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IntercomExplainer
7 things I wish every search box did - The Intercom Blog
Summary
Search in web applications often fails to deliver speed and relevance, yet it is critical for findability as users cannot browse effectively through large amounts of content. The post, by Algolia’s CEO, presents seven principles: show real results from the first keystroke, search across multiple attributes like name and company without field specification, rank based on object importance and context such as user activity or location, highlight matched terms to explain results, offer faceted filters instead of complex syntax, accept typos and synonyms while ranking approximate matches lower, and ensure consistent mobile and desktop experiences. Ranking should consider dimensions like recent activity or geo-location rather than text frequency, making users feel the search reads their minds. Results must explain why they matched to help users quickly identify the best result. These principles help users find results with minimal effort and make search feel intuitive, addressing the iceberg of search complexity.
Context
The post is a guest contribution from the CEO of Algolia, a hosted search provider, offering advice on improving search in web applications. It argues that good search is rare and provides seven specific recommendations.
Approach / What changed
The post presents seven actionable recommendations: 1) show real results as the user types, 2) search across multiple attributes, 3) use ranking based on object importance and context, 4) highlight matched terms in results, 5) offer faceted filters instead of advanced syntax, 6) accept typos and synonyms, 7) ensure consistent experience across devices.
Takeaways
Autocomplete should show real results, not just query suggestions, to reduce user effort.
Ranking in web products should consider object importance (e.g., recent activity, sales) rather than text frequency.
Search engines should accept typos and synonyms, ranking approximate matches lower than exact matches.
FAQ
How can search show results as the user types?
The post recommends providing real results from the first keystroke, similar to Spotlight, LinkedIn, or Facebook, using tricks to show the right results first.
Why is ranking different for web products than for websites?
In web products, items are small objects with no concept of occurrences or inbound links; ranking should use multiple dimensions like name, color, size, and context like user activity or location.
What is the best way to handle user typos in search?
The search engine should accept typos and synonyms, but rank approximate matches lower than exact matches to maintain relevance.
Source and freshness
- Source
- intercom.com
- Published
- Added to Yomu
Summaries are generated from the original by a language model. Check the original before relying on it.
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