Local Image Search

Fast local image search using macOS Spotlight or fd. Search images by name, date, location, or metadata. Use when users need to find images on their local machine quickly without manual browsing.

Search local images quickly using macOS Spotlight or fd.

Quick Start

Search by Name

bash

# Using fd (fastest)
fd -e jpg -e png -e jpeg -e heic -e webp -e gif -e tiff "pattern" /path/to/search

# Using Spotlight
mdfind -onlyin /path/to/search "kMDItemDisplayName == '*pattern*'"

Search by Date

bash

# Today
mdfind -onlyin ~/Pictures "kMDItemContentTypeTree == 'public.image' && kMDItemFSContentChangeDate > $time.today()"

# Last 7 days
mdfind -onlyin ~/Pictures "kMDItemContentTypeTree == 'public.image' && kMDItemFSContentChangeDate > $time.now(-604800)"

# This month
mdfind -onlyin ~/Pictures "kMDItemContentTypeTree == 'public.image' && kMDItemFSContentChangeDate > $time.this_month()"

Search by Location (GPS)

bash

# Has GPS coordinates
mdfind "kMDItemContentTypeTree == 'public.image' && kMDItemGPSStatus == 'GPS'"

# In specific area (approximate)
mdfind "kMDItemContentTypeTree == 'public.image' && kMDItemGPSLatitude > 39 && kMDItemGPSLatitude < 41"

List All Images

bash

# All images in home
mdfind "kMDItemContentTypeTree == 'public.image'"

# Specific directory only
mdfind -onlyin ~/Pictures "kMDItemContentTypeTree == 'public.image'"

# Specific types only
mdfind -onlyin ~/Pictures "kMDItemContentType == 'public.png'"

Available Scripts

Basic Search

• scripts/search_by_name.sh - Search images by filename pattern
• scripts/search_by_date.sh - Search by creation/modification date
• scripts/list_all.sh - List all images in a directory

Advanced Search

• scripts/search_by_location.sh - Search by GPS coordinates
• scripts/search_by_size.sh - Search by image dimensions
• scripts/search_similar.sh - Find visually similar images (requires perceptual hash)

Utility

• scripts/thumbnail.sh - Generate thumbnails for results
• scripts/copy_results.sh - Copy search results to destination

Image Types Supported

Extension	Type
jpg/jpeg	JPEG images
png	PNG images
heic	iPhone photos
webp	WebP images
gif	GIF images
tiff	TIFF images
raw	RAW camera files
dng	Digital negatives

Metadata Search Keys

Key	Description
kMDItemDisplayName	Filename
kMDItemFSContentChangeDate	Modification date
kMDItemContentCreationDate	Creation date
kMDItemPixelWidth	Image width
kMDItemPixelHeight	Image height
kMDItemGPSLatitude	GPS latitude
kMDItemGPSLongitude	GPS longitude
kMDItemMake	Camera make
kMDItemModel	Camera model

Examples

bash

# Find all screenshots
./scripts/search_by_name.sh "Screen Shot" ~/Desktop

# Find photos from today
./scripts/search_by_date.sh today ~/Pictures

# Find iPhone photos
./scripts/search_by_name.sh "IMG_" ~/Pictures

# Copy results to folder
./scripts/search_by_date.sh today ~/Pictures | ./scripts/copy_results.sh ~/Desktop/today_photos

Requirements

• macOS (uses Spotlight/mdfind)
• fd (optional, for faster filename search): brew install fd
• exiftool (optional, for advanced metadata): brew install exiftool