Faceted search is a way of refining search results by selecting from predefined categories or attributes, such as tags, price ranges, or content types.
It helps users explore and narrow down results in an intuitive, step-by-step way, which makes it especially useful for e-commerce, knowledgebases, and resource hubs.
SearchRovr will soon support faceted search by letting you index and filter WordPress content by categories, taxonomies, and custom fields.
Nuance: Faceted search emphasizes browsability and user-driven discovery, often giving multiple paths to the same result.
See also: Parametric Search
Parametric Search Path
- User starts with a form-like interface or advanced filters.
- They enter parameters all at once:
- Size = 10
- Color = Blue
- Weight ≤ 9 oz
- Heel Drop = 8mm
- Search returns only shoes that exactly meet those parameters.
👉 Feels like querying for a precise match.
Faceted Search Path
- User starts with all shoes.
- They explore by filtering:
- Category: Running Shoes
- Size: 10
- Color: Blue
- Price: Under $100
- Results shrink as each facet is applied, allowing discovery along multiple routes (maybe the user switches to “Trail Shoes” or “Red” if they want).
👉 Feels like browsing and narrowing.