> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.qolaba.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.qolaba.ai/chatbot/toolkit/file-search.md).

# File Search

The File Search tool lets the chatbot search within uploaded documents — retrieving specific information from PDFs, contracts, reports, and other files without you needing to manually locate the relevant section.

***

#### What It Does

When File Search is enabled and a file is attached to the chat, the model actively searches within the document to find and reference relevant sections when answering your prompt. For a full overview of how file uploads work and what formats are supported, see [Adding Context and Resources →](/chatbot/adding-context-and-resources.md)

Common use cases:

* Legal document and contract review
* Policy and compliance analysis
* Academic paper and research review
* Financial report analysis
* Locating specific clauses, figures, or sections in large documents

***

#### How to Enable It

Toggle **File Search** on in the Toolkit panel and attach your document to the chat. Reference the file in your prompt to direct the model's search.

**Example prompt:**

```
Search the uploaded contract and identify all clauses
related to payment terms and late fees.
```

{% hint style="info" %}
File Search is most effective on structured documents with clear sections, headings, or consistent formatting. Dense unstructured text may produce less precise retrieval.
{% endhint %}