> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://devdocs.xbox.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create searchable lobbies

> Define search keys and searchable string or number properties on PlayFab Lobby so players can filter and discover public game sessions efficiently.

This article explains how to create lobbies that are searchable.

To make a lobby searchable, its access policy must either be **Public** or **Friends**. Lobbies with a **Private** access policy will not be joinable from search queries and must be joined via [invites](/services/playfab/multiplayer/lobby/lobby-invites). It's common to configure this access policy when initially creating the lobby.

Once a lobby's access policy is set correctly, other players can search for it using [Find lobbies](/services/playfab/multiplayer/lobby/find-lobbies).

Additionally, the owner of the lobby may define custom search properties which other players can use when searching for lobbies to find more specific results.

To learn more, see [Find lobbies](/services/playfab/multiplayer/lobby/find-lobbies) and [Join lobbies](/services/playfab/multiplayer/lobby/join-lobbies).

## Example setting search properties using Lobby and Matchmaking SDK

In this example, the lobby created has the following custom search properties defined.

* Game mode = "DeathMatch"
* Competition style = "Ranked"
* Skill level = Skill level of the person who created the lobby

```cpp theme={null}
static PFMultiplayerHandle g_pfmHandle; // initialized elsewhere

#define PFLOBBY_SEARCH_KEY_GAME_MODE "string_key1"
#define PFLOBBY_SEARCH_KEY_COMPETITION_STYLE "string_key2"
#define PFLOBBY_SEARCH_KEY_SKILL "number_key1"

#define GAME_MODE_DEATH_MATCH "DeathMatch"
#define COMPETITION_STYLE_RANKED "Ranked"

PFEntityKey m_localUser;
namespace MyGame {
    uint32_t GetPlayerSkill(); // defined elsewhere
}

void CreateLobbyWithSearchProperties()
{
    // Initialize the lobby configuration with search properties
    std::string playerSkill = std::to_string(MyGame::GetPlayerSkill());

    const char* searchPropertyKeys[] = {
        PFLOBBY_SEARCH_KEY_GAME_MODE,
        PFLOBBY_SEARCH_KEY_COMPETITION_STYLE,
        PFLOBBY_SEARCH_KEY_SKILL,
    };

    const char* searchPropertyValues[_countof(searchPropertyKeys)] = {
        GAME_MODE_DEATH_MATCH,
        COMPETITION_STYLE_RANKED,
        playerSkill.c_str(),
    };

    PFLobbyCreateConfiguration lobbyConfiguration{};
    lobbyConfiguration.maxMemberCount = 16;
    lobbyConfiguration.searchPropertyCount = _countof(searchPropertyKeys);
    lobbyConfiguration.searchPropertyKeys = searchPropertyKeys;
    lobbyConfiguration.searchPropertyValues = searchPropertyValues;

    // Initialize an empty join configuration. This can be optionally initialized with the creator's member properties 
    PFLobbyJoinConfiguration creatorMemberConfiguration{};
    creatorMemberConfiguration.memberPropertyCount = 0;

    // Create and join the lobby
    PFLobbyHandle lobby;
    HRESULT hr = PFMultiplayerCreateAndJoinLobby(
        g_pfmHandle,
        &m_localUser,
        &lobbyConfiguration,
        &creatorMemberConfiguration,
        nullptr,
        &lobby);
}
```

## See also

* [Find lobbies](/services/playfab/multiplayer/lobby/find-lobbies)
* [Lobby properties](/services/playfab/multiplayer/lobby/lobby-properties)
* [Owner requirements and privileges](/services/playfab/multiplayer/lobby/owner-requirements-and-privileges)
* [Create a lobby](/services/playfab/multiplayer/lobby/create-a-lobby)


## Related topics

- [Create a lobby](/services/playfab/multiplayer/lobby/create-a-lobby.md)
- [Find lobbies](/services/playfab/multiplayer/lobby/find-lobbies.md)
- [Join lobbies](/services/playfab/multiplayer/lobby/join-lobbies.md)
- [Lobby ownership changes](/services/playfab/multiplayer/lobby/ownership-changes.md)
- [Lobby SDK Quickstart](/services/playfab/multiplayer/lobby/lobby-getting-started.md)