Methods for facilitating references in a chat context and devices thereof

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for facilitating references in a chat context comprising executable code which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform steps comprising:

• receiving a search request via a search panel provided in response to a user interaction with a chat panel;
• generating a token including a special character and generated based on search text in the search request or a unique identifier for one of a plurality of items identified based on a search performed using the search text;
• providing the token to a source of the search request for inclusion in the chat panel as a hyperlink;
• receiving a preview panel request in response to a user interaction with the hyperlink, the preview panel request including the token;
• retrieving content for the items or for the one item based on the special character included in the token;
• and
• providing the content to a source of the preview panel request.

A chat management server apparatus, comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor which is configured to be capable of executing programmed instructions comprising and stored in the memory to:

• receive a search request via a search panel provided in response to a user interaction with a chat panel;
• generate a token including a special character and generated based on search text in the search request or a unique identifier for one of a plurality of items identified based on a search performed using the search text;
• provide the token to a source of the search request for inclusion in the chat panel as a hyperlink;
• receive a preview panel request in response to a user interaction with the hyperlink, the preview panel request including the token;
• retrieve content for the items or for the one item based on the special character included in the token;
• and
• provide the content to a source of the preview panel request.