# Search Operator
The `search` operator allows you to search `for` data across multiple tables and/or columns. However, it is less efficient when compared to the `where` operator. Despite its inefficiency, the search operator is useful when you are unsure of which table or column to filter for granular search.
## **Examples**
### Searching Across Multiple Tables
The below query will search for the word "error" within the **SecurityEvent** , **SecurityDetection** , and **SecurityAlert** tables for the last 7 days.
### Searching Across All the Logs
The query below will search for "threat" across all tables. This could be used to search across all tables for malicious activities. Click the drop-down from any of the entries to see more details.
### Searching for a Specific Item From a Particular Table
The below query will search for every event relating to the address "13.89.179.10" in the **AzureNetworkAnalyticsIPDetails\_CL** table.
```session-shell
AzureNetworkAnalyticsIPDetails_CL
| search "13.89.179.10"
```
**Note:** CL means Custom Log; it implies any imported table. It also differentiates the built-in tables from the custom tables because most logs have the same table names.
