The subject application relates to a system(s) and/or methodology that facilitate filtering any set of items in a quick and efficient manner including messages and optionally calendar, notes, and task items. More specifically, as a filter string (input) is entered, it can be immediately compared to properties associated with a selected set of items to filter. As a result, the set of items can be dynamically filtered based on the input entered according to a one-to-one match of the filter string with any selected item or message property. Message properties can include sender, subject, and body of a message. Any items that match the input can be presented to the user in the form of a list. As additional input is entered, the list may dynamically change as more input or less input is received. Thus, any items that match the input appear on the list.