The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates searching an online content management system for content items associated with a user. During operation, the system receives a call from a client application at a search interface in the online content management system, wherein the client application is operating on behalf of the user. In response to the call, the system performs a lookup in a per-user index within the online content management system, wherein the per-user index facilitates looking up information about content items associated with the user in the online content management system. The system then returns the information obtained during the lookup to the client application. The client application can then use the retrieved information to facilitate an interaction between the client application and the user.