1. The search bar is built in
Shopify describes the online store search as built-in functionality that operates from a search bar or search field on your website. Core features such as predictive search and typo tolerance are available by default to every merchant with an online store, so there is nothing to install for a basic search bar.
Predictive search shows suggested results as customers type, without sending them to a search results page first. It only appears if it is a feature of your published theme. Shopify says it is available for compatible themes and can be added to custom storefronts with the Predictive Search API.
2. What predictive search returns
By default, predictive search returns up to 10 results in total across the requested result types. Shopify points out that the full search results page usually has more. New stores request query, product and collection results by default; you can change the result types in the free Search & Discovery app.
Query results are suggested search terms based on words from your product catalogue and on past customer searches. Product suggestions are based on what the customer typed and the top suggested search term. An SKU or barcode is matched exactly as entered, and when a search uses search syntax, predictive search returns no query results.
3. Which product fields are searched
Product suggestions always search title, description, product type, tags, vendor, variant title, variant SKU and variant barcode. Developers can change the result limits through the Predictive Search API, but Shopify says they can't change which properties product suggestions search.
Product suggestions work in your store's primary language and on translated versions of the store. Predictive search isn't available in every language; the Shopify developer documentation lists the supported ones.
- Put the words customers actually type into title, product type or tags, since metafields are not in the list above.
- Make sure SKUs and barcodes are filled in on every variant.
- Type ten typical queries into your own search bar and note what the first suggestions are.
4. When a separate search is worth a test
If the fixed field list or the 10 suggestions are not enough, for example because colour or material sit in metafields, a separate search can help. Compare it with the same ten queries before you switch.
Grumeria has no Shopify app. It reads your store's public product data via https://grumeria.com/api/shopify-feed?shop=your-shop.com, without a feed app, and a small widget connects to your theme's existing search field. As customers type, it shows matching products along with category and brand suggestions, finds products despite typos and searches every feed field you mark as searchable.