Site search and merchandising: the parts, in plain words

46 parts and 16 phrases. Apps in this area include Algolia, Searchanise, Boost AI Search & Discovery, Klevu, Searchspring, Shopify Search & Discovery.

The search boxsearch.queryShowWhat happens between a typed query and a list of matches.

Query matchingsearch.query.matchingShowHow a typed query is matched to products.

How to extend

ProviderOne per storesearch providerA search plugin replaces the built-in matching with an outside search index.

Part	Litestore today	How to extend
Searched fields`search.query.matching.text_fields`The searched fields are the product title, description, tags, category and supplier that a query is matched against.	Core`modules/storefront/search/candidates.ts`	Provider · one
Part-word match`search.query.matching.substring`A part-word match finds products whose text contains the typed letters anywhere, such as shir in shirt.	Core`modules/storefront/search/contains.ts`	Provider · one
Typo tolerance`search.query.matching.typo_tolerance`Typo tolerance matches a misspelt query to products with similar spelling by comparing letter groups.	Core`modules/storefront/search/fuzzy.ts`	Provider · one
Synonyms`search.query.matching.synonyms`A synonym group lists words treated as the same in search, such as laptop and notebook.	Core`modules/storefront/search/synonyms.ts`	Provider · one
Synonym editor`search.query.matching.synonym_editor`A synonym editor lets staff add and change synonym groups in the admin instead of in code.	Plugin	Provider · one
Word stemming`search.query.matching.stemming`Word stemming reduces words to their root, so running and runs both match run.	Plugin	Provider · one
Meaning-based search`search.query.matching.semantic`Meaning-based search compares the query and products by stored text embeddings so related words match without shared spelling.	Plugin	Provider · one
Match strength`search.query.matching.relevance_score`Match strength scores each result by which fields matched and how closely, and orders results by that score first.	Core`modules/storefront/search/match-strength.ts`	Provider · one
Collection and category results`search.query.matching.other_entities`Collection and category results add matching collections and categories beside the matching products.	Core`modules/storefront/search/actions.ts`	Provider · one

Search boxsearch.query.boxShowWhat the shopper sees while typing.

How to extend

SlotOne per storestorefront.slot.global.headerA search plugin replaces the search box and its dropdown.

Part	Litestore today	How to extend
Results while typing`search.query.box.instant_results`Results while typing show matching products in a dropdown after each keystroke, before the query is submitted.	Core`modules/storefront/search/use-search-suggestions.ts`	Slot · one
Recent searches`search.query.box.recent_searches`Recent searches lists the shopper's last queries, stored in their own browser, for one-tap reuse.	Core`modules/storefront/search/mobile-search-overlay.tsx`	Slot · one
Popular searches`search.query.box.popular_searches`Popular searches lists the queries other shoppers type most often.	Plugin	Slot · one
Search results page`search.query.box.results_page`The search results page shows all products matching a submitted query, with the same filters and sorting as any product list.	Core`modules/storefront/feed/facets.ts`	Slot · one
No results message`search.query.box.no_results`The no results message is shown when a query matches nothing.	Core`modules/storefront/search/search-dialog.tsx`	Slot · one
No results fallback`search.query.box.no_results_fallback`A no results fallback shows suggested or popular products instead of an empty page when nothing matches.	Plugin	Slot · one
Search redirect`search.query.box.redirect`A search redirect sends a set query, such as returns, straight to a chosen page instead of a results list.	Plugin	Slot · one

Product listssearch.listingShowHow a list of products is narrowed and ordered.

Filterssearch.listing.filterShowThe controls that narrow a product list.

How to extend

Core onlyFilters are built from catalogue data, so a new filter comes from a new option or specification rather than from a plugin.

Part	Litestore today	How to extend
Category filter`search.listing.filter.category`The category filter narrows the list to products in the ticked categories.	Core`modules/storefront/feed/facets.ts`	Core only
Option filter`search.listing.filter.option`An option filter narrows the list by variant option values, such as size M or colour blue.	Core`modules/storefront/feed/facets.ts`	Core only
Specification filter`search.listing.filter.specification`A specification filter narrows the list by a product fact, such as material.	Core`modules/storefront/feed/facets.ts`	Core only
Price range`search.listing.filter.price_range`The price range filter keeps products whose price falls between a lowest and a highest amount.	Core`modules/storefront/feed/facets.ts`	Core only
On sale filter`search.listing.filter.on_sale`The on sale filter keeps only products with a sale price that is live now.	Core`modules/storefront/feed/facets.ts`	Core only
Vendor filter`search.listing.filter.vendor`The vendor filter narrows the list to products from the ticked sellers or brands.	Core`modules/storefront/feed/facets.ts`	Core only
Filters from the catalogue`search.listing.filter.auto_facets`Filter options are read from the products in the list, so each filter shows only values that exist.	Core`modules/storefront/feed/facet-options.ts`	Core only
In stock filter`search.listing.filter.in_stock`The in stock filter hides products with no available stock.	Plugin	Core only
Rating filter`search.listing.filter.rating`The rating filter keeps products whose average review score is at or above a chosen number of stars.	Plugin	Core only

Sortingsearch.listing.sortShowThe orders a shopper picks for a product list.

How to extend

Core onlySort orders are a short fixed list in core.

Part	Litestore today	How to extend
Featured order`search.listing.sort.featured`The featured order is the list's own default order, set by its feed strategy or collection order.	Core`modules/products/sort.ts`	Core only
Newest first`search.listing.sort.newest`Newest first orders products by the date they were added, latest at the top.	Core`modules/products/sort.ts`	Core only
Name order`search.listing.sort.name`Name order lists products alphabetically from A to Z or Z to A.	Core`modules/products/sort.ts`	Core only
Price order`search.listing.sort.price`Price order lists products from the lowest price to the highest, or the reverse.	Plugin	Core only

Merchandising rulessearch.merchandisingShowThe rules that set which products show first in a list.

How to extend

SectionMany side by sidestorefront.section.feedThe feed section places a ranked product list on any storefront page.
Assistant toolMany side by sideupdateFeedThe assistant changes a feed's strategy or collection through this tool.

Part	Litestore today	How to extend
Product feed`search.merchandising.feed`A product feed is a saved product list with a ranking strategy, an optional collection scope and a layout, shown on a storefront page.	Core`modules/storefront/admin/feed/crud.ts`	Section · manyAssistant tool · many
New arrivals ranking`search.merchandising.new_arrivals`The new arrivals ranking puts the most recently added products first.	Core`modules/storefront/feed/strategies.ts`	Section · manyAssistant tool · many
Bestseller ranking`search.merchandising.bestsellers`The bestseller ranking puts the products with the most sales first.	Core`modules/storefront/feed/strategies.ts`	Section · manyAssistant tool · many
Trending ranking`search.merchandising.trending`The trending ranking puts the products with the most sales in the last seven days first.	Core`modules/storefront/feed/strategies.ts`	Section · manyAssistant tool · many
On sale ranking`search.merchandising.sale_first`The on sale ranking shows only products with a live sale price, newest first.	Core`modules/storefront/feed/strategies.ts`	Section · manyAssistant tool · many
Rotating order`search.merchandising.rotate`The rotating order shuffles the whole list differently for each visit; the other rankings keep their first products fixed and shuffle only the rest.	Core`modules/storefront/feed/rotated-products.ts`	Section · manyAssistant tool · many
Repeat with another photo`search.merchandising.image_interleave`This rule repeats a product further down the list with a different photo of it, so the list shows more of each product.	Core`modules/storefront/feed/interleave.ts`	Section · manyAssistant tool · many
Pin`search.merchandising.pin`A pin fixes a chosen product at a set position in the results for a query or list.	Plugin	Section · manyAssistant tool · many
Boost`search.merchandising.boost`A boost moves products that match a condition, such as a brand or tag, higher in the results.	Plugin	Section · manyAssistant tool · many
Bury`search.merchandising.bury`A bury moves products that match a condition, such as out of stock, lower in the results.	Plugin	Section · manyAssistant tool · many
Hide from results`search.merchandising.hide`A hide rule removes chosen products from the results for a query or list.	Plugin	Section · manyAssistant tool · many
Personalised ranking`search.merchandising.personalised`Personalised ranking orders products for each shopper by what they viewed, liked and bought before.	Planned	Section · manyAssistant tool · many

Search reportssearch.analyticsShowWhat shoppers searched for and what they did next.

How to extend

EventMany side by sideevent.browse.searchedA plugin records or reacts to each search a shopper runs.

Part	Litestore today	How to extend
Search event`search.analytics.search_event`A search event records each query a shopper runs and sends it to the store's analytics.	Core`modules/storefront/search/candidates.ts`	Event · many
Top queries report`search.analytics.top_queries`The top queries report lists the most searched words over a period with their counts.	Planned	Event · many
Zero results report`search.analytics.zero_results`The zero results report lists queries that matched nothing over a period.	Planned	Event · many
Searches without clicks`search.analytics.no_clicks`This report lists queries whose results no shopper clicked.	Plugin	Event · many
Search sales`search.analytics.search_conversion`Search sales counts the orders placed after a search and the revenue from them.	Plugin	Event · many

Phrase	Made of
typo tolerance	search.query.matching.typo_tolerance
fuzzy search	search.query.matching.typo_tolerance
instant search	search.query.box.instant_results
autocomplete	search.query.box.instant_results
search synonyms	search.query.matching.synonyms
faceted search	search.listing.filter.auto_facets search.listing.filter.option search.listing.filter.price_range
product filters	search.listing.filter.category search.listing.filter.option search.listing.filter.price_range
boost and bury	search.merchandising.boost search.merchandising.bury
pinned products	search.merchandising.pin
visual merchandising	search.merchandising.pin search.merchandising.boost search.merchandising.bury search.merchandising.hide The phrase names a drag-and-drop screen for these rules on a list.
zero results	search.query.box.no_results search.analytics.zero_results
search redirects	search.query.box.redirect
semantic search	search.query.matching.semantic
search analytics	search.analytics.search_event search.analytics.top_queries search.analytics.zero_results
collection sorting	search.listing.sort.featured search.merchandising.new_arrivals search.merchandising.bestsellers
personalized search	search.merchandising.personalised

Site search and merchandising

What the phrases mean

Phrases left out

Sources