Section 6.6 Display search results clearly

To streamline the search experience, display the most relevant results first.31 When displaying search results:

  • Use “view more” buttons to show additional search results. 
  • Use clear page titles and include a brief plain language description of each result.58, 112, 117
  • Avoid using long URLs if you can.
  • Use keywords in URLs when possible to help users scan.
  • Include lots of white space between results.
  • Use a large, easy-to-read font.
  • Highlight search terms in the results.112

Figure 6.7: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) search results page lists search results based on how relevant they are to the user’s query, with plenty of white space and brief descriptions for each individual results. Search terms are highlighted for convenience.

Screenshot of the CDC search results page for “flu vaccine.”

Source: https://search.cdc.gov/search/?query=flu%20vaccine&dpage=1