The Recent Searches box keeps track of searches you have recently carried out. Every time you carry out a new search, an item is added to this list, up to a set maximum. If the maximum number of recent searches is reached, older searches fall off the list. Only your searches appear in this list - searches you carry out will not show up in other people's recent searches list, and searches other people carry out will not show up in yours.

The list remembers your searches while you remain logged on; once you log off, the list is forgotten and will be empty next time you log on. (Note that the list is not always cleared immediately - if you log off log back on again within a few minutes, your list of recent searches may still be there.)

To repeat a search, simply click on the text in the list. To remove a search from the list, click the icon; to save a search to your Saved Searches list, click the icon. (See the help topic on Saved Searches for details of how they work.) The Clear button at the bottom of the Recent Searches list will empty the list.

It is important to note that what is stored in your recent searches list is the details of the search you carried out and not the results of that search. This means that when you click on a recent search, that search is repeated anew - any members who have altered their records since you last carried out the search such that their record now matches your search will be included, and any who have edited it such that their record no longer matches your search will not.