We’ve got something exciting for you that’s about to level up your website’s search experience. You can now say goodbye to the traditional search process, where you enter a query, hit enter, and wait for the results page.
Astra is introducing the all-new Live Search feature where users will get REST API-based optimized live search.
This guide will walk you through the steps to add live search using the Astra theme.
What is Astra Live Search All About
In the earlier versions of Astra, the search functionality followed a path – users would input their search query, hit enter, and be redirected to a search results page showing posts relevant to the entered keyword.
However, with the Astra version 4.4.0, users can witness search results live, directly from the search bar itself. The search experience has become more dynamic and efficient, offering a real-time preview of results as you type.
Astra Live Search is not just fast; it’s optimized for peak performance. Powered by the REST API, this feature ensures fast search results. Your website’s search functionality becomes more efficient and responsive.
With this new feature, you can engage your users in a new way. With Astra Live Search, they can preview results making the entire search process more interactive and user-friendly.
How to Activate Astra Live Search
Before we get started, ensure you have both the Astra theme and the Astra Pro Addon installed on your WordPress website.
Then only you can unlock a range of functionalities that can improve your search functionality.
For guidance on installing the Astra theme and Astra Pro plugin, refer to the instructions provided in this document: How to Install Astra Pro Addon Plugin.
Now, let’s walk through the simple process of adding live search functionality.
- Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
- Navigate to Appearance > Customize
- From the Customizer, navigate to Header Builder.
- Here, add a Search module to any of the Above / Primary / Below headers.
- Click on it to open the general settings.
- Toggle the option to enable live search.
- From here, you can select the search within post types.
- Once you are done with the choice, click Publish to save the changes.
If you choose the search style as a search box or slide search, you’ll notice a valuable addition – the “Search Width” option. This empowers your website visitors to attain a search bar layout like Amazon’s wide search.
So, explore the possibilities and improve your search bar according to your preferences with Astra’s new customization options.
