# search_files Function - Enhanced Version

## Overview

The `search_files` function has been enhanced to provide powerful regex-based content searching with flexible output modes. The previous basic version has been replaced with this advanced implementation.

## Function Signature

### `search_files` (Enhanced)  
```python
def search_files(pattern: str, path: str = ".", output_mode: str = "content", head_limit: Optional[int] = None, file_pattern: str = "*", case_sensitive: bool = False, multiline: bool = False) -> str
```

## Key Features

| Feature | `search_files` |
|---------|---------------|
| **Pattern Matching** | Full regex support |
| **Output Modes** | Content, files_with_matches, count |
| **Result Limiting** | `head_limit` parameter |
| **File Types** | Default `*` (all files) |
| **Multiline Search** | Yes with `multiline=True` |
| **Binary File Handling** | Smart binary file detection/skipping |
| **Single File Search** | Can search single files or directories |
| **Performance** | Optimized with multiple output modes |

## Detailed Feature Comparison

### 1. Pattern Matching Capabilities

**`search_files`**: Full regex support
```python
search_files("generate.*tools|create_react_cycle", ".")  # Complex patterns with OR, wildcards
search_files("def\\s+\\w+\\(.*\\):", ".")  # Function definitions with regex
search_files("generate_with_tools", ".")  # Simple text also works
```

### 2. Output Flexibility

**`search_files`**: Multiple output modes
```python
# Content mode (default)
search_files("pattern", ".", "content")
# Output: 📄 file.py:
#     Line 42: def generate_with_tools():
#     Line 156: # Call generate_with_tools here

# Files only mode
search_files("pattern", ".", "files_with_matches")  
# Output: file1.py\nfile2.py\nfile3.py

# Count mode  
search_files("pattern", ".", "count")
# Output: 15 file1.py\n8 file2.py\nTotal: 23 matches in 2 files
```

### 3. Result Management

**`search_files`**: Controllable output
```python
search_files("import", ".", "content", head_limit=10)  # First 10 matches only
search_files("def", ".", "files_with_matches", head_limit=5)  # First 5 files only
```

### 4. File Handling

**`search_files`**: Advanced approach  
- Can search single files: `search_files("pattern", "specific_file.py")`
- Smart binary file detection (reads 1KB to test)
- Better error handling with file type detection
- Supports all file types by default

### 5. Advanced Features

**`search_files`**: Full feature set
- **Multiline matching**: Patterns can span multiple lines
- **Flexible paths**: Single files or directories
- **Multiple output formats**: Content, file lists, or counts
- **Better performance**: Optimized file discovery and processing
- **Case sensitivity control**
- **Result limiting with head_limit**

## Usage Examples

### Simple text search
```python
search_files("def main", ".")
```

### Advanced regex patterns
```python
# Complex regex patterns
search_files("class\\s+\\w+\\(.*\\):", ".")  # Class definitions
search_files("import.*(?:requests|urllib)", ".")  # Import statements with specific modules
search_files("TODO|FIXME|BUG", ".", "count")  # Count code comments

# Multiline patterns
search_files("def.*\\n.*return", ".", multiline=True)  # Functions with return on next line
```

### Different output modes
```python
# Just want file names containing pattern
search_files("database", ".", "files_with_matches")

# Want match counts per file  
search_files("test_", ".", "count")

# Want limited results from large codebase
search_files("error", ".", "content", head_limit=20)
```

## Integration

The enhanced `search_files` function provides grep-like functionality with regex support, multiple output modes, and advanced features for content searching across files and directories.
