For a forum script, whats the best method of searching?

[agiantdwarf]

I am creating a forum script, that has about the same ammount of features as vBulletin. I want to add a search feature.

How would I do this? What method would you use? Which is the most efficient no matter how many posts the forum has?

Thank you

 

[megapuzik]

Well, for "good" result you should try searching with REGEX, it will give you the best results !!
but, in the board that I made, I give the user lots of option in the search to save "time" and not search all the databse, but only some fields (like "advanced search" but there is no simple one )

 

[agiantdwarf]

But if you do a regex of 200,000 posts, wont it take like 20 seconds?

 

[megapuzik]

You can try, but it will take more time then just a simple %bla% in your query