> UiSettings -> Model -> Html Msg
-defaultMenuBar flags settings model =
+defaultMenuBar _ settings model =
     let
         btnStyle =
             S.secondaryBasicButton ++ " text-sm"
@@ -100,6 +101,48 @@ defaultMenuBar flags settings model =
         searchInput =
             Comp.SearchMenu.textSearchString
                 model.searchMenuModel.textSearchModel
+
+        simpleSearchBar =
+            div
+                [ class "relative flex flex-row" ]
+                [ input
+                    [ type_ "text"
+                    , placeholder
+                        (case model.searchTypeDropdownValue of
+                            ContentOnlySearch ->
+                                "Content search…"
+
+                            BasicSearch ->
+                                "Search in names…"
+                        )
+                    , onInput SetBasicSearch
+                    , Util.Html.onKeyUpCode KeyUpSearchbarMsg
+                    , Maybe.map value searchInput
+                        |> Maybe.withDefault (value "")
+                    , class (String.replace "rounded" "" S.textInput)
+                    , class "py-1 text-sm border-r-0 rounded-l"
+                    ]
+                    []
+                , a
+                    [ class S.secondaryBasicButtonPlain
+                    , class "text-sm px-4 py-2 border rounded-r"
+                    , href "#"
+                    , onClick ToggleSearchType
+                    ]
+                    [ i [ class "fa fa-exchange-alt" ] []
+                    ]
+                ]
+
+        powerSearchBar =
+            div
+                [ class "relative flex flex-grow flex-row" ]
+                [ Html.map PowerSearchMsg
+                    (Comp.PowerSearchInput.viewInput []
+                        model.powerSearchInput
+                    )
+                , Html.map PowerSearchMsg
+                    (Comp.PowerSearchInput.viewResult [] model.powerSearchInput)
+                ]
     in
     MB.view
         { end =
@@ -129,35 +172,11 @@ defaultMenuBar flags settings model =
             ]
         , start =
             [ MB.CustomElement <|
-                div
-                    [ class "relative flex flex-row" ]
-                    [ input
-                        [ type_ "text"
-                        , placeholder
-                            (case model.searchTypeDropdownValue of
-                                ContentOnlySearch ->
-                                    "Content search…"
+                if settings.powerSearchEnabled then
+                    powerSearchBar
 
-                                BasicSearch ->
-                                    "Search in names…"
-                            )
-                        , onInput SetBasicSearch
-                        , Util.Html.onKeyUpCode KeyUpSearchbarMsg
-                        , Maybe.map value searchInput
-                            |> Maybe.withDefault (value "")
-                        , class (String.replace "rounded" "" S.textInput)
-                        , class "py-1 text-sm border-r-0 rounded-l"
-                        ]
-                        []
-                    , a
-                        [ class S.secondaryBasicButtonPlain
-                        , class "text-sm px-4 py-2 border rounded-r"
-                        , href "#"
-                        , onClick ToggleSearchType
-                        ]
-                        [ i [ class "fa fa-exchange-alt" ] []
-                        ]
-                    ]
+                else
+                    simpleSearchBar
             , MB.CustomButton
                 { tagger = TogglePreviewFullWidth
                 , label = ""
@@ -271,7 +290,7 @@ searchStats _ settings model =
 
 
 itemCardList : Flags -> UiSettings -> Model -> List (Html Msg)
-itemCardList flags settings model =
+itemCardList _ settings model =
     let
         itemViewCfg =
             case model.viewMode of
diff --git a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Ports.elm b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Ports.elm
index a8874539..9f630a81 100644
--- a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Ports.elm
+++ b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Ports.elm
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 port module Ports exposing
-    ( getUiSettings
+    ( checkSearchQueryString
+    , getUiSettings
     , initClipboard
     , loadUiSettings
     , onUiSettingsSaved
+    , receiveCheckQueryResult
     , removeAccount
     , setAccount
     , setUiTheme
@@ -10,7 +12,9 @@ port module Ports exposing
     )
 
 import Api.Model.AuthResult exposing (AuthResult)
+import Api.Model.BasicResult exposing (BasicResult)
 import Data.Flags exposing (Flags)
+import Data.QueryParseResult exposing (QueryParseResult)
 import Data.UiSettings exposing (StoredUiSettings, UiSettings)
 import Data.UiTheme exposing (UiTheme)
 
@@ -38,6 +42,12 @@ port uiSettingsSaved : (() -> msg) -> Sub msg
 port internalSetUiTheme : String -> Cmd msg
 
 
+port checkSearchQueryString : String -> Cmd msg
+
+
+port receiveCheckQueryResult : (QueryParseResult -> msg) -> Sub msg
+
+
 setUiTheme : UiTheme -> Cmd msg
 setUiTheme theme =
     internalSetUiTheme (Data.UiTheme.toString theme)
diff --git a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Styles.elm b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Styles.elm
index 56a727bc..2d917c49 100644
--- a/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Styles.elm
+++ b/modules/webapp/src/main/elm/Styles.elm
@@ -43,7 +43,12 @@ errorMessage =
 
 warnMessage : String
 warnMessage =
-    " border border-yellow-800 bg-yellow-50 text-yellow-800 dark:border-amber-200 dark:bg-amber-800 dark:text-amber-200 dark:bg-opacity-25 px-2 py-2 rounded "
+    warnMessageColors ++ " border dark:bg-opacity-25 px-2 py-2 rounded "
+
+
+warnMessageColors : String
+warnMessageColors =
+    " border-yellow-800 bg-yellow-50 text-yellow-800 dark:border-amber-200 dark:bg-amber-800 dark:text-amber-200 "
 
 
 infoMessage : String
diff --git a/modules/webapp/src/main/webjar/docspell.js b/modules/webapp/src/main/webjar/docspell.js
index 17b1901f..d6fcc4c6 100644
--- a/modules/webapp/src/main/webjar/docspell.js
+++ b/modules/webapp/src/main/webjar/docspell.js
@@ -97,3 +97,29 @@ elmApp.ports.initClipboard.subscribe(function(args) {
         docspell_clipboards[page] = new ClipboardJS(sel);
     }
 });
+
+elmApp.ports.checkSearchQueryString.subscribe(function(args) {
+    var qStr = args;
+    if (qStr && DsItemQueryParser && DsItemQueryParser['parseToFailure']) {
+        var result = DsItemQueryParser.parseToFailure(qStr);
+        var answer;
+        if (result) {
+            answer =
+                { success: false,
+                  input: result.input,
+                  index: result.failedAt,
+                  messages: result.messages
+                };
+
+        } else {
+            answer =
+                { success: true,
+                  input: qStr,
+                  index: 0,
+                  messages: []
+                };
+        }
+        console.log("Sending: " + answer.success);
+        elmApp.ports.receiveCheckQueryResult.send(answer);
+    }
+});
diff --git a/project/Dependencies.scala b/project/Dependencies.scala
index 2850dcc7..e964d621 100644
--- a/project/Dependencies.scala
+++ b/project/Dependencies.scala
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package docspell.build
 
 import sbt._
+import org.portablescala.sbtplatformdeps.PlatformDepsPlugin.autoImport._
 
 object Dependencies {
 
@@ -8,6 +9,7 @@ object Dependencies {
   val BetterMonadicForVersion = "0.3.1"
   val BitpeaceVersion         = "0.6.0"
   val CalevVersion            = "0.4.1"
+  val CatsParseVersion        = "0.3.1"
   val CirceVersion            = "0.13.0"
   val ClipboardJsVersion      = "2.0.6"
   val DoobieVersion           = "0.10.0"
@@ -26,11 +28,13 @@ object Dependencies {
   val LogbackVersion          = "1.2.3"
   val MariaDbVersion          = "2.7.2"
   val MiniTestVersion         = "2.9.3"
+  val MUnitVersion            = "0.7.22"
   val OrganizeImportsVersion  = "0.5.0"
   val PdfboxVersion           = "2.0.22"
   val PoiVersion              = "4.1.2"
   val PostgresVersion         = "42.2.19"
   val PureConfigVersion       = "0.14.1"
+  val ScalaJavaTimeVersion    = "2.2.0"
   val Slf4jVersion            = "1.7.30"
   val StanfordNlpVersion      = "4.2.0"
   val TikaVersion             = "1.25"
@@ -41,6 +45,20 @@ object Dependencies {
   val JQueryVersion           = "3.5.1"
   val ViewerJSVersion         = "0.5.8"
 
+  val catsParse = Seq(
+    "org.typelevel" %% "cats-parse" % CatsParseVersion
+  )
+  val catsParseJS =
+    Def.setting("org.typelevel" %%% "cats-parse" % CatsParseVersion)
+
+  val scalaJsStubs =
+    "org.scala-js" %% "scalajs-stubs" % "1.0.0" % "provided"
+
+  val catsJS = Def.setting("org.typelevel" %%% "cats-core" % "2.4.2")
+
+  val scalaJavaTime =
+    Def.setting("io.github.cquiroz" %%% "scala-java-time" % ScalaJavaTimeVersion)
+
   val kittens = Seq(
     "org.typelevel" %% "kittens" % KittensVersion
   )
@@ -254,6 +272,11 @@ object Dependencies {
     "io.monix" %% "minitest-laws" % MiniTestVersion
   ).map(_ % Test)
 
+  val munit = Seq(
+    "org.scalameta" %% "munit" % MUnitVersion,
+    "org.scalameta" %% "munit-scalacheck" % MUnitVersion
+  )
+
   val kindProjectorPlugin = "org.typelevel" %% "kind-projector"     % KindProjectorVersion
   val betterMonadicFor    = "com.olegpy"    %% "better-monadic-for" % BetterMonadicForVersion
 
diff --git a/project/plugins.sbt b/project/plugins.sbt
index 958f4d6d..a3b25d78 100644
--- a/project/plugins.sbt
+++ b/project/plugins.sbt
@@ -7,5 +7,7 @@ addSbtPlugin("com.typesafe.sbt" % "sbt-ghpages" % "0.6.3")
 addSbtPlugin("com.typesafe.sbt" % "sbt-git" % "1.0.0")
 addSbtPlugin("com.typesafe.sbt" % "sbt-native-packager" % "1.8.0")
 addSbtPlugin("io.spray" % "sbt-revolver" % "0.9.1")
+addSbtPlugin("org.portable-scala" % "sbt-scalajs-crossproject" % "1.0.0")
+addSbtPlugin("org.scala-js" % "sbt-scalajs" % "1.5.0")
 addSbtPlugin("org.scalameta" % "sbt-scalafmt" % "2.4.2")
 addSbtPlugin("org.xerial.sbt" % "sbt-sonatype" % "3.9.5")
diff --git a/website/site/content/docs/api/intro.md b/website/site/content/docs/api/intro.md
index 6d9a7818..c6359ab0 100644
--- a/website/site/content/docs/api/intro.md
+++ b/website/site/content/docs/api/intro.md
@@ -116,3 +116,74 @@ $ curl -H 'X-Docspell-Auth: 1568142446077-ZWlrZS9laWtl-$2a$10$3B0teJ9rMpsBJPzHfZ
 ,"tagCloud":{"items":[]}
 }
 ```
+
+### Search for items
+
+``` bash
+$ curl -i -H 'X-Docspell-Auth: 1615240493…kYtFynj4' \
+  'http://localhost:7880/api/v1/sec/item/search?q=tag=todo,invoice%20year:2021'
+{
+  "groups": [
+    {
+      "name": "2021-02",
+      "items": [
+        {
+          "id": "41J962DjS7T-sjP9idxJ6o9-hJrmBk34YJN-mQqysHwcFD6",
+          "name": "something.txt",
+          "state": "confirmed",
+          "date": 1613598750202,
+          "dueDate": 1617883200000,
+          "source": "webapp",
+          "direction": "outgoing",
+          "corrOrg": {
+            "id": "J58tYifCh4X-cze5R8eSJcc-YAFr6qt1VKL-1ZmhRwiTXoH",
+            "name": "EasyCare AG"
+          },
+          "corrPerson": null,
+          "concPerson": null,
+          "concEquipment": null,
+          "folder": {
+            "id": "GKwSvYVdvfb-QeAwzzT7pBM-Gbji2hQc2bL-uCyrMCAg3wo",
+            "name": "test"
+          },
+          "attachments": [],
+          "tags": [],
+          "customfields": [],
+          "notes": null,
+          "highlighting": []
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "2021-01",
+      "items": [
+        {
+          "id": "ANqtuDynXWU-PrhzUxzQVmH-PDuJfeJ6dYB-Ut3g1jrcFhw",
+          "name": "letter-de.pdf",
+          "state": "confirmed",
+          "date": 1611144000000,
+          "dueDate": null,
+          "source": "webapp",
+          "direction": "incoming",
+          "corrOrg": {
+            "id": "J58tYifCh4X-cze5R8eSJcc-YAFr6qt1VKL-1ZmhRwiTXoH",
+            "name": "EasyCare AG"
+          },
+          "corrPerson": null,
+          "concPerson": {
+            "id": "AA5sV1nH9ve-mDCn4DxDRvu-tWkUquiW4fZ-fVJimW4Vq79",
+            "name": "Max Mustermann"
+          },
+          "concEquipment": null,
+          "folder": null,
+          "attachments": [],
+          "tags": [],
+          "customfields": [],
+          "notes": null,
+          "highlighting": []
+        }
+      ]
+    }
+  ]
+}
+```
diff --git a/website/site/content/docs/features/_index.md b/website/site/content/docs/features/_index.md
index 2160da95..cf213621 100644
--- a/website/site/content/docs/features/_index.md
+++ b/website/site/content/docs/features/_index.md
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ description = "A list of features and limitations."
 - Conversion to PDF: all files are converted into a PDF file. PDFs
   with only images (as often returned from scanners) are converted
   into searchable PDF/A pdfs.
+- A powerful [query language](@/docs/query/_index.md) to find
+  documents
 - Non-destructive: all your uploaded files are never modified and can
   always be downloaded untouched
 - Organize files using tags, folders, [Custom
diff --git a/website/site/content/docs/query/_index.md b/website/site/content/docs/query/_index.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dad3d732
--- /dev/null
+++ b/website/site/content/docs/query/_index.md
@@ -0,0 +1,527 @@
++++
+title = "Query Language"
+weight = 55
+description = "The query language is a powerful way to search for documents."
+insert_anchor_links = "right"
+[extra]
+mktoc = true
++++
+
+
+Docspell uses a query language to provide a powerful way to search for
+your documents. It is targeted at advanced users and it needs to be
+enabled explicitely in your user settings.
+
+<div class="colums">
+{{ figure(file="enable-powersearch.png") }}
+</div>
+
+This changes the search bar on the items list page to expect a query
+as described below.
+
+The search menu works as before, the query coming from the search menu
+is combined with a query from the search bar.
+
+For taking a quick look, head over to the [examples](#examples).
+
+# Structure
+
+The overall query is an expression that evaluates to `true` or `false`
+when applied to an item and so selects whether to include it in the
+results or not. It consists of smaller expressions that can be
+combined via the common ways: `and`, `or` and `not`.
+
+Simple expressions check some property of an item. The form is:
+
+```
+<field><operator><value>
+```
+
+For example: `tag=invoice` – where `tag` is the field, `=` the
+operator and `invoice` the value. It would evaluate to `true` if the
+item has a tag with name `invoice` and to `false` if the item doesn't
+have a tag with name `invoice`.
+
+Multiple expressions are separated by whitespace and are combined via
+`AND` by default. To explicitely combine them, wrap a list of
+expressions into one of these:
+
+- `(& … )` to combine them via `AND`
+- `(| … )` to combine them via `OR`
+
+It is also possible to negate an expression, by prefixing it with a
+`!`; for example `!tag=invoice`.
+
+# The Parts
+
+## Operators
+
+There are 7 operators:
+
+- `=` for equals
+- `>` for greater-than
+- `>=` for greater-equals
+- `~=` for "in" (a shorter way to say "a or b or c or d")
+- `:` for "like"
+- `<` for lower than
+- `<=` for lower-equal
+- `!=` for not-equals
+
+Not all operators work with every field.
+
+## Fields
+
+Fields are used to identify a property of an item. They also define
+what operators are allowed. There are fields where an item can have at
+most one value (like `name` or `notes`) and there are fields where an
+item can have multiple values (like `tag`). At last there are special
+fields that are either implemented directly using custom sql or that
+are shortcuts to a longer form.
+
+Here is the list of all available fields.
+
+These fields map to at most one value:
+
+- `name` the item name
+- `source` the source used for uploading
+- `notes` the item notes
+- `id` the item id
+- `date` the item date
+- `due` the due date of the item
+- `attach.count` the number of attachments of the item
+- `corr.org.id` the id of the correspondent organization
+- `corr.org.name` the name of the correspondent organization
+- `corr.pers.name` name of correspondent person
+- `corr.pers.id` id of correspondent person
+- `conc.pers.name` name of concerning person
+- `conc.pers.id` id of concerning person
+- `conc.equip.name` name of equipment
+- `conc.equip.id` id of equipment
+- `folder.id` id of a folder
+- `folder` name of a folder
+- `inbox` whether to return "new" items (boolean)
+- `incoming` whether to return incoming items (boolean), `true` to
+  show only incoming, `false` to show only outgoing.
+
+These fields support all operators, except `incoming` and `inbox`
+which expect boolean values and there these operators don't make much
+sense.
+
+Fields that map to more than one value:
+
+- `tag` the tag name
+- `tag.id` the tag id
+- `cat` name of the tag category
+
+The tag and category fields use two operators: `:` and `=`.
+
+Other special fields:
+
+- `attach.id`
+- `checksum`
+- `content`
+- `f` for referencing custom fields by name
+- `f.id` for referencing custom fields by their id
+- `dateIn` a shortcut for a range search
+- `dueIn` a shortcut for a range search
+- `exist` check if some porperty exists
+- `names`
+- `year`
+- `conc`
+- `corr`
+
+These fields are often using the `:` operator to simply separate field
+and value. They are often backed by a custom implementation, or they
+are shortcuts for a longer query.
+
+## Values
+
+Values are the data you want to search for. There are different kinds
+of that, too: there are text-based values, numbers, boolean and dates.
+When multiple values are allowed, they must be separated by comma `,`.
+
+### Text Values
+
+Text values need to be put in quotes (`"`) if they contain one of
+these characters:
+- whitespace ` `
+- quotes `"`
+- backslash `\`
+- comma `,`
+- brackets `[]`
+- parens `()`
+
+Any quotes inside a quoted string must be escaped with a backslash.
+Examples: `scan_123`, `a-b-c`, `x.y.z`, `"scan from today"`, `"a \"strange\"
+name.pdf"`
+
+### Numeric and Boolean Values
+
+Numeric values can be entered literally; an optional fraction part is
+separetd by a dot. Examples: `1`, `2.15`.
+
+A boolean value can be specfied by `yes` or `true` and `no` or
+`false`, respectively. Example: `inbox:yes`
+
+### Dates
+
+Dates are always treated as local dates and can be entered in multiple
+ways.
+
+#### Date Pattern
+
+They can be in the following form: `YYYY-MM-DD` or `YYYY/MM/DD`.
+The month and day part are optional; if they are missing they are
+filled automatically with a `1`. So `2020-01` would be the same as
+`2020-01-01`.
+
+A special pattern is `today` which marks the current day.
+
+#### Unix Epoch
+
+Dates can be given in milliseconds from unix epoch. Then it must be
+prefixed by `ms`. The time part is ignored. Examples:
+`ms1615209591627`.
+
+#### Calculation
+
+Dates can be defined by providing a base date and a period to add or
+substract. This is especially useful with the `today` pattern. The
+period must be separated from the date by a semi-colon `;`. Then write
+a `+` or a `-` to add or substract and at last the number of days
+(suffix `d`) or months (suffix `m`).
+
+Examples: `today;-14d`, `2020-02;+1m`
+
+# Simple Expressions
+
+Simple expressions are made up of a field with at most one value, an
+operator and one or more values. These fields support all operators,
+except for boolean fields.
+
+The like operator `:` can be used with all values, but makes only
+sense for text values. It allows to do a substring search for a field.
+For example, to look for an item with a name of exactly 'invoice_22':
+
+```
+name=invoice_22
+```
+
+Using `:` it is possible to look for items that have 'invoice' in
+their name:
+
+```
+name:*invoice*
+```
+
+The asterisk `*` can be added at the beginning and/or end of the
+value. Furthermore, the like operator is case-insensitive, whereas `=`
+is not. This applies to all fields with a text value; this is another
+example looking for a correspondent person of with 'marcus' in the
+name:
+```
+corr.pers.name:*marcus*
+```
+
+
+----
+
+Comparisons via `<`/`>` are done alphanumerically for text based
+values and numerically for numeric values. For booleans these
+operators don't make sense and therefore don't work there.
+
+----
+
+All these fields (except boolean fields) allow to use the in-operator,
+`~=`. This is a more efficient form to specify a list of alternatives
+and is logically the same as combining multiple expressions with
+`OR`. For example:
+
+```
+source~=webapp,mailbox
+```
+
+is the same as
+```
+(| source=webapp source=mailbox )
+```
+
+The `~=` version is nicer to read, safes some key strokes and also
+runs more efficient when the list grows. It is *not* possible to use a
+wildcard `*` here. If a wildcard is required, you need to write the
+longer form.
+
+If one value contains whitespace or other characters that require
+quoting, each value must be quoted, not the whole list. So this is
+correct:
+```
+source~="web app","mail box"
+```
+
+This is not correct: `source~="web app,mail box"` – it would be treated
+as one single value and is then essentially the same as using `=`.
+
+----
+
+The two fields `incoming` and `inbox` expect a boolean value: one of
+`true` or `false`. The synonyms `yes` and `no` can also be used to
+make it better readable.
+
+This finds all items that have not been confirmed:
+```
+inbox:yes
+```
+
+The `incoming` can be used to show only incoming or only outgoing
+documents:
+
+```
+incoming:yes
+```
+
+For outgoing, you need to say:
+```
+incoming:no
+```
+
+
+# Tags
+
+Tags have their own syntax, because they are an important tool for
+organizing items. Tags only allow for two operators: `=` and `:`.
+Combined with negation (the `!` operator), this is quite flexible.
+
+For tags, `=` means that items must have *all* specified tags (or
+more), while `:` means that items must have at least *one* of the
+specified tags. Tags can be identified by their name or id and are
+given as a comma separated list (just like when using the
+in-operator).
+
+Some examples: Find all invoices that are todo:
+```
+tag=invoice,todo
+```
+
+This returns all items that have tags `invoice` and `todo` – and
+possible some other tags. Negating this:
+```
+!tag=invoice,todo
+```
+
+… results in an expression that returns all items that don't have
+*both* tags. It might return items with tag `invoice` and also items
+with tag `todo`, but no items that have both of them.
+
+Using `:` is just analog to `=`. This finds all items that are either
+`waiting` or `todo` (or both):
+
+```
+tag:waiting,todo
+```
+
+When negating this:
+```
+!tag:waiting,todo
+```
+
+it finds all items that have *none* of the tags.
+
+Tag names are always compared case-insensitive. Tags can also be
+selected using their id, then the field name `tag.id` must be used
+instead of `tag`.
+
+The field `cat` can be used the same way to search for tag categories.
+
+# Custom Fields
+
+Custom fields are implemented via the following syntax:
+
+```
+f:<field-name><operator><value>
+```
+
+They look almost like a simple expression, only prefixed with a `f:`
+to indicate that the following is the name of a custom field.
+
+The type of a custom field is honored. So if you have a money or
+numeric type, comparsions are done numerically. Otherwise a
+alphnumeric comparison is performed. Custom fields do not support the
+in-operator (`~=`).
+
+For example: assuming there is a custom field of type *money* and name
+*usd*, the following selects all items with an amount between 10 and
+150:
+
+```
+f:usd>10 f:usd<150
+```
+
+The like-operator can be used, too. For example, to find all items
+that have a custom field `asn` (often used for a serial number printed
+on the document):
+
+```
+f:asn:*
+```
+
+If the like operator is used on numeric fields, it falls back to
+text-comparison.
+
+Instead of using the name, the field-id can be used to select a field.
+Then the prefix is `f.id`:
+
+```
+f.id:J2ES1Z4Ni9W-xw1VdFbt3KA-rL725kuyVzh-7La95Yw7Ax2:15.00
+```
+
+
+# Fulltext Search
+
+The special field `content` allows to add a fulltext search. Using
+this is currently restricted: it must occur in the root query and
+cannot be nested in other complex expressions.
+
+The form is:
+
+```
+content:<your search query>
+```
+
+The search query is interpreted by the fulltext index (currently it is
+SOLR). This is usually very powerful and in many cases this value must
+be quoted.
+
+For example, do a fulltext search for 'red needle':
+```
+content:"red needle"
+```
+
+It can be combined in an AND expression (but not deeper):
+```
+content:"red needle" tag:todo
+```
+
+
+# File Checksums
+
+The `checksum` field can be used to look for items that have a certain
+file attached. It expects a SHA256 string.
+
+For example, this is the sha256 checksum of some file on the hard
+disk:
+`40675c22ab035b8a4ffe760732b65e5f1d452c59b44d3d0a2a08a95d28853497`.
+
+To find all items that have (exactly) this file attached:
+```
+checksum:40675c22ab035b8a4ffe760732b65e5f1d452c59b44d3d0a2a08a95d28853497
+```
+
+# Exist
+
+The `exist` field can be used with another field, to check whether an
+item has some value for a given field. It only works for fields that
+have at most one value.
+
+For example, it could be used to find fields that are in any folder:
+
+```
+exist:folder
+```
+
+When negating, it finds all items that are not in a folder:
+```
+!exist:folder
+```
+
+
+# Attach-Id
+
+The `attach.id` field is a special field to find items by providing
+the id of an attachment. This can be helpful in certain situations
+when you only have the id of an attachment. It always uses equality,
+so all other operators are not supported.
+
+```
+attach.id=5YjdnuTAdKJ-V6ofWTYsqKV-mAwB5aXTNWE-FAbeRU58qLb
+```
+
+# Shortcuts
+
+Shortcuts are only a short form of a longer query and are provided for
+convenience. The following exist:
+
+- `dateIn` and `dueIn`
+- `year`
+- `names`
+- `conc`
+- `corr`
+
+
+### Date Ranges
+
+The first three are all short forms to specify a range search. With
+`dateIn` and `dueIn` have three forms that are translated into a range
+search:
+
+- `dateIn:2020-01;+15d`  →  `date>=2020-01 date<2020-01;+15d`
+- `dateIn:2020-01;-15d`  →  `date>=2020-01;-15d date<2020-01`
+- `dateIn:2020-01;/15d`  →  `date>=2020-01;-15d date<2020-01;+15d`
+
+The syntax is the same as defining a date by adding a period to some
+base date. These two dates are used to expand the form into a range
+search. There is an additional `/` character to allow to subtract and
+add the period.
+
+The `year` is almost the same thing, only a lot shorter to write. It
+expands into a range search (only for the item date!) that selects all
+items with a date in the specified year:
+
+- `year:2020`  →  `date>=2020-01-01 date<2021-01-01`
+
+The last shortcut is `names`. It allows to search in many "names" of
+related entities at once:
+
+### Names
+
+- `names:tim` → `(| name:tim corr.org.name:tim corr.pers.name:tim conc.pers.name:tim conc.equip.name:tim )`
+
+The `names` field uses the like-operator.
+
+The fields `conc` and `corr` are analog to `names`, only that they
+look into correspondent names and concerning names.
+
+- `conc:marc*` → `(| conc.pers.name:marc* conc.equip.name:marc* )`
+- `corr:marc*` → `(| corr.org.name:marc* corr.pers.name:marc* )`
+
+
+# Examples
+
+Find items with 2 or more attachments:
+```
+attach.count>2
+```
+
+Find items with at least one tag invoice or todo:
+```
+tag:invoice,todo
+```
+
+Find items with at least both tags invoice and todo:
+```
+tag=invoice,todo
+```
+
+Find items with a concerning person of name starting with "Marcus":
+```
+conc.pers.name:marcus*
+```
+
+Find items with at least a tag "todo" in year 2020:
+```
+tag:todo year:2020
+```
+
+Find items within the last 30 days:
+```
+date>today;-30d
+```
diff --git a/website/site/content/docs/query/enable-powersearch.png b/website/site/content/docs/query/enable-powersearch.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ec5dbcc4
Binary files /dev/null and b/website/site/content/docs/query/enable-powersearch.png differ