Context-aware search

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for supplementing user-specified text for a search with context information to generate search results that is more closely matched to the user's needs. A context search component maintains a snapshot of the user context and additional context-based queries are generated and corresponding searches are performed. The search results of the context-based queries are merged with the results of the user-specified text query and displayed for the user. When the user accesses a resource listed in the merged search results, the context-based terms mentioned in the resource are identified to the user.