Usability Guidelines for Search Engines
The Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines about Search, Chapter 17 (Usabillity.gov) offer nine guidelines that you should follow when designing a search function for your website. We list the guidelines for you below. Please refer to the link above for the full discussion that includes comments and examples.
What to Do
- Ensure that the results of user searches provide the precise information being sought, and in a format that matches users’ expectation.
- Design search engines to search the entire site, or clearly communicate which part of the site will be searched.
- Treat user-entered upper- and lowercase letters as equivalent when entered as search terms.
- Provide a search option on each page of a content-rich website.
- Construct a website’s search engine to respond to users’ terminology.
- Structure the search engine to accommodate users who enter a small number of words.
- If more than one type of search option is provided, ensure that users are aware of all the different types of search options and how each is best used.
- Include specific hints to improve search performance.
- Provide templates to facilitate the use of search engines.
The Best Practices for Search Checklist has additional suggestions you should follow when designing a search function for your website.
Resources
- Designing a Search People Can Really Use
(PDF, 1.06MB, 2003, requires Adobe Acrobat Reader ) - Lower-Literacy Users
- Search Engine User Interface and User Experience
- Search: Visible and Simple
- On Beyond Help: User Assistance and the User Interface
Page Updated or Reviewed: March 13, 2007
