Searching by file properties involves using metadata - descriptive information stored within a file - like its title, subject, author, or creation date, rather than searching the actual content of the file itself. This approach is different from full-text search, which scans the words inside documents. File properties act like tags, making it possible to find files based on specific criteria defined within their metadata fields.

This method is practical in various scenarios. Within the Windows File Explorer or macOS Finder, you can use the search bar and specify properties like title:"Project Report" or subject:budget to quickly locate documents meeting those criteria. Similarly, email clients like Microsoft Outlook allow searching by message properties such as subject:Meeting Notes or from:manager@company.com to filter your inbox effectively.

The primary advantage is speed and precision when you know specific metadata details, significantly reducing irrelevant results compared to keyword searches. However, it relies heavily on the file having accurate and consistent metadata populated, which is often inconsistent without deliberate effort. Future developments may see AI automating metadata tagging more effectively, enhancing this approach's reliability.