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The search_after_date and search_before_date parameters allow you to restrict search results to a specific publication date range. Only results with publication dates falling between these dates will be returned.The search_recency_filter parameter provides a convenient way to filter results by predefined time periods (e.g., “day”, “week”, “month”, “year”) relative to the current date.
Specific date filters must be provided in the “%m/%d/%Y” format (e.g., “3/1/2025”). Recency filters use predefined values like “day”, “week”, “month”, or “year”. All filters are optional—you may supply either specific dates or recency filters as needed.

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Overview

Date and time filters for the Search API allow you to control which search results are returned by limiting them to specific time periods. There are two types of date and time filters available:

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Publication Date Filters

The search_after_date and search_before_date parameters filter results based on when content was originally created or published. This is useful when you need to:
  • Find content published within a specific timeframe
  • Exclude outdated or overly recent publications
  • Focus on content from a particular publication period

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Search Recency Filter

The search_recency_filter parameter provides a simple way to filter results by predefined time periods relative to the current date. This is useful when you need to:
  • Find content from the past day, week, month, or year
  • Get recent results without specifying exact dates
  • Quickly filter for timely information
Available values:
  • "day" - Content from the past 24 hours
  • "week" - Content from the past 7 days
  • "month" - Content from the past 30 days
  • "year" - Content from the past 365 days
Important: Publication filters use the original creation/publication date, while recency filters use a relative time period from the current date. To constrain search results by publication date: 
"search_after_date": "3/1/2025",
"search_before_date": "3/5/2025"
To constrain search results by recency: 
"search_recency_filter": "week"
These filters will be applied in addition to any other search parameters.

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Examples

1. Limiting Results by Publication Date Range This example limits search results to content published between March 1, 2025, and March 5, 2025. Request Example 
from perplexity import Perplexity

client = Perplexity()

response = client.search(
    query="latest AI developments",
    max_results=10,
    search_after_date="3/1/2025",
    search_before_date="3/5/2025"
)

print(response)
2. Filtering with a Single Publication Date Parameter If you only wish to restrict the results to those published on or after a specific date, include just the search_after_date: 
from perplexity import Perplexity

client = Perplexity()

response = client.search(
    query="tech news published after March 1, 2025",
    max_results=10,
    search_after_date="3/1/2025"
)

print(response)
3. Using Search Recency Filter The search_recency_filter provides a convenient way to filter results by predefined time periods without specifying exact dates: 
from perplexity import Perplexity

client = Perplexity()

response = client.search(
    query="latest AI developments",
    max_results=10,
    search_recency_filter="week"
)

print(response)
This example will return only content from the past 7 days, automatically calculated from the current date. 4. Different Recency Filter Options 
from perplexity import Perplexity

client = Perplexity()

# Get content from the past day
day_response = client.search(
    query="breaking tech news",
    max_results=5,
    search_recency_filter="day"
)

# Get content from the past month
month_response = client.search(
    query="AI research developments",
    max_results=10,
    search_recency_filter="month"
)

# Get content from the past year
year_response = client.search(
    query="major tech trends",
    max_results=15,
    search_recency_filter="year"
)

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Parameter Reference

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search_after_date

  • Type: String
  • Format: “%m/%d/%Y” (e.g., “3/1/2025”)
  • Description: Filters search results to only include content published after this date
  • Optional: Yes
  • Example: "search_after_date": "1/1/2025"

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search_before_date

  • Type: String
  • Format: “%m/%d/%Y” (e.g., “3/1/2025”)
  • Description: Filters search results to only include content published before this date
  • Optional: Yes
  • Example: "search_before_date": "12/31/2025"

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search_recency_filter

  • Type: String
  • Allowed Values: “day”, “week”, “month”, “year”
  • Description: Filters search results to content from the specified time period relative to the current date
  • Optional: Yes
  • Example: "search_recency_filter": "week"

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Best Practices

Date Format
  • Strict Format: Dates must match the “%m/%d/%Y” format exactly. For example, “3/1/2025” or “03/01/2025” is acceptable.
  • Consistency: Use one or both date filters consistently based on your search needs. Combining both provides a clear range.
Filter Selection
  • Choose the Right Filter Type: Use publication date filters (search_after_date/search_before_date) when you care about when content was originally created. Use recency filters (search_recency_filter) for quick, relative time filtering.
  • Recency vs. Exact Dates: Use search_recency_filter for convenience when you want recent content (e.g., “past week”). Use specific date filters when you need precise control over the time range.
  • Filter Limitations: Note that search_recency_filter cannot be combined with specific date filters (search_after_date/search_before_date).
Client-Side Validation
  • Regex Check: Validate date strings on the client side using a regex such as:
date_regex='^(0?[1-9]|1[0-2])/(0?[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])/[0-9]{4}$'
This ensures that dates conform to the required format before sending the request. Performance Considerations
  • Narrowing the Search: Applying date range filters typically reduces the number of results, which may improve response times and result relevance.
  • Avoid Over-Restriction: Ensure that the date range is neither too narrow (limiting useful results) nor too broad (defeating the purpose of the filter).

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Advanced Usage Patterns

Finding Breaking News Use the search_recency_filter with “day” to find the most recent breaking news: 
response = client.search(
    query="breaking news technology",
    max_results=5,
    search_recency_filter="day"
)
Historical Research Use specific date ranges to research historical events or trends: 
response = client.search(
    query="AI developments",
    max_results=20,
    search_after_date="1/1/2023",
    search_before_date="12/31/2023"
)
Trend Analysis Compare different time periods by making multiple searches: 
# Recent trends
recent = client.search(
    query="machine learning trends",
    search_recency_filter="month"
)

# Older trends for comparison
older = client.search(
    query="machine learning trends",
    search_after_date="1/1/2023",
    search_before_date="1/31/2023"
)

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Error Handling

When using date filters, ensure proper error handling for invalid date formats: 
from perplexity import Perplexity
import re

def validate_date_format(date_string):
    pattern = r'^(0?[1-9]|1[0-2])/(0?[1-9]|[12]\d|3[01])/\d{4}$'
    return bool(re.match(pattern, date_string))

def search_with_date_filter(query, after_date=None, before_date=None):
    client = Perplexity()
    
    # Validate date formats
    if after_date and not validate_date_format(after_date):
        raise ValueError(f"Invalid date format: {after_date}")
    if before_date and not validate_date_format(before_date):
        raise ValueError(f"Invalid date format: {before_date}")
    
    try:
        response = client.search(
            query=query,
            search_after_date=after_date,
            search_before_date=before_date
        )
        return response
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Search failed: {e}")
        return None