3.4 KiB
Research: search functionality
How do various mapping platforms offer the 'search'-functionality? This research in preparation for the search functionality
The search bar is visible from the start at the top left.
When the search bar is focused, the 'recent'-searches are shown.
When typing a category, options for this category are listed in the sidebar and on the map. Hovering over them will shop a pin on their location on the map.
Note that filters are suggested on the top left.
When clicking a docter, another side bar (more to the middle) shows the basic info, never obscuring the search results:
Mobile
The sidepanels are shown fullscreen, the map view is not visible
Apple
Desktop
The newly launched apple Maps has a prominent side bar, showing 'search', 'guides' and 'directions'.
Clicking the search opens another sidebar, which features:
- The search bar
- Recently searched
- Find Nearby (with some common POI categories)
Starting to type a search will offer some options under the searchbar; searching results in many options. This searches nearby (< 100km) and shows a not very obvious pin on the map. Hovering over an option in the UI has no effect on the map.
Searching a place will open a new sidebar, with some basic information, e.g. the wikipedia article and some pictures
Mobile
The browser version is not supported on small screens - except on iPhones. Luckily, there are plenty online tutorials around
A similar pattern appears here, even though, when selecting an option from the search result list, this option will receive a huge pin.
Bing
Desktop
Very similar to google/Apple
A popup on the map is shown on hover, but utterly useless as unhovering the entry will hide the popup. This popup is also triggered when hovering the pin, but here it is possible to move into the popup.
However, clicking the entry or pin will open the entry for the POI:
Mobile
(Note: trying the responsive design doesn't properly work)
A bottom card shows all the entries, the map view is completely hidden
OpenStreetMap
A simple list with entries is shown on the left, hovering an entry will reveal the location on the map
Here Maps (Here We Go)
(Note: does not work on librewolf)
This offers a very clean, minimalistic approach with cold colours.
Note that search pins where two entries are at the same location, get a different colour.
OsmAnd
OsmAnd is not known for it's userfriendliness.
The flow is:
- Select the search button
- A screen is opened with a search button on top + tab with recents, categories, ...
- Typing text will search addresses, placenames and categories
- Selecting a category will show them as dot on the map
Other considerations
Support for coordinates (some always interpret lat, lon) and optional reverse geocoding (#1599) Support for OSM-ids (e.g. node/123, https://osm.org/node/123) (#1671) Support for layers (categories) and/or switching themes
Switch themes (or layers) via search (https://github.com/pietervdvn/MapComplete/issues/1385) Open the popup on exact match (https://github.com/pietervdvn/MapComplete/issues/1385) https://github.com/pietervdvn/MapComplete/issues/1480