How to configure product search accuracy
Configure product search relevance: match accuracy, result count, categories and searching by model or SKU in your online store.
How closely should a query match?
Open “Search settings → General settings”. The relevance filter determines how many query words must match a product.
| Mode | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Broad | For a wider selection: matching at least one word is enough. |
| Balanced | For a balance between quantity and accuracy: at least half the words must match. |
| Precise | For more specific results: at least 75% of the words must match. |
Search by title and boost by description
Search finds products by matching their titles and uses descriptions to refine the order of results. Among the products found, those whose descriptions also contain words from the search query receive higher priority.
This helps show products that match the shopper’s query more closely higher in the results. A match in the description alone does not add a product to the results if its title does not match the query.
When search starts and how many results appear
The minimum character count determines how many characters must be entered before search starts. Matching the beginning of a word has a separate setting.
The result limit determines how many products search returns, within your plan limits. Check that this is enough for typical queries.
Availability and categories
Choose the availability statuses included in search. Statuses appear after loading a feed. If a product cannot be found, check whether its status is enabled.
You can enable status ordering and place preferred statuses higher in the results. You can also choose how products belonging to several categories are displayed.
Search by model or SKU
Strict mode requires a matching model or SKU for queries containing letters and numbers. Enable it if finding a specific model accurately is important for your store.
First check that model or SKU data is included in the feed and configured correctly.
How to test changes
Write down a few queries and the products you expect to see.
Change one setting and save.
Check the same queries using “Preview widget” in the dashboard’s top bar and on the website.
If results get worse, restore the previous value.
Which product fields to search
Under general search settings, choose one of three modes: by title; by title and description; or by title with description boosting. Title-only mode focuses on the product name. Title and description mode also finds products whose description matches. In boosting mode, the description only changes the order of products already found by title; a description-only match does not add a product. Save and compare the modes using real shopper queries.
Category matching and display
Enable category-match priority if you want matching categories to take priority when interpreting a query. Test a category name and a specific product model to compare the result.
Choose the category display mode: only the primary category, all product categories or the deepest child category. Category visibility and manual navigation order are managed under “Catalog → Categories”. Save and check both desktop and mobile navigation.