Foundation · 2 min
What you need to know
What path might a customer take?
Someone browses a category, filters to one option and then sorts by price. Another customer searches for a specific product directly and may filter those results to items currently in stock.
What if the store is small?
A store with a handful of clearly different products may need simple categories and search, but no elaborate filters. Add a filter when a category contains enough meaningful choices that shoppers struggle to narrow them.
How do these tools work together?
A search result can offer the same useful facets as the matching category. A category link in search suggestions helps a shopper move from a vague term to a browsable group. Never make a product findable by only one hidden route.
A simple check to try
Begin from the homepage and find one product by browsing and another by search. Note any lost category, filter or search context.
Foundation · 2 min
Frequently asked questions
Does a large catalog automatically need advanced search?
Catalog size is a clue, but varied attributes and actual shopper failures are stronger reasons. Test common tasks before choosing a feature.
Do search, categories and filters connect automatically?
Verify the active theme and search configuration. Test the combined path because supported controls alone do not prove the journey works.