Understanding 'No Search' Features in Digital Platforms

"No Search" In Context: Removing Search Results and Preventing Unwanted Searches

You may have noticed the phrase "No Search" or its variants on the internet, like on Google extensions, Bing, and even in software contexts. This term has become a shorthand for various features and settings that aim to remove or prevent certain search results.

The Google Extension "No Search For"

One notable example is the Chrome extension "No Search For," which eliminates the "People also searched for" box that typically appears below search results after navigating back from them. This feature provides a more predictable and streamlined user experience on search result pages.

An Issue with "no_search" in the typo3-dd_googlesitemap

In the context of website SEO, the term "no_search" has also been used to exclude pages from a sitemap, such as in the typo3-dd_googlesitemap tool for the content management system TYPO3. However, the use of "no_search" in this case is considered suboptimal because it's not a standard field for excluding pages from search engine indexing, which can lead to confusion and inaccurate exclusion of pages.

"No Search" on Bing

Bing Chat, Microsoft's AI-powered chat feature, offers the ability to exclude web search results when providing an answer. Users can add #no_search at the end of a query to request that Bing Chat not search the web for an answer. This feature can be particularly useful for specific queries that relate to coding, math, or other areas where searching the web may not add value.

"No Search" in ServiceNow

ServiceNow, a popular IT service management platform, uses the "No Search" field to prevent catalog items from being visible on portals and from being searchable. This feature can be beneficial for hiding incomplete items, or products that are not available for purchase, thus preventing confusion for customers.

As you can see, the term "No Search" has evolved to encompass a variety of features and settings across different platforms and contexts. It ultimately aims to provide users with more control over search results and to prevent unwanted content from appearing.