Search

Search results page with product grid, filtering, sorting, and multi-type results

The Main Search template displays search results at /search, showing products, articles, and pages matching the search query with filtering, sorting, and pagination options. Optimized search experience with filters and sorting helps customers quickly find what they’re looking for, reducing friction in the product discovery process. Use this template to create a powerful search experience that handles diverse result types and helps convert search intent into purchases.

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Template Settings

Search

Enable Filters

Display filter options for search results.

• Type: Checkbox
• Default: Enabled

When Enabled:

• Product filters appear (price, type, vendor, etc.)
• Customers can narrow results
• Filter UI matches collection filtering
• Works only for product results

When Disabled:

• No filtering available
• Simpler, streamlined search
• Faster implementation

Filters only apply to product results. Articles and pages don’t have filterable attributes and won’t show filters.

Enable Sorting

Display sorting dropdown for search results.

• Type: Checkbox
• Default: Enabled

Sorting Options:

• Relevance (default) - Best match first
• Best Selling
• Alphabetically: A-Z
• Alphabetically: Z-A
• Price: Low to High
• Price: High to Low
• Date: New to Old
• Date: Old to New

“Relevance” sorting uses Shopify’s search algorithm to show best matches first. This is typically the most useful default for search.

Product Grid

Products Per Page

Control how many products display before pagination.

• Range: 8-28 products
• Step: 4 (8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28)
• Default: 16

Recommendations:

• 8-12: Small result sets, faster loading
• 16: Balanced (default, good for most stores)
• 20-28: Large catalogs, reduce pagination

This only affects product results. Articles and pages display separately and don’t count toward this limit.

Pagination Style

Choose pagination behavior:

• Default (default) - Traditional page numbers (1, 2, 3…)
• Load More - Progressive loading with button

“Load More” provides seamless browsing. Traditional pagination is better for SEO and allows jumping to specific result pages.

Cards

Color Scheme for Article Cards

Independent color scheme for article/blog result cards.

• Select from available theme color schemes
• Default: scheme-1
• Affects article card backgrounds and text

Use different scheme for articles vs products to visually separate content types in mixed results.

Color Scheme for Page Cards

Independent color scheme for page result cards.

• Select from available theme color schemes
• Default: scheme-1
• Affects page card backgrounds and text

Layout

Section Width

• Page (default) - Contained within page margins
• Fluid - Extends to container edges

Color Scheme

Main section background color.

• Select from available theme color schemes
• Default: scheme-1
• Separate from card-specific schemes

Spacing

• Top Spacing: 0 (default), 1, 2, 4, or 6
• Bottom Spacing: 0, 1, 2 (default), 4, or 6

Top spacing is 0 by default assuming search banner section appears above.

Borders

• None (default)
• Top Border
• Bottom Border
• Both Borders

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Search Result Types

Shopify search returns multiple content types:

Products

Searchable Fields:

• Product title
• Product description
• Product type
• Vendor
• Tags
• SKU
• Barcode
• Variant titles

Display:

• Product grid (standard product cards)
• Filtering and sorting available
• Add to cart functionality
• Quick view (theme-dependent)

Articles (Blog Posts)

Searchable Fields:

• Article title
• Author name
• Article content/body
• Article excerpt
• Tags

Display:

• Article cards with image, title, excerpt
• Date published
• Author (theme-dependent)
• Read more link to full article
• Uses article card color scheme

If you publish helpful blog content (guides, FAQs), they’ll appear in search, providing value beyond just product listings.

Pages

Searchable Fields:

• Page title
• Page content/body

Display:

• Page cards with title and excerpt
• Link to full page
• Uses page card color scheme

Common Pages in Results:

• About Us
• FAQ
• Shipping & Returns
• Size Guide
• Contact

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Search Behavior

Search Algorithm

Shopify Search Ranking:

Shopify ranks results by relevance based on:

1. Exact title matches (highest priority)
2. Title partial matches
3. Product type matches
4. Tag matches
5. Description matches
6. Variant title matches
7. SKU/barcode matches

Weighting:

• Published products rank higher than drafts
• Available products rank higher than sold out
• Featured products may rank higher

Search Syntax

Special Search Operators:

Exact Phrase:

• Use quotes: "blue sneakers"
• Matches exact phrase only

Multiple Words (AND):

• Default: blue shoes
• Finds results with both words

Partial Words:

• Auto-suggests: sne finds “sneakers”
• Minimum 3 characters for suggestions

Product Type:

• Search by type: product_type:shoes
• Filters to specific product type

Empty Search

When Search Query is Empty:

• Some themes show all products
• Others show “Enter search term” message
• May display popular products
• Or redirect to homepage

Empty search behavior depends on theme implementation. Most Sahara variations show helpful message.

No Results Found

When No Matches:

• “No results for [query]” message displays
• Suggestions for alternative searches
• Featured products or collections (theme-dependent)
• Link to all products
• Search tips or popular categories

Best Practices:

• Suggest related products
• Offer to browse all products
• Link to popular collections
• Provide search tips
• Check for typos (“Did you mean…?”)

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Best practices

Improve search accuracy

Optimize product data with descriptive titles, common search terms in descriptions, relevant tags (color, material, style), accurate product type, variant titles, synonyms, and proper SKU naming. Example: Use “Men’s Blue Canvas Low-Top Sneakers” instead of “Classic Sneaker”.

Filtering strategy

Enable filters for large catalogs (50+ products), multiple product categories, price range variety, and different product types. Disable filters for small catalogs (< 30 products), homogeneous products, simple search needs, or mobile-first audience. Filters configured in Shopify Admin Search & Discovery apply to search results.

Mixed result types

Handle products + articles + pages with visual differentiation using different color schemes (scheme-1 for products, scheme-2 for articles, scheme-3 for pages). Group by type or interleave based on relevance, show type labels, use different card styles. Color-coding helps users quickly scan.

Search performance

Lower products_per_page (12-16) for faster initial load, enable “Load More” pagination, optimize product images, limit active filters (3-5 max), use Shopify’s built-in search. For large catalogs (1000+ products), consider search apps with autocomplete, typo correction, and search history.

Mobile search UX

Use filters in drawer (not sidebar) on mobile, large tappable filter/sort buttons, reduced products per page (12), prominent quick filters (price, availability), easy search refinement access, and back to top button for long results. Mobile searchers have specific intent.

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Use Cases

Product-Focused Store

Filters enabled, sorting by relevance, products prominently displayed

Content-Rich Store

Mixed results (products + helpful articles), different card colors, articles featured

Simple Catalog

No filters, default sorting, minimal options, 12 products per page

Large Inventory

Full filtering, 24 products per page, load more pagination, sidebar filters

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Related Templates

Main Search Banner

Search results page header banner

Predictive Search

Live search suggestions in header search bar

Collection Page

Similar product grid for collection pages

Search Settings

Shopify search configuration in admin

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Troubleshooting

No Results for Expected Terms

Check:

• Products are published (not draft)
• Search terms appear in title/description/tags
• Products not excluded from search
• No typos in product data
• Adequate product information filled in

Test:

• Search by exact product title (should appear)
• Search by product type (should filter properly)
• Check in Shopify Admin if product is searchable

Filters Not Showing

Verify:

• “Enable Filters” checkbox is on
• Filters configured in Admin → Search & Discovery
• Search results include products (filters don’t apply to articles/pages)
• Theme filter settings enabled

Wrong Result Order

Reasons:

• Sorting set to something other than “Relevance”
• Customer changed sort order (dropdown)
• Product availability affecting order (sold out lower)

Fix:

• Reset to “Relevance” sorting
• Verify published/available status
• Check featured product settings

Mixed Result Types Confusing

Solutions:

• Use different color schemes for products vs articles vs pages
• Add “Type” label to cards (“Product”, “Article”)
• Organize results by type (group all products together)
• Consider hiding articles/pages from search (theme-dependent)

Search Too Slow

Optimize:

• Reduce products per page (16 or less)
• Use “Load More” pagination
• Compress product images
• Limit filter complexity
• Consider search app for very large catalogs (1000+ products)
• Enable lazy loading for images

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Quick Summary

• Purpose: Display search results with products, articles, and pages
• URL: /search?q=[query]
• Features: Filtering, sorting, pagination, multi-type results
• Products Per Page: 8-28 (step of 4, default: 16)
• Pagination: Traditional or Load More
• Card Schemes: Separate color schemes for products, articles, pages
• Filters: Product filters only (not for articles/pages)
• Sorting: Relevance, best selling, price, alphabetical, date

Search results are automatically generated by Shopify’s search engine. Improve search accuracy by optimizing product titles, descriptions, tags, and types in Shopify Admin → Products.