Search (bar)

When to use

• Large bodies of content. There will always be users who would benefit from being able to search your site.

When to consider something else 

• Very small sites. On single-page or very small sites, you may be able to get away without a search bar.

Usability guidance

• Make the input at least 27 characters wide. Allow the search component to be as wide as possible, but a minimum of 27 characters wide. This allows users to enter multiple search terms and still be able to see all of them. The more users can see their search terms, the easier it is to review, verify, and submit their search query. Romance languages are about 20% longer than English, so account for text swell on multilingual websites.
• The magnifying glass icon is effective. The magnifying glass has been shown to be almost universally recognized by users as an indicator of search, and doesn’t need to be visually paired with the word “Search” as long as it remains for screen readers.
• Search terms should persist into search results. When displaying the search results, preload the search bar content with the original search terms.
• Don’t offer advanced search as the default. The majority of people will do a simple search with one or two search terms. If advanced search is offered, it increases the likelihood of mistakes.
• Use a label even if it’s visually hidden. The form field should include a label for screen reader users.
• The search button should be a submit button. This reduces the number of keystrokes required to use the form.

Accessibility guidance - NEEDS REVIEW

• Customize form controls accessibly. If you customize this component, ensure that it continues to meet the accessibility requirements that apply to all form controls.
• Include the word “Search” in the button. Always include the word “search” inside the <button> element for screen readers. You can visually hide this text using the CSS class usa-sr-only or Sass mixin @include sr-only.