Recommendation 8.1.2 Differing searches for skill levels if searching provided
The New Zealand Web Standards 2.0 were released in March 2009 and replace the previous version, the New Zealand Government Web Standards 1.0 (below). See Meeting the standards for more information.
The Recommendation
Recommendation 8.1.2 Differing searches for skill levels if searching provided. If search functions are provided, enable different types of searches for different skill levels and preferences
Guide to this recommendation
Specifications and guidelines for search engine technology is beyond the scope of this document. Attempting to employ “intelligence” within a search engine to predict what a user is looking for heads off into some very complex technological areas.
Some simpler guides that can enhance the usability and accessibility of a search facility are:
- catering for incorrect spelling, for instance, abbreviations and missing vowels.
- searching for the plural and non-plural instances of entered words.
This recommendation covers the W3C WAI checkpoint 13.7 for NZ government agencies.
Rationale for this recommendation
Searching is a further aid to navigation, thus enhancing the usability and accessibility of the web site. Not all users know the correct spelling of a word or phrase they are searching for, and not all users have the natural language of the web site as their primary language.
If the underlying search engine facility can employ a degree of intelligence with respect to what a user has entered, even if not matching exactly a word or passage of text within the site, the accessibility and usefulness of the site is further enhanced.
