Search Options In Avada

Last Update: April 18, 2024

We search for information on a daily basis on the Internet, and our websites should be able to be searched as well. Avada offers a range of search features and functionality, which we will go over in this document, and new features are regularly being added. In Avada 5.9, we added new functionality to search, including a whole new tab in the Avada Global Options, and in Avada 6.2, we added the Search Element. We have also added options for filtering what content is searchable, a range of ways of displaying that content, and a ‘live search’ feature. Try it below, and watch the video for a visual overview.

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How To Enable Search

To enable search on your Avada website, there are several options.

  • Add an Avada Special Menu Search Item To The Menu Element – When using a Header Layout, you can add an Avada Special Menu Search Item to your WordPress menu, which then displays via the Menu Element.

  • Add a Search Element – You can place a Search Bar anywhere in your content by placing the Search Element into your page content (as in the example search bar above) or in a Layout Section, such as a Header, Page Title Bar etc.

  • Add A Search Widget – You can add a Search Widget to any Avada Widget Ready area (like a sidebar or footer) or anywhere in your content using the Widget Element.

  • Enable the Search Icon on the Main Menu (Legacy method) – In the Global Options, at Avada > Options > Main Menu, there is an option to enable a Main Menu Search Icon. This places a search icon at the far right of your existing main menu. This is only availble when not using Avada Layouts.

  • Use the Search Bar Option in a Page Title Bar (Legacy method) – If you use a Page Title Bar, you can replace the Breadcrumbs with a Search Bar, either globally at Avada > Options > Page Title Bar > Breadcrumbs / Search Bar, or on a page by page basis in the Page Title Bar tab of the Avada Page Options. Again, this is only availble when not using Avada Layouts.

Avada Special Menu Item – Search

When using Avada Layouts, and the Menu Element, you can add an Avada Special Search Menu Item to your WordPress menu, and it will display via the Menu Element.

Search Element

The Search Element is perhaps the most versatile way to add search functionality to your website. See the Search Element documentation for more details.

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Search Widget

You can also add search functionality to your site through the use of widgets. The Search Widget can be added to any Widget Ready Area in Avada, such as sidebars or footers, or indeed anywhere in your content with the Widget Element. There is also a Product Search Widget if you have WooCommerce installed.

Live Search

The settings for Live Search can be found in the Search Element, and in the Global Options at Options > Search > Search Form tab. If you turn it on, you will see many options underneath it to control its appearance and functionality. You can set a minimal Character count for it to kick in, limit the number of posts the live search will suggest, control the height of the Live Search Results Container, and control whether the featured image and post type are displayed in the results.

Results show as soon as the minimum number of characters is reached (see image below). However, if the user hits Enter after they type, the search page will load instead.

Live Search Results

Global Options

These are found in the Global Options, at Avada > Options > Search.

Search Form Options

  • Limit Search Results Post Type – Turn on to limit the search results to specific post types you can choose.

  • Search Results Content – Controls the type of content that displays in search results. This is a multi-select option. Choices are Pages, Posts, Portfolio Items, FAQ Items, WooCommerce Products, and Event Calendar Posts.

  • Limit Search to Post Titles – Turn on to limit the search to post titles only.

  • Search Form Design – Controls the design of the search forms. Choose from Classic or  Clean.

  • Enable Live Search – Turn on to enable live search results on the menu search field and other search forms.

  • Live Search Minimal Character Count – Set the minimal character count to trigger the live search.

  • Live Search Number of Posts – Controls the number of posts that should be displayed as search result suggestions.

  • Live Search Results Container Height – Controls the height of the container in which the search results will be listed. In pixels.

  • Live Search Display Featured Image – Turn on to display the featured image of each live search result. Choose from Yes or No.

  • Live Search Display Post Type – Turn on to display the post type of each live search result. Choose from Yes or No.

Search Page Options

  • Search Results Layout – Controls the layout for the search results page. Choose from Large, Medium, Large Alternate, Medium Alternate, Grid, or Timeline.  

  • Number of Search Results Per Page – Controls the number of search results per page.

  • Search Pagination Type – Controls the pagination type for the search results page.

  • Number of Columns – Controls the number of columns for grid and masonry layouts. IMPORTANT: Masonry layout does not work with 1 column. 

  • Column Spacing – Controls the column spacing for search results. In pixels.

  • Search Content Display – Controls if the search results contents display as an excerpt or full content or are completely disabled. Choose from Excerpt, Full Content, or No Text.

  • Search Excerpt Length – Controls the number of words (or characters) in the search results excerpts. 

  • Search Strip HTML from Excerpt – Turn on to strip HTML content from the excerpt for the search results page. 

  • Featured Images for Search Results – Turn on to display featured images for search results.

  • Search Results Meta – Select the post metadata you want to be displayed in the individual search results. Possible metadata options are Author, Date, Categories, Comments, Read More Link, Tags, and Post Type.

  • Search Field Position – Controls the position of the search bar on the search results page. Choose from Above Results, Below Results, or Hide.

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