Visual Autocomplete with React Library (Winter '21 Release)

When building AI Search via Answers Headless or Answers Headless React you can use Visual Autocomplete to surface rich entity results as a user types in your search bar, before they’ve even run their search.

For example, madlibs-style prompts can direct users to a specific vertical that may be most relevant to their search query, such as directing users searching for “iphone 12” towards the “Cell Phones” or “Sales” verticals.

Additionally, you can surface individual entities that may be of interest in autocomplete, like including FAQs or previews of products in the drop down.

Plus, included in the component is the ability to surface recent searches so users can re-run queries they have searched for in the past. And of course, the standard text Query Suggestions will also continue to be available.

Visual Autocomplete is currently available as a sample component in the React Site Search Starter using Answers Headless React. Support for Visual Autocomplete in the Answers Hitchhikers Theme is planned for future releases, so stay tuned.

For more details on building AI Search using Answers Headless React and Answers Headless visit our guide, or our Answers React and Headless documentation.

Is the recent searches functionality mentioned here only available when building AI search via Answers Headless React and Answers Headless?

Hi Laura,

That’s correct. Visual Autocomplete is currently only available when building AI Search via Answers Headless React and Answers Headless.

Support for Visual Autocomplete within other methods of building the frontend, such as the Answers Hitchhikers Theme, is planned for future releases, so stay tuned.

Thanks Caroline. Just to confirm is the concept of “recent searches” also being displayed to users only available when building AI Search via Answers Headless React and Answers Headless

Ah yes, correct, that is also part of the component in the React Site Search Starter using Answers Headless React.

1 Like