Search integration
App content SHOULD be discoverable through the platform's system search, enabling users to find content without opening the app. Search integration turns the app from an island into a participant in the user's information flow.
- Index content that users would reasonably search for — documents, contacts, messages, settings
- Keep the search index current — add items when created, remove when deleted
- Each indexed item MUST deep link back to the relevant content
- Include rich metadata (thumbnails, descriptions, categories) for meaningful search results
Apple (iOS / macOS)
Use Core Spotlight (CSSearchableItem, CSSearchableItemAttributeSet) to index content. On iOS 17+, conform entities to IndexedEntity for semantic indexing with natural language support. Support NSUserActivity donation for Handoff-eligible items to appear in Spotlight suggestions.
Android
Use Firebase App Indexing or AppIndexingApi for on-device search integration. Declare searchable content in searchable.xml and implement SearchableInfo. Support Google Assistant via structured content markup.
Windows
Use the Windows Search indexer with ISearchManager and property handlers. Register file type associations and protocol handlers so content appears in Start menu search. For UWP/WinUI, use SearchPane or in-app search with system integration.
Web
Use structured data (JSON-LD, Schema.org) for search engine discoverability. Implement OpenGraph and Twitter Card meta tags. Support the Web App Manifest for PWA search integration. Ensure server-side rendering or pre-rendering for crawlability.