C# search query with linq

Question

I am trying to make a suitable linq query to accomodate my search functionality.

I have a table with the following columns: 'firstname' | 'lastname' | 'description'. with the following data: 'Peter' | 'Mulder' | 'This is a little description.'

My 'search' keyword could be something like: "peter" or "a little description".

Now if I use the following linq expression in lambda:

mycontext.persons
    .Where(t => 
        search.Contains(t.Firstname) || 
        search.Contains(t.Lastname) || 
        search.Contains(t.Description).Select(p => p)
    .ToList();

Now I get my result, when I use 'peter', but if I use 'pete' or 'a little description' I get no results. How can I make my linq expression, so it can search through the column data for matches?

Answer 1

I think you just have it backwards:

mycontext.persons
    .Where(t => 
        t.Firstname.Contains(search) || 
        t.Lastname.Contains(search) || 
        t.Description.Contains(search))
    .ToList();

Answer 2

One possible (but probably not the most optimized solution) would be to append all of your fields together and do a Contains on the search term., e.g.

var result = persons.Where(q => (q.Description + " " q.FirstName + " " q.LastName)
                    .ToLower()
                    .Contains(searchTerm.ToLower()))
                    .ToList();