WordPress | Updated January 2026
WordPress includes a built-in site search that lets visitors find content on your site. If the default search is not good enough, there are plugins that significantly improve search quality and speed.
Built-In Search
WordPress search works out of the box
Add a search widget: go to Appearance > Widgets, add the "Search" widget to your sidebar or footer. Most themes also include a search bar in the header. WordPress searches post titles, content, and excerpts by default.
01. Improving WordPress Search
The default search is basic. For better results:
- SearchWP - A premium plugin that searches custom fields, PDF content, taxonomy terms, and e-commerce products with relevance weighting
- Relevanssi - Free plugin that replaces the default search with a better algorithm, partial matching, and highlighting
- Ajax Search Lite/Pro - Adds live search-as-you-type functionality with image previews
For site performance optimization, see Optimize WordPress Performance.
WordPress Help?
Open a Support TicketQuick Recap
- Built-in search - Add via Appearance > Widgets
- Searches titles and content by default
- Relevanssi (free) for better search quality
- SearchWP (premium) for advanced features
- Ajax search plugins for live search-as-you-type
WordPress features · Last updated March 2026 · Browse all WordPress articles
