The Facebook Matrix
Formulas for searching Facebook.
This is a living document and changes often, so return for updates.
Warning: Best used on non-mobile interfaces. Please switch to a laptop or desktop if possible.
Searching using Facebook’s native search and advanced techniques/tools
Keep up to date on the current best practices.
Native Search
Advanced Search Tools
Facebook’s native search can be very effective and, in some cases, more effective than searching using third-party tools or convoluted techniques. For example, probably the most efficient way (currently) to search for photos a person has been tagged in (even if they removed the tag) is to search "All" for the person's name.
This search is strangely dependent on filters at times. In some cases, adding a filter, such as a location or source, can yield more data than without the filter. We suggest mapping out the user’s page before searching, providing multiple ways to filter by friends and locations.
Basic tips for using the native Facebook search:
Choose the desited search result from the filters to the left of the search result page, such as All (this will be posts, photos, and videos as well as a sampling of the other content), People, Reels, Pages, etc.
Search filters change by topic, so take a look at any and all topics that may match your search for different options.
When using the filters, changing your search query in the search box clears the filters. If you want to keep them, in most cases, changing the search query in the URL will work.
https://www.facebook.com/search/posts/?q=holiday&epa=FILTERS&filters= (example only)
to
https://www.facebook.com/search/posts/?q=christmas&epa=FILTERS&filters= (example only)
Several tools are available to make Facebook searches easier. These tools replicate Facebook’s Graph Search functionality but with more user-friendly interfaces. They also allow searches using a user’s unique ID number, whereas Facebook’s native search is limited to a smaller set of keyword-based results.
For example, if you’re trying to add a user named Mike Smith to your search filters, Facebook may not display the exact person you’re looking for in its suggestions. However, the tools listed below let you search using the precise user ID, making it easier to find the correct individual.
Usage tips:
Double-check your results—some false positives can come through. That’s true of any tool.
Also, make sure you’ve actually applied the filters in each tool. You can usually preview or confirm them near or just below the search link.
JSON to BASE64 Translation
This is what the advanced tools are doing behind the scenes. Surprisingly easy - give it a try.
Facebook native search may look simple, but it’s actually limited. While Facebook holds a huge amount of data, basic searches only surface a small portion, and recent changes have made deeper access even harder, forcing users to rely on the built-in search bar and its restrictions.
This guide is for non-technical users who want more precise, efficient results than the default search provides. Facebook’s filters are limited, often restricting you to a few suggested options and preventing searches by exact keywords or user IDs, even when you know them.
Although tools from S0wdust and Intelx can help, they aren’t always reliable. The key is understanding that deeper searches are still possible manually. Even if the process involves unfamiliar formats like JSON or Base64, it can be learned and used by anyone to uncover more accurate results.
How to search Facebook using this method
Start by setting up the Facebook page:
On Facebook.com, perform a keyword search. This search can be for anything and is easily changeable later. The best practice is to keep it very short or to search for the same word as the result you would like to see. For example, if you will be looking for people named Mike Smith, search for “smith”
On the Facebook search results page, choose the filter to the left that matches your goals (All (posts/photos/videos), People, Reels, etc. Fo examples, if you are looking for someone named Mike Smith, choose People, while if you are looking for a tagged or mentioned person, remain on All.
Select a filter, any filter. The goal is to get the Facebook URL to include the =FILTERS&filters= (or similar) language. After this point in the URL, you will notice a string of letters and numbers. This is where the Base64 code begins. Keep this tab open and move to a new tab for the next part.
Get the Facebook ID numbers:
In separate browser tabs, identify the ID numbers that you will need for your search. This could be a place ID, person ID, page ID, Group ID, etc.
There are a number of FBID tools available:
Manually get a Facebook ID:
Facebook periodically changes the ways to get ID numbers in the URL, although they are often still visible in certain page URLs, such as profile photos. Even now, the ID tools may not have the correct FB IDs for "Pages" in order to perform advanced searches. Knowing how to get an ID manually is important. The best way to consistently get an ID manually is via the source code. Note that you do not have to be logged in to get the FBID.
Personal Profile IDs (the default)
On the main page of any user profile, right click on unused space. Use ctrl+U (command+option+U on OSX) or in the right click menu, choose “View Page Source”.
Search for:
container_id for user IDs
Alternatives:
"profile_owner":{"id":"
"PROFILE","id":"
selectedID
"user":{"id"
owning_profile_id
content_owner_id_new
page_insights
actor_id
actrs
Page IDs
On the main page of any business or fan page, right click on unused space. Use ctrl+U (command+option+U on OSX) or in the right click menu, choose “View Page Source”.
Search for:
"delegate_page":{"id"
Alternatives:
true,"id"
message_box_id
Pages will have ID numbers that match the profile ID searches; however, while these resolve back to the page, they do not work for the advanced search tools.
Note: Everything in Facebook has an ID. Consider experimenting with post and event IDs. Location IDs can be found in the URL of a location page. To get there, start by searching for a user and applying the desired location as a filter. Then visit the user’s profile and go to their “About” page. In the About section, locate the listed location and click on it. This will take you to the location page, where the location ID is the final number in the URL.
Configure and translate the code:
In the matrix below, identify the searches/JSON formula(s) you intend to use and copy the JSON formula(s) into a Base64 encoding tool. There are many Base64 encoding tools, but the easiest to use for beginners is Base64encode.org
If you are combining two (or more?) JSON formulas, note that the outside braces of the formulas are only needed once. Put both formulas inside one set of braces, but separate the formulas with a comma.
Copy the ID numbers previously identified on Facebook and insert them into the JSON in the Base64 encoder in the place of the bolded placeholder (USERID, PAGEID, PLACEID), but do not delete or change any punctuation marks. This must be done before running the encoder. Now click ENCODE.
Apply the Base64 code to your Facebook string:
Copy the Base64 results and return to the Facebook tab with the search string. Locate the Base64 code immediately after =FILTERS&filters= and delete it, then replace with your tranlsated code. Press Enter or Return. The results should match your search choices.
Troubleshooting:
Search results don’t seem right?
1. Check your category choice
2. Make sure you inserted your ID numbers into JSON before encoding to Base 64
3. Make sure you did not accidentally delete and punctuation or add extra characters in the JSON (even a space can mess it up)
4. Check your keyword search
No results?
1. Check your category choice
2. Check your keyword search (blank categories are not allowed)
Blank page or error page?
1. Make sure you converted the JSON to Base64
2. Make sure you inserted your ID numbers into JSON before encoding to Base 64
If you want to get advanced, consider searching the regular Facebook interface and converting the Base64 to discover the JSON strings used. Use the corresponding tool: base64decode.org.
Disclaimers: These searches can be blocked by making full use of Facebook privacy options. Facebook is constantly changing, so some of these that worked yesterday may not work today, and yet might still work tomorrow. This page is best viewed on, and the URLs are best used on laptops/desktops.
The Facebook Graph Search Matrix
| IF YOU WANT TO FIND... | USE THIS JSON STRING | |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | People who have indicated they live in a certain place on Facebook |
{"city":"{\"name\":\"users_location\",\"args\":\"PLACEID\"}"}
|
| 02 | People who have identified that they attend(ed) a certain educational facility |
{"school":"{\"name\":\"users_school\",\"args\":\"PAGEID\"}"}
|
| 03 | People who have identified that they work for a certain employer on Facebook |
{"employer":"{\"name\":\"users_employer\",\"args\":\"PAGEID\"}"}
|
| 04 | A list of the user's friends (ready to be combined with other filters). Results will have open friendslists only. Results page will not have an indication of filter used. |
{"friends":"{\"name\":\"users_friends_of_people\",\"args\":\"USERID\"}"}
|
| 05 | Posts, videos, or photos (choose via search tab) from a group |
{"rp_group":"{\"name\":\"group_posts\",\"args\":\"GROUPID\"}"}
|
| 06 | Posts, videos, or photos (choose via search tab) a user or page has posted |
{"rp_author":"{\"name\":\"author\",\"args\":\"PAGEID\"}"}
|
| 07 | Posts, videos, or photos (choose via search tab) tagged to a location |
{"rp_location":"{\"name\":\"location\",\"args\":\"PLACEID\"}"}
|
| 08 | Recent |
{"rp_chrono_sort":"{\"name\":\"chronosort\",\"args\":\"\"}"}
|
| 09 | Posts, videos, or photos (choose via search tab) on an exact date |
{"rp_creation_time":"{\"name\":\"creation_time\",\"args\":\"{\\\"start_year\\\":\\\"2019\\\",\\\"start_month\\\":\\\"2019-8\\\",\\\"end_year\\\":\\\"2019\\\",\\\"end_month\\\":\\\"2019-9\\\",\\\"start_day\\\":\\\"2019-1-10\\\",\\\"end_day\\\":\\\"2019-09-01\\\"}\"}"}
|
| 10 | Facebook Live |
{"videos_source":"{\"name\":\"videos_live\",\"args\":\"\"}"}
|
| 11 | Verified Pages |
{"verified":"{\"name\":\"pages_verified\",\"args\":\"\"}"}
|
| 12 | Combination search: People who have identified that they attend(ed) a certain educational facility and who have identified that they work(ed) for a certain employer on Facebook |
{"school":"{\"name\":\"users_school\",\"args\":\"PAGEID\"}","employer":"{\"name\":\"users_employer\",\"args\":\"PAGEID\"}"}
|
