Perplexity and Burstiness with WordPress Search Filters

WordPress, the ever-versatile web development platform that offers limitless functionalities and customization options, is a go-to for website owners. One of its top features is the ability to add search filters to a website with ease, allowing users to filter through content based on their preferences. This enhances the user experience, saves time, and increases site engagement, making it a win-win for all.

What are Search Filters and Why are They Important?

Search filters refer to a set of categories or criteria that website visitors use to narrow their search results. Say you have an e-commerce website with numerous products for sale. Adding filters allows visitors to search and find a specific item in seconds. This enhances efficiency, enables visitors to find what they’re looking for quickly, and reduces cart abandonment rates, ensuring increased engagement, and an improved chance of making a sale.

3 Methods for Adding Search Filters to a WordPress Site

Method 1: Built-in WordPress Widget

WordPress comes with a Search Widget that allows you to add a search field to your sidebar or footer. However, it lacks filtering options, making it a less ideal option for providing advanced filtering features to visitors.

To add the search widget to your sidebar:

• Navigate to Appearance>>Widgets
• Select the “Search Widget”
• Drag it onto your sidebar

Method 2: Using a WordPress Search Plugin

WordPress search plugins provide advanced filtering options on your website, making adding filters much easier. Some popular search plugins include FacetWP, Relevanssi, Advanced Woo Search, and Search & Filter. Here is a guide on how to add a search filter to your WordPress website using a search plugin, using the example of the Search & Filter plugin.

Step 1: Install and activate the plugin

Search & Filter is a free plugin that can be installed from the WordPress plugin repository:

• Navigate to Plugins>>Add New
• Search for “Search & Filter”
• Install and activate it

Step 2: Create a search filter form

After installation and activation, create a custom search filter form:

• Navigate to Search & Filter >> New Form
• Choose from different input fields like checkboxes, radio buttons, or dropdown menus
• Configure the filter criteria for each field

Step 3: Add the search filter form to your WordPress site

Add the shortcode provided by the plugin:

[sf_searchwp form=’your_form_name’]

Congratulations! You have added search filters to your WordPress website using a plugin, making your site more functional and customized.

Method 3: Creating Custom Search Filters with PHP and Javascript

For those with coding skills, creating custom search filters using PHP and JavaScript is possible. This involves creating and customizing the search filters from scratch, without plugins.

Here are the step-by-step instructions:

Step 1: Plan your search filter criteria

Start by planning the filter criteria you wish to add to your website. Each criterion will need to be a WordPress query parameter. For an e-commerce store, common filter criteria include color, price range, and size.

Step 2: Add the HTML markup of the search filter to your website

Create a markup for each filter criterion by using HTML tags such as form, select, and option.

Step 3: Add the CSS style to the search filter

Add the necessary CSS styling to the search filter to change the color, font, and font size.

Step 4: Build the PHP and JavaScript Functionality

Create a form that will submit the filter options to your website’s PHP code. Write a PHP function that retrieves the filter options and creates an object of the WP_Query class. Add JavaScript functions to handle user input and dynamically update the search results on the page.

Integrate the PHP and JavaScript functionality by adding the search filter to your website’s pages and posts.

Conclusion

WordPress search filters are an excellent way to enhance user experience and drive engagement. You can add search filters using WordPress’ built-in search widget, by using WordPress search plugins, or by creating your custom search filters using PHP and JavaScript. Plugins such as Search & Filter offer ease and efficiency while custom search filter solutions give you greater flexibility and control. Which method to choose depends on your business needs and team skills.