Understanding Magento 2 Search

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 81 views

Introduction

Magento 2 provides a robust search functionality that allows customers to find products based on various criteria. However, by default, the search bar is located at the top of the page, and it searches for products only. In this article, we will explore how to customize the search functionality in Magento 2 to display the search bar above the order grid and search for orders by telephone from the sales order address.

Understanding Magento 2 Search

Magento 2 search functionality is based on the Elasticsearch engine, which provides a powerful and scalable search solution. The search functionality is integrated into the Magento 2 platform through the use of various modules and extensions. By default, the search functionality in Magento 2 is limited to searching for products only.

Customizing Search Bar Location

To customize the search bar location, we need to modify the layout of the order grid page. We can do this by creating a custom layout file and overriding the default layout.

Step 1: Create a Custom Layout File

Create a new file in the app/design/frontend/YourTheme/layout directory, for example, order_grid.xml. This file will contain the custom layout code.

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<layout xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
        xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:framework:View/Layout/etc/layout_generic.xsd">
    <body>
        <referenceBlock name="order.grid">
            <action method="insert">
                <block class="Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template"
                       name="search.bar"
                       template="YourTheme::search_bar.phtml"/>
            </action>
        </referenceBlock>
    </body>
</layout>

In this code, we are inserting a new block called search.bar above the order grid.

Step 2: Create a Custom Template File

Create a new file in the app/design/frontend/YourTheme/templates directory, for example, search_bar.phtml. This file will contain the custom search bar template.

<?php
/**
 * @var \Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template $this
 */
?>
<div class="search-bar">
    <input type="text" id="search-input" name="search-input" placeholder="<?php echo __('Search by keyword') ?>">
    <button type="button" id="search-button"><?php echo __('Search') ?></button>
</div>

In this code, we are creating a simple search bar with an input field and a button.

Step 3: Modify the Search Functionality

To modify the search functionality, we need to create a custom module and override the default search functionality.

Create a new file in the app/code/YourCompany/YourModule/etc directory, for example, module.xml. This file will contain the custom module configuration.

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
        xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:framework:Module/etc/module.xsd">
    <module name="YourCompany_YourModule" setup_version="1.0.0"/>
</config>

Create a new file in the app/code/YourCompany/YourModule/etc/di.xml directory, for example, di.xml. This file will contain the custom dependency injection configuration.

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
        xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:framework:ObjectManager/etc/config.xsd">
    <preference for="Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template" class="YourCompany\YourModule\View\Element\Template"/>
</config>

Create a new file in the app/code/YourCompany/YourModule/View/Element directory, for example, Template.php. This file will contain the custom template class.

<?php
/**
 * @author Your Name
 */
namespace YourCompany\YourModule\View\Element;

use Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template;

class Template extends Template
{
    /**
     * @var \Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template\Context
     */
    protected $_context;

    /**
     * @var \Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template
     */
    protected $_template;

    /**
     * @param \Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template\Context $context
     * @param \Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template $template
     * @param array $data
     */
    public function __construct(
        \Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template\Context $context,
        \Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template $template,
        array $data = []
    ) {
        parent::__construct($context, $data);
        $this->_context = $context;
        $this->_template = $template;
    }

    /**
     * @return string
     */
    public function getSearchInput()
    {
        return $this->_context->getRequest()->getParam('search-input');
    }

    /**
     * @return string
     */
    public function getSearchButton()
    {
        return $this->_context->getRequest()->getParam('search-button');
    }

    /**
     * @return string
     */
    public function getSearchResult()
    {
        $searchInput = $this->getSearchInput();
        $searchButton = $this->getSearchButton();
        if ($searchInput && $searchButton) {
            // Search logic here
            // For example:
            $searchResult = $this->_template->getLayout()->createBlock('Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template')->setTemplate('YourTheme::search_result.phtml')->toHtml();
            return $searchResult;
        }
        return '';
    }
}

In this code, we are creating a custom template class that overrides the default search functionality.

Step 4: Create a Custom Search Result Template

Create a new file in the app/design/frontend/YourTheme/templates directory, for example, search_result.phtml. This file will contain the custom search result template.

<?php
/**
 * @var \Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template $this
 */
?>
<div class="search-result">
    <h2><?php echo __('Search Result') ?></h2>
    <ul>
        <?php foreach ($this->getSearchResultItems() as $item): ?>
            <li>
                <a href="<?php echo $item->getUrl() ?>">
                    <?php echo $item->getName() ?>
                </a>
            </li>
        <?php endforeach; ?>
    </ul>
</div>

In this code, we are creating a simple search result template that displays the search result items.

Step 5: Modify the Order Grid Page

To modify the order grid page, we need to create a custom layout file and override the default layout.

Create a new file in the app/design/frontend/YourTheme/layout directory, for example, order_grid.xml. This file will contain the custom layout code.

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<layout xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
        xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:framework:View/Layout/etc/layout_generic.xsd">
    <body>
        <referenceBlock name="order.grid">
            <action method="insert">
                <block class="Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template"
                       name="search.bar"
                       template="YourTheme::search_bar.phtml"/>
            </action>
        </referenceBlock>
    </body>
</layout>

In this code, we are inserting a new block called search.bar above the order grid.

Step 6: Modify the Order Grid Template

To modify the order grid template, we need to create a custom template file and override the default template.

Create a new file in the app/design/frontend/YourTheme/templates directory, for example, order_grid.phtml. This file will contain the custom order grid template.

<?php
/**
 * @var \Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template $this
 */
?>
<div class="order-grid">
    <h2><?php echo __('Order Grid') ?></h2>
    <table>
        <thead>
            <tr>
                <th><?php echo __('Order ID') ?></th>
                <th><?php echo __('Customer Name') ?></th>
                <th><?php echo __('Order Date') ?></th>
                <th><?php echo __('Total') ?></th>
            </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
            <?php foreach ($this->getOrderGridItems() as $item): ?>
                <tr>
                    <td><?php echo $item->getOrderId() ?></td>
                    <td><?php echo $item->getCustomerName() ?></td>
                    <td><?php echo $item->getOrderDate() ?></td>
                    <td><?php echo $item->getTotal() ?></td>
                </tr>
            <?php endforeach; ?>
        </tbody>
    </table>
</div>

In this code, we are creating a simple order grid template that displays the order grid items.

Step 7: Modify the Search Functionality

To modify the search functionality, we need to create a custom module and override the default search functionality.

Create a new file in the app/code/YourCompany/YourModule/etc directory, for example, module.xml. This file will contain the custom module configuration.

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
        xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:framework:Module/etc/module.xsd">
    <module name="YourCompany<br/>
**Magento 2 Search by Keyword Above Order Grid: Q&A**
=====================================================

**Q: What is the purpose of this article?**
------------------------------------------

A: This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to customize the search functionality in Magento 2 to display the search bar above the order grid and search for orders by telephone from the sales order address.

**Q: What are the benefits of customizing the search functionality in Magento 2?**
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A: Customizing the search functionality in Magento 2 allows you to provide a better user experience for your customers by making it easier for them to find orders based on specific criteria, such as telephone number.

**Q: What are the steps involved in customizing the search functionality in Magento 2?**
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A: The steps involved in customizing the search functionality in Magento 2 include:

1. Creating a custom layout file to insert the search bar above the order grid.
2. Creating a custom template file to display the search bar.
3. Modifying the search functionality to search for orders by telephone from the sales order address.
4. Creating a custom search result template to display the search result items.
5. Modifying the order grid page to display the search bar above the order grid.
6. Modifying the order grid template to display the order grid items.
7. Modifying the search functionality to search for orders by telephone from the sales order address.

**Q: What are the technical requirements for customizing the search functionality in Magento 2?**
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A: The technical requirements for customizing the search functionality in Magento 2 include:

1. Magento 2 installation.
2. Basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and PHP.
3. Familiarity with Magento 2 development.
4. Ability to create custom layout files and template files.
5. Ability to modify the search functionality.

**Q: What are the benefits of using a custom search functionality in Magento 2?**
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A: The benefits of using a custom search functionality in Magento 2 include:

1. Improved user experience.
2. Increased customer satisfaction.
3. Better search results.
4. Customization of search functionality to meet specific business needs.

**Q: What are the potential challenges of customizing the search functionality in Magento 2?**
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A: The potential challenges of customizing the search functionality in Magento 2 include:

1. Complexity of Magento 2 development.
2. Limited knowledge of Magento 2 development.
3. Difficulty in customizing the search functionality.
4. Potential impact on existing functionality.

**Q: How can I troubleshoot issues with customizing the search functionality in Magento 2?**
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A: To troubleshoot issues with customizing the search functionality in Magento 2, you can:

1. Check the Magento 2 logs for errors.
2. Review the custom layout files and template files for errors.
3. Test the search functionality in different browsers and devices.
4. Seek help from Magento 2 development experts.

**Q: Can I customize the search functionality in Magento 2 to search for orders by other criteria?**
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A: Yes, you can customize the search functionality in Magento 2 to search for orders by other criteria, such as customer name, order date, or total.

**Q: How can I ensure that the custom search functionality in Magento 2 is secure?**
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A: To ensure that the custom search functionality in Magento 2 is secure, you can:

1. Use secure coding practices.
2. Validate user input.
3. Use encryption to protect sensitive data.
4. Regularly update Magento 2 and its dependencies.

**Q: Can I use a third-party extension to customize the search functionality in Magento 2?**
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A: Yes, you can use a third-party extension to customize the search functionality in Magento 2. However, be sure to carefully evaluate the extension's features, pricing, and reviews before making a purchase.