Web-based user interface systems and methods for searching metadata-driven relational databases. Instead of requiring developers to determine the exact type and number of search criteria for each application, the present invention advantageously provides a user-customizable search interface that, in certain aspects, leverages dynamic HTML, JavaScript, and dynamic SQL. A user may choose the exact type and number of search parameters, enabling the user to build a custom report without requiring the user to write any code. The system dynamically builds a SQL search query based on the user identified search parameters. Once a user has built a custom search using the interface, that search may be saved for re-use, and shared with other users.