Providing contextual hints associated with a user session

Systems, methods, and computer storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that provide contextual indicators associated with a user session are described. Content items within a document associated with a user session are selected. Upon receiving an indication that the user desires to perform a context-aware search, the document associated with the user session is analyzed for contextual information related to the content items selected by the user. Various "contextual indicators" associated with the user session are derived. The contextual indicators are provided for output in association with the user session. The contextual indicators may be fed to a search engine and used to identify search results that the user has an increased likelihood (relative to the current context surrounding the user) of desiring to access.