Clarity on Advanced Search logic
closed
Karthikeyan J
Observation on Advanced Search Behavior in the Knowledge Base
While testing the advanced search functionality in our knowledge base, we observed the following results:
- "Setting" → 922 results
- "Setting push" → 137 results
- "Setting push assign" → 79 results
- "Setting push assign locale" → 461 results
From these examples, it appears that:
In examples 1 to 3, the search uses "AND" logic, returning results that contain all the specified terms.
In example 4, however, the behavior shifts to "OR" logic, likely as a fallback when no exact match is found for all terms.
Suggestion:
To enhance user clarity, we recommend making this fallback behavior transparent, either by displaying a message, providing a UI hint, or including clear documentation about how and when the search logic changes.
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Shakeer Hussain S
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Shakeer Hussain S
Karthikeyan Florian - Thank you for your thoughtful observation on the advanced search behavior in our knowledge base.
As you rightly pointed out, the search initially applies “AND” logic, aiming to return results that match all the words in the query. For instance, a search for “setting push assign” will retrieve results containing all those specific terms. However, when no exact matches are found, especially in longer or more specific queries, such as “setting push assign locale,” the search engine (powered by Algolia) intelligently broadens its scope. This is not a simple “OR” logic fall-back, but a relevance-based ranking mechanism that returns results containing some of the terms, with those matching more of the original query ranked higher.
We understand the need for clarity around this behavior. While we’re not planning any functional changes to the search logic at this time, we’ve updated our documentation to explain how this fallback mechanism works clearly. This ensures users and administrators alike are aware of what to expect during broader queries.
We truly appreciate your feedback and the opportunity to clarify this aspect of the system. Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or suggestions.
N
Navin Kumar
hi Florian Richter,
We use Algolia for the search. The logic is built in their side. Please find this for your reference - https://www.algolia.com/doc/guides/getting-started/how-algolia-works/
Parameswary Annamalai
This request has been created on behalf of Florian Richter