Search Block

Search the right content, not necessarily the whole site

The Search block provides full-text search, result cards, metadata, preview images, and pagination. Its Search Scope settings decide which part of the CMS can appear before a visitor types anything.

The live demo above is the real Luna Search block, scoped to the documentation directory and configured to return documentation content in alphabetical order.

Add a Search block

1. Add Search from the Data category.

2. Choose a Search Directory when the search should cover only one branch, such as /docs or /blog.

3. Decide whether subfolders are included, then restrict the Allowed Content Types if only one schema should appear.

4. Add fixed filters only when every result must satisfy those conditions.

5. Configure result details and test specific, broad, misspelled, and empty queries.

[REVIEW] IMAGE ABOVE IS BLURY RETAKE SCREENSHOT

Choose the search directory

Search Directory limits the block to one folder or page branch. Select /docs for documentation-only search, /blog for articles in the blog, or leave it empty when visitors must search the complete site.

Enable Include Subfolders to search the complete tree below that path. Disable it when only direct children of the selected directory should be eligible.

Allow only the required content types

Allowed Content Types can stay on All content or contain one or more exact CMS types. Combining Search Directory /docs with the docs type prevents unrelated images, folders, or other schemas from entering the result set.

Choose the type first, then test a known item from that type. Type identifiers are schema-specific, so use the values offered by the selector rather than typing an assumed label.

Pre-filter with tags, metadata, or indexed custom fields

Filter by applies author-defined constraints before the visitor searches. Use Tags for a fixed topic, standard metadata for fields already indexed by Luna, or an indexed custom field when the content type defines one.

For custom metadata, open Manage Site → Content Types, edit the exact content type, add or select the field, and enable Indexed. After the field is indexed and populated on content items, it becomes available to compatible filter and sorting controls.

Do not confuse these fixed filters with the words entered by the visitor: the final result must satisfy the scope, content type, fixed filters, and search query together.

[REVIEW] FOR THE CATEGORY ABOVE ADD SCREENSHOTS MORE

Sort the result set

Sort By supports Modified Date, Created Date, Publication Date, Title, and compatible sortable indexed fields. Sort Order can be Ascending or Descending. Alphabetical documentation search commonly uses Title with Ascending order; news search commonly uses Publication Date with Descending order.

Control result cards and pagination

Placeholder describes the searchable collection. Items Per Page offers 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 results. Smaller pages are easier to scan and reduce the amount of content rendered at once.

Show Description, Content Type, Date, Path, and Preview Image independently. When Preview Image is enabled, choose Square, Video, or Portrait aspect ratio based on the source media and result density.

Style Panel targets

Style Body, Search, Input, Button, Result, Image, Title, Description, Meta, State, and Pagination. Button, Result, Image, Title, and Pagination expose hover-capable targets; preserve a visible keyboard focus state as well.

Test useful search states

Test the initial state, loading, no results, one result, several pages, missing preview images, long titles, and keyboard submission. The query field, result links, and pagination must remain usable on mobile without horizontal scrolling.

Tips and common mistakes

• Narrow the collection with Search Directory and Allowed Content Types before adding several filters.

• Index a custom field before expecting it to appear in Filter by or Sort By.

• Use a helpful no-results state and avoid a generic placeholder such as “Search…” when the scope is not obvious.

• Test pagination and result links with real published content.

Quick recipe

Select one directory, include subfolders only when needed, choose the exact content type, add only essential fixed filters, set a useful sort order, display the metadata visitors need, and verify empty plus multi-page results.