Custom Search Page Design & Development
A user enters a query, but the search interface shows an empty list. This typical scenario loses up to 40% of traffic. We design search functionality to handle every case: from an empty field to complex filtering. In one electronics e-commerce project, we revamped the search results page: added autocomplete, grouped results by category, and highlighted matches. Bounce rate dropped by 25% and depth increased by 40%. Our track record: over 8 years and 30+ search projects for websites of all sizes.
According to Nielsen Norman Group, 60% of users prefer search over navigation, making the search results page a key tool for quick content access. A proper search page architecture reduces bounce rate by 25% and increases browsing depth. Time savings on information retrieval can reach 50%.
Three mandatory search page states
The search functionality exists in several states, each requiring a separate layout.
-
Empty search — user opens
/searchwithout a query. Large search bar, hints such as popular queries or categories. - Results found — the main view. Query string at the top, result count, filters, result list, pagination.
- No results — dedicated design: suggested similar queries, spell-check, links to popular sections. According to UX studies, 75% of users expect a helpful no-results page.
Impact of match highlighting on conversion
Match highlighting is critical. We use the <mark> tag with a palette color (usually yellow or primary-light). This increases result clickability by 30%. Sorting is also important: default by relevance, but options for date and popularity. To improve relevance, weighted search with titles and meta-descriptions can be used.
Highlighting is implemented server-side: the query string is tokenized and matched against indexed fields. Matches are wrapped in <mark> via regular expressions. For large datasets, we use the Elasticsearch search engine with an analyzer configured for Russian morphology.
Result layout
For most sites, a two-column layout works: left column (about 280px) for filters, right column for result list. On mobile, filters go into a drawer or accordion above results.
Each result card has a predictable structure:
- Content type (badge): article, service, product
- Title (clickable, with highlighting)
- URL or breadcrumb — where the page lives
- Snippet — 2–3 lines of text with keyword highlighting
- Meta (optional): date, author, category
Filters and sorting
The filter set depends on content:
| Filter type | Examples |
|---|---|
| By page type | Article, case, service |
| By date | Last month, last year, range |
| By category | Tags, sections |
| By language | For multilingual sites |
Active filters appear as chips above results — with a remove button for each and a "Clear all" button.
Why pagination is better than infinite scroll for search?
| Parameter | Pagination | Infinite scroll |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation control | High: user sees total count and can pick a page | Low: hard to return to a specific result |
| Load speed | Each page loads separately | Data loads as user scrolls, possible delays |
| UX for long lists | Suitable: easy to jump to page 5 or 20 | Tiresome: endless scrolling |
For search, we recommend pagination. It allows users to quickly go to a specific page — they find information 2× faster. Infinite scroll is only justified for social media feeds.
What's included in the work?
When ordering turnkey search page design, we provide:
- Audience and scenario analysis.
- Design of all three states and transitions between them.
- Desktop + mobile mockups (Figma or Sketch).
- UI-kit components (search bar, filters, result card, pagination).
- Specification describing states, animations, and highlight rules.
- Handoff to developers: assets, behavior descriptions, quality assurance.
Timeline and guarantee
Design takes 3 to 5 days depending on complexity. We guarantee the design passes Core Web Vitals and adapts to any device. Contact us for an audit of your current search — get advice on structure and filters. Order a turnkey search page design to improve user experience and conversion. Turnkey design starts at $1,500.