Advanced Search Product Catalog
Dear habraly people - lovers of convenient interfaces! I decided to raise an interesting and very important topic. What type of advanced search on the product catalog on the site will be the most convenient and easy to use?
What we have:
1. A large catalog of any goods.
2. The goods are divided into categories.
3. Products are divided into brands and models.
4. Goods have different prices.
5. Products have important technical parameters for selection.
6. There are used goods.
7. Goods have various suppliers.
What search can be offered on a wide database of products so that you can quickly refine your search by highlighting only the right products by the necessary technical and operational parameters?
I will offer 2 options for organizing an advanced search, which one is the most convenient, or maybe you will offer another option?
1st approach. We have some form of advanced search on a separate page on which using the checkboxes and drop-down lists we mark the necessary parameters, as well as enter the price range for the goods. When each parameter is checked, in order to exclude the display of the “Nothing Found” page, the number of products filtered by the search that matches the specified parameters is displayed. Next, after completing the selection by parameters, we click the "Show" button. We are sent to a list of fully valid product searches.
2nd approach. The page with the list of products already contains blocks (on the right, left or top) with refinement filters for various tech. parameters, including the price and brand of the manufacturer. After selecting a search parameter, the list of products on this page immediately (using AJAX) changes, thereby we can refine the search until we find the product we need in all parameters. All selected parameters in the filter are highlighted and, when clicked again, are deactivated, changing search results accordingly.
I am inclined to the second approach, therefore I will describe its advantages and possible disadvantages.
Advantages of the second approach:
1. Visibility - a list of values is displayed immediately.
2. The possibility of sequential refinement of the search.
3. Only existing ranges are displayed, that is, There are no pages in the search with no result.
4. The number and quality of views is increasing.
Cons of the second approach:
1. The load on the server when updating the search?
2. Not everyone can adequately perceive instant filtering?
I would like to hear from you which search option would be most convenient? What other disadvantages can the second approach contain?
What we have:
1. A large catalog of any goods.
2. The goods are divided into categories.
3. Products are divided into brands and models.
4. Goods have different prices.
5. Products have important technical parameters for selection.
6. There are used goods.
7. Goods have various suppliers.
What search can be offered on a wide database of products so that you can quickly refine your search by highlighting only the right products by the necessary technical and operational parameters?
I will offer 2 options for organizing an advanced search, which one is the most convenient, or maybe you will offer another option?
1st approach. We have some form of advanced search on a separate page on which using the checkboxes and drop-down lists we mark the necessary parameters, as well as enter the price range for the goods. When each parameter is checked, in order to exclude the display of the “Nothing Found” page, the number of products filtered by the search that matches the specified parameters is displayed. Next, after completing the selection by parameters, we click the "Show" button. We are sent to a list of fully valid product searches.
2nd approach. The page with the list of products already contains blocks (on the right, left or top) with refinement filters for various tech. parameters, including the price and brand of the manufacturer. After selecting a search parameter, the list of products on this page immediately (using AJAX) changes, thereby we can refine the search until we find the product we need in all parameters. All selected parameters in the filter are highlighted and, when clicked again, are deactivated, changing search results accordingly.
I am inclined to the second approach, therefore I will describe its advantages and possible disadvantages.
Advantages of the second approach:
1. Visibility - a list of values is displayed immediately.
2. The possibility of sequential refinement of the search.
3. Only existing ranges are displayed, that is, There are no pages in the search with no result.
4. The number and quality of views is increasing.
Cons of the second approach:
1. The load on the server when updating the search?
2. Not everyone can adequately perceive instant filtering?
I would like to hear from you which search option would be most convenient? What other disadvantages can the second approach contain?