A Comprehensive Guide to Doofinder Terminology.

A

Admin: Short for administration panel. This is where settings, configurations, user permissions and general functionalities are hosted.
Add to cart: Indicates the action of selecting a product with the intention of purchasing it.
Advanced indices configuration: option to enable the creation of additional indexes.
Allowed domains: Only whitelisted domains can perform requests client-side to your search engines.
Attributes: Attributes in a product feed refer to the specific characteristics or properties of a product that are included in the data feed.
API key: Allows you to perform search API requests and also have privileges to perform management API requests.

B

Backend: The term 'backoffice' refers to the administrative interface of Doofinder and also your platform, including Shopify, Prestashop, Magento, WooCommerce, etc.
Banner: Images that are displayed at the top of the search engine when visitors perform certain searches or whenever any search is performed.
Boosting: Give more importance to certain product search results over others.
Business Rules: Business rules are a set of Doofinder functionalities that define the behavior of the search engine based on their configuration.
Blocked IP's: Blocked IPs are Internet Protocol addresses that have been restricted or denied access, often as a security measure to protect a system or network from potential threats or unauthorized activities.

C

Custom Sorting: Criterion for sorting the results based on the parameters of the data feed. By default, Doofinder sets the score as the most relevant product parameter. The client can add parameters in the desired order to modify the criteria.
Custom Fields: Additional data fields in the product information, offering flexibility beyond standard attributes. They allow you to include specific details relevant to your products, enhancing the level of information in the search engine.
Custom results: This feature enables you to include or exclude specific items from search results based on particular terms.
Customization: Customization refers to the process of modifying or adapting something to meet specific needs, preferences, or requirements.
Css selector: A CSS selector is a pattern used to target and style specific HTML elements on a webpage. We utilize a CSS selector to specify the location on the website where we want to activate the layer when the customer clicks.
Cors: Doofinder employs CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) to safeguard your search engines. This ensures that only approved domains are allowed to make client-side requests to your search engines.
Conversion rate: The conversion rate is the percentage of users who take a desired action out of the total number of visitors or interactions.

D

Dynamic re-ranking: Dynamic Re-ranking is a set of features that have the power to change the relevance of products when returning your search results, based on the search engine configuration or user behaviour.
Data feed: Data set with the products that the client adds to feed a search engine. The product information is distributed by parameters.
Data type: Old term for Indice.
Data source: Indices items sources. When a client processes a search engine, Doofinder takes the items from its data sources and "insert" them into the indices.
Dfid: Internal identifier of an item. Its structure is such that hashid@index@hash, where hash ID is the search engine hash, index is the index name and hash is the hash of the original item ID. Example: 7f74a4ff3165fe9882f460d03a40c5d9@other_product@8613985ec49eb8f757ae6439e879bb2a.

E

Embedded layer: Type of layer to be seamlessly integrated into your site design.

F

Facet: In search, the term facets refers to all the characteristics (attributes) that describe/classify a result (e.g. size, color, category, price…). Facets are used to apply filters for search to reduce the number of results. For end users, the term filter is preferred.
Filter: The 'Filters' functionality is used to narrow down search results based on the fields of your data feed. These filters can include attributes like price, product category, brand, size, color, and various other product-specific characteristics.
Field name mapping: Field name mapping, also known as field aliasing, is used to standardize field names across multiple data sources.
Fullscreen layer: This layer will cover the entire browser viewport.
Floating layer: "The floating layer will be positioned in relation to your site's search box and will only display a results screen."

G

Guided search: Guided search is a feature that helps users by applying filters to better segment results when a search returns many outcomes.

H

Hashid: A 32-character long hex string that unequivocally identifies a Search Engine. It is an auto-generated string.

I

Indexing Language: Formerly just the language, is part of the search engine's configuration. It's just a code identifying a generic language (English, but not English from USA or UK). Defines how data will be indexed from a language point of view, so search is optimized for that language. The indexing language is tightly tied to the search engine, and there is a limited set of languages that can be selected to optimize indexing. So, a store from Kazajstan may have en selected as the indexing language for its engines (which is the default) because there is no specific indexing for that language. The data will be in kazajo and the UI translations too. The available languages depend on the default capabilities of ElasticSearch, or plugins we install on the indexing servers.
Indice: Is a collection of items. It also has a set of Data Sources which usually are urls where the items for indexing are taken from. The old term for "Indice" is DataType.
Item: Is an object stored in an index. Those are the elements the client looks for when doing a query to a Search Engine.
Installation Script: Some Javascript code that gets inserted in a site to enable Doofinder layers. It consists of some code to load an external file from a CDN, and some options to initialize layers when the external script is loaded.
Indexing process: The indexing process involves organizing and cataloging data to create a searchable index, facilitating quick and accurate information retrieval, especially in the context of search engines.
Initial results: These are the first results that will be displayed on your layer once it is opened.
Industry: Refers to a category of economic activity, grouping businesses with similar characteristics involved in the production of goods or services within specific sectors, such as manufacturing, technology, healthcare, finance, and agriculture.

L

Layer: An abstract entity that represents a search UI. the layer is simply the user interface with your machine. It is in the layer where all the data of an online store is merged and the information is displayed quickly and accurately to the user.
Live Layer: The most recent version of the layer that consolidates fullscreen, floating, and embedded variations.

M

MPN: Manufacturer product number / manufacturer part number is a manufacturer-assigned, unique, alphanumeric value that is used to identify a product among other products from the same manufacturer.
Metafields: Metafields are additional pieces of information that can be added to various entities in a system, offering customization and flexibility beyond standard attributes.
Multi-index: Multi-indices provide the option to group multiple indices in a single location.
Multi-currency: Refers to the ability to display financial information in more than one currency.
Multi-language: Refers to the ability to display multiple languages, accommodating users with diverse language preferences.
Module: Generally, a module is a self-contained unit of software that performs a specific set of functions. It can be part of a larger software program and is designed to operate independently.

N

Native search: "Native search" is the default search functionality integrated into a system, platform, or application without requiring external tools or plugins. To revert to your native search, disable Doofinder on your website.
Non-stop service: "Non-Stop Service, is a feature that, if activated, enables you to automatically purchase query packs when your account reaches the request limit of your subscribed plan."

O

On click: Step in the search sequence initiated when the user clicks on the search box.
On type: Step in the search sequence initiated when the user starts typing in the search box.
On enter: Step in the search sequence initiated when the user presses 'Enter' inside the search box.

P

Parameter: Each of the fields of the Data Feed.
Playground: The Playground, located within the Admin section, allows you to test your search engine, view results, and evaluate the configuration settings for your product feed.
Plugin: A plugin is a type of module that is specifically created to extend the capabilities of a host application. It often adds features, enhances existing functionality, or integrates with external services.
Platform: A platform serves as a comprehensive environment that facilitates the development, deployment, and operation of software or applications. Some platform examples are shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Prestashop, etc.
Popular searches: "Popular searches" refers to enhancing user experience by displaying the most frequently clicked and searched terms, making it more convenient for customers and improving navigation on a platform or website.
Profile: This is the information associated with your user account. Notifications and password recovery links will be sent to the email address linked to your profile.
Product recommendations: Utilize product recommendations to promote cross-selling and upselling opportunities in your store.

Q

Query: Queries are the precise requests to the server from which Doofinder returns results.
Query pack: Requests package to supplement your current plan in case you exceed the number of requests limit.

R

Redirection: Used for redirecting specific search terms to results that don't need to be a product of the Data Feed. For example, order statuses, so that when the user searches for returns, the result redirects to a page on the site itself.
Results screen: The results screen is the layer where your final results are displayed once the query is complete.
Recommended products query: A search term used to choose the recommended products, applicable to the layer under general settings.

S

Search Engine: Entity that holds configuration and data, making data searchable. Configuration defines the source of data and how it is indexed and searched. It is also a collection of Indices.
Search field: Each of the parameters of the feed. The relevance of search results can be adjusted by configuring the weighting of each search field.
Synonyms: Set of words representing the same product (at least one of the words in the set must appear in the data feed).
Search bar: A "search bar" is an interface element where users input keywords or queries to initiate a search for relevant information. It should be noted that Doofinder does not include the search bar by default; you need to add it to your store's theme or design to activate the layer via a CSS selector.
Search engine: The search engine is the hub for managing your product data, and numerous business rules are applicable at this level. In the context of Doofinder, it serves as the central point for product data management, with many business rules being relevant at this level.
Search personalization: Search personalization is a feature that tailors search results to match your customers' preferences and align with your business goals. This customization is based on their search behavior during the current session.
Search Query Retention: If enabled, the search term will remain in the layer's search box during the web browsing process.
Search sequence: The search sequence allows you to tailor the order and layout of your layer, providing a seamless guide for clients during their search session. This customization can be based on three events: CLICK - TYPE - ENTER.
Stats: The Statistics tool (Stats) shows you data about all your search engine metrics within a period of time.
Store: The store that is created in the Doofinder Admin is related to your main web domain. It hosts all the functionalities and features that Doofinder offers.
Store ID: It is the identifier code of your store, also referred as 'Installation ID'.
Store name: This name will be used to identify the Store in the admin.
Store URL: The URL of your store, as typed in the web browser.
Suggestions: Suggestions deliver highly relevant search results as users type, enhancing the customer experience by enabling quicker searches with less typing. This feature is especially beneficial on mobile devices.
Scheduled indexing: The cron system utility enables the scheduling of programs to run automatically at set intervals. In this scenario, you have the option to index your feed once a day, at regular intervals, configure time gaps between indexing, or schedule specific timings, with a maximum of six times a day.
Serialize state to browser's URL: This option generates a dynamic URL that can be shared with other users. If enabled, the layer is reloaded with its most recent state when the page is refreshed in the browser.

T

Team member: A "team member" refers to an individual who is part of a group or team working towards a common goal or objective. Team members collaborate, share responsibilities, and contribute their skills and expertise to collectively achieve the team's mission.
Temporary index: Index whose mission is to index items while client can still search the main index, having zero downtime.
Template: A 'code template' is a pre-written piece of code that serves as a starting point in software development, offering a reusable structure that developers can customize for specific needs. Doofinder uses a template for its layer.

U

Update on save: The module sends updates made in the catalog to Doofinder via API without having to reindex the catalog. The delay between the change in the catalog and what is reflected in doofinder may vary depending on each platform.
Shopify - in real time
Prestashop - from every 15 minutes.
WooCommerce - from every 15 min.
Magento 2 - from every 5 min.
Usage: We refer to the consumption of requests within a specific time range.
User: A "user" is an individual who interacts with a system, device, or application.

V

Visual Search: Visual search is a feature enabling users to search for content using images rather than text. Users can take a photo or upload an image to the Doofinder search engine to find related content.
Voice search: Voice search is a feature enabling users to search for products on your website using only their voice, eliminating the need to type.