Search filter best practices

1. How search filters can improve your search?
2. Why are search filters important?
3. Should filters be on left or right?
4. What makes a good search bar?

How search filters can improve your search?

You can narrow and customize your search results to find exactly what you want. For example, you can find sites updated within the last 24 hours or photos with license information. Tip: When you use filters, your Search settings don't change.

Why are search filters important?

Having a responsive filtering interface enables all users—whether active searchers or passive browsers—to quickly and effectively refine their interests. It also allows more passive users to effectively browse and find content and products that they may have not otherwise known about.

Should filters be on left or right?

4. Filter bars better showcase filters. By making the filters more prominent on the page and by making them available as the user scrolls a filter bar does a better job of showcasing filters. Presenting filters left to right also makes it very easy for users to quickly see what options are available.

What makes a good search bar?

Include a text field and a search button.

The search box should be just that, a box. You can take some design liberties like adding background contrast, color, or rounding the corners, but the text field should be a text input element with a height of one line of text. Users will easily recognize this.