Feature comparison: Hosted search results vs. API
After you set up a site and we have indexed your content, it is time to think about how you want to display the search results.
We offer two options:
Option 1. Hosted search results (recommended)
- Configure the branding, fonts, and colors of the results page using our Admin Center interface.
- All our search features are available and maintained over time.
- No developer effort on your agency’s part.
Learn more about how to configure the display of the hosted search results page in the Admin Center.
Search results API
- To use this API to display results in your website’s frame, you’ll need developers to create a results page template in your environment .
- You should also use the clicks API to use alongside the Results API — this API reports click activity to our system and will complete your search analytics.
- For searchers to use new search features we introduce over time, your developers will need to update your environment’s results page template.
Learn more about how to use the results API.
Analytics Features | Hosted results page | API |
---|---|---|
Query tracking to see what people searched for on your website | Yes | Yes |
Click tracking to see what people clicked on from the results pages | Yes | Yes, with the clicks API |
Referrer tracking to see where people were when they ran their searches | Yes | No |
Content Features | Hosted results page | API |
---|---|---|
Domains to search by default | Yes | Yes |
Collections to search alternative locations | Yes | No |
Best Bets to “pin” recommended items at the top of results | Yes | Yes |
Routed queries to send searchers to specific pages | Yes | Yes, with additional logic |
Faceted Search | No | Yes |