QA finding
The search field is too narrow to show a normal query
QA Info Severity: Low
Part of the audit Usability rules. Finding id: qa.smallSearchField.
What it costs you
The visitor cannot see the whole query while typing it, so mistakes go unnoticed and are hard to correct. People then type shorter queries, which find less.
What to do
Make the field wide enough for [min search chars] characters, or let it grow when the visitor clicks in it.
What it checks
- Search box too small
How to fix it
Widen the search field
- Find the field with the selector in the evidence. If a template_id is given, it is part of that template.
- Give it a width that fits [min search chars] characters in its font, or make it expand on focus.
- Check the result at the widths your visitors use; on a phone a search icon that opens a full-width field is the usual answer.
How to check: Type a query of [min search chars] characters into the field: all of it is visible.
Thresholds
| Name | Default | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
min_search_chars | 27 | A search field that shows fewer characters than this is returned. The default is the width the Nielsen Norman Group recommends for a fixed-size search box. |