Better Search works out of the box. Install and activate it and you’re ready to go. By default, Better Search integrates with your theme by overriding the main query to display relevant search results. If you turn Seamless Mode off, then Better Search will look for a file called better-search-template.php in your current themes folder....
Better Search Pro enhances the WordPress REST API search results to show posts ordered by relevance. When you enable this feature, a REST API search is performed, and Better Search Pro applies the default search configuration, just as it does for standard WordPress search requests. WordPress core utilizes the REST API in various scenarios, including...
Better Search enhances WordPress’s native search capabilities to deliver more relevant results to visitors. At the heart of this functionality is the Better_Search_Query class, which you can use for optimal search performance on your site. What is Better_Search_Query? The Better_Search_Query class extends WordPress’s native WP_Query class, significantly improving search relevance and performance. It implements MySQL’s...
What is Fuzzy Search? Fuzzy search helps users find results even if their query contains typos, misspellings, or partial matches. By loosening the search criteria, fuzzy search improves accuracy and user satisfaction, especially for sites with a diverse audience or complex search terms. Why Use Fuzzy Search? This is ideal for e-commerce sites, educational resources,...
Better Search uses MySQL Full-Text search to rank results by relevance. Here is how Better Search processes search queries, ranks posts, and calculates relevance. Overview of the Search Algorithm Calculating Relevance When Seamless Mode is disabled (i.e., the advanced search template is used), Better Search displays a relevance percentage to each result: For example, if...
Better Search core plugin is hosted on WordPress.org. This makes installing it on your site just like any other plugin. WordPress install (The easy way) Manual install Installing via WP CLI If you’re using WP CLI, you can install and activate this plugin by running: wp plugin install better-search --activate This plugin can also be...
The Performance tab in Better Search includes options designed to optimize how the search results are queried and displayed, especially for high-traffic or large sites. This section provides options for using custom database tables, caching, and fine-tuning query performance. Efficient Content Storage and Indexing (ECSI) Efficient Content Storage and Indexing (ECSI) is a Better Search...
The Output tab of the Better Search settings page lets you fine-tune how search results are displayed and styled. Display options These settings customize the output of the search results page. Except for the highlight setting, these only apply when Seamless mode is off. Highlight search terms If enabled, search terms are wrapped with the...
The Heatmap tab of the Better Search settings page lets you fine-tune how popular search terms are generated and displayed. Below is an explanation of each available setting. Include heatmap on the search results This option displays heatmaps at the bottom of the search results page, showing popular searches to visitors. It is not applicable...
