The design of site search for user experience

have been trying to organize some of the site search and search results page design text out, but also has been feeling too complex, involved in too many things and constantly delay. In-site search for different stations to have the same mission and function, so the design needs will be very big difference. The idea of collecting a piece of information to get an article done was naturally discarded.

Site search, for users, should also be a process of behavior. From the very beginning to realize that there are search requirements, to the input of search terms, and then from the search list to find the possible appropriate results, coupled with possible search errors, etc., the process is actually more complex. It's not easy to do well at every process point when searching for a design. In addition, according to a previous read of a foreigner article talked about, if the user is through the search engine to reach the site, and then in the site search, the user has left the idea. Perhaps the reality of the site is also the case, if the site search results are improper, resulting in the loss of users. So, search is a big proposition, search engine so, site search is also so, all need to make the search user satisfaction. Search design is also a kind of experience design.

I want to divide the whole search plan into several articles to discuss separately, the preliminary idea includes: the basic principle of the search design in the station, the design of the search box, the design of the search result page, the design of no search result page, and the user guide of the search .

I'll talk about that later. I think the most important thing in the search design is to think clearly, Why do users use the search? in accordance with the general design idea, as long as the site navigation design is very good, link guidance is very full, the user step-by-step is also should be able to find the target content, so the search in the station to do the idea is a complementary function. Another way of thinking will be in-site search as a very important need to meet the experience to treat, and navigation function, and is more than direct link to guide the user to communicate with the experience of design. What's good or bad is different from different websites.

In the 01, Jakob Nielsen discussed in the article search:visible and simple Why users use search in the station for two reasons:

* Search lets users control their own destiny and assert independence from websites ' attempt to direct how they use the We B. Testing situations routinely validate this. A Typical comment is: "I don ' t want to have to navigate this site the way they me to." I just want to find the thing I ' m looking for. This is why many users go straight to the home page search function.
* Search is also users ' escape hatch when they are stuck in navigation. When they can ' t find a reasonable place to go next, they often turn to the site ' s search function. This is why your should make search available from every page on the site; You cannot predict where users would be is when they decide they are.

Montana's words are a bit complicated, but the straightforward understanding can be this:

• This user is more "lazy", do not take the usual road

  The site's intended user guidance and navigation is not applicable to him, he is a proficient, accustomed to use his own ideas to find information, and he has a clear sense of what he wants. So, search is the quickest way for him to find the information he wants.

• Users are more annoying, site navigation let him lost his way.

  To be honest, Web site user experience design is often imagined. The envisaged process is likely to not meet the user's real needs, and even the Web site's navigation, user guidance instead of the user in the search for information more confusing. So this time, users will want to use the search function to escape the Web maze. At this time, it is likely that the search is the user's last struggle on the site.