Define the search query
At the most basic level the search query defines what is being search for within your search index.
There are various features that assist in the constructions of this query. These include:
-
query language and request parameters to help build advanced search queries.
-
features that suggest words that can be submitted as a query
-
options to scope or limit the data that you are searching within
-
features that assist a user to refine a search once they have a set of search results.
Supplying the basics
-
Funnelback query language and search query parameters
Use the Funnelback query language operators and request parameters to craft an interface that allows an appropriate query to be input by the user. This includes providing additional fields and options in your search form to assist when constructing the query.
-
Use the system query when you need to pass in search parameters that will be hidden from the user. These terms will not appear in the search analytics, or in messages printed out in the search results (such as what the user searched for).
-
Define the scope of data that will be searched over. This allows you to provide a much more targeted search. (e.g. just search over publications content on a website.)
Features that assist a user in defining or refining their query
-
Use auto-completion to provide suggested search terms as the user types. This minimizes the chance of creating a query that returns no results, and maximizes the chance of a good set of results being returned as it guides the user to use the language that exists within your content.
-
Contextual navigation (related searches)
Use contextual navigation to provide the user with similar search queries that can assist in refining a set of search results.
-
Use spelling suggestions to provide hints to users for searches that closely match the words that they input.
-
Use faceted navigation to provide the user with a way to easily refine their search and filter the search results based on groupings that you set up.
-
Use quick links to provide users with a search box that is attached to a search results that will only search for items within the site that matches the result.