In a recent Business Bloomer Club Slack thread, a member asked for a simple way to include custom product attribute fields into the WooCommerce search index.
The user was looking for a way to enhance the native WordPress search functionality without adding additional plugins or custom solutions. Here’s a breakdown of the discussion and suggestions offered.
Challenges with WordPress Native Search
It was pointed out that WordPress’s native search is not very efficient, particularly for large eCommerce sites. The database structure isn’t optimized for complex searches, and injecting custom attributes directly into the search index might lead to less relevant results, especially as the number of attributes increases. Furthermore, as more custom fields are added, the search process tends to slow down.
Plugin Solutions for Improved Search
While native search has its limitations, there are plugins that can help improve search functionality:
- Relevanssi: This plugin offers enhanced search capabilities, allowing for better control over what is included in search results, including custom attributes. However, it was noted that these plugins are more suitable for smaller, less trafficked sites. Relevanssi Plugin
- SearchWP: This plugin is another option that allows greater control over what content is indexed and included in search results. However, some users may want to avoid purchasing new plugins if possible. SearchWP Plugin
Despite their advantages, it was also pointed out that these plugins might not scale well for larger sites or high-traffic stores.
Advanced Solutions for Better Search Performance
For significant improvements to search performance, two advanced search engines were recommended:
- Elasticsearch: By integrating Elasticsearch via the ElasticPress plugin, WooCommerce stores can benefit from faster, more relevant search results. Elasticsearch is purpose-built for search, offering control over indexing, weighting of attributes, and better performance overall. However, it was noted that ElasticPress may not work on all hosting platforms.
- Algolia: Similar to Elasticsearch, Algolia provides high-performance search capabilities, particularly useful for larger stores or those experiencing high traffic.
Limitations and Considerations
While Elasticsearch and Algolia provide advanced features, they also require additional setup, hosting, and resources. If you’re on shared hosting or a platform with limited eCommerce support, these solutions might not be viable due to compatibility issues.
It was mentioned that if the site is hosted on certain platforms, installing Elasticsearch might be challenging due to limited support for eCommerce. In such cases, smaller plugins like Search Everything or Relevanssi could still offer some improvements, though they come with expectations that should be managed.
Conclusion
To improve WooCommerce search functionality with custom product attributes, you can explore several options:
- For small sites, Relevanssi, SearchWP, or Search Everything could provide adequate improvements without the need for additional heavy resources.
- For larger sites or those needing better performance, consider integrating Elasticsearch via ElasticPress or using Algolia.
However, keep in mind that some solutions, especially Elasticsearch, might not be feasible depending on your hosting provider.
