Systems and techniques for an information centric network (ICN) distributed search with approximate cache and forwarding information lookup. For example, a search interest packet may be received. Here, the search interest packet includes search criteria and a signal indicating that it is a search interest packet. A search for content—including content in a local content store—that meets the search criteria may then be performed. Once complete, a data packet that includes the results of the search may be transmitted towards an author of the search interest packet.