Creating Your First Gravity Forms Search
Introduction
A Gravity Forms Search queries and displays entries collected through a separate Target Form.
In this guide, you will create your first Search, connect it to a Target Form, configure its Search Settings, and optionally add fields that visitors can use to refine the results.
Search fields are optional. A Search can load predefined results, a directory, or a map without displaying a frontend search form.
Creating a Search
There are three ways to create a Search. Choose the method that best matches the experience you want to build.
Option 1: Create a Blank Search
Go to the Gravity Forms Forms page and click Add New Search.
The new Search opens in Search Settings, where you can select its Target Form and configure defaults, filters, initial-load behavior, results, maps, and entry details.
This is the best option when you want to configure the complete Search before deciding whether it needs visitor-facing search fields.
Option 2: Create a Search from a Target Form
Locate or open the regular Gravity Form containing the entries you want to search, then select Create Search. You can also use the Searches toolbar menu and select Create a Search.
Gravity Search creates a new Search connected to the current form and opens Search Settings. This is the quickest way to create a Search for an existing Gravity Form.
Option 3: Use the Interactive Search Template
Select the Search template from the Gravity Forms template library to create a starter Search containing address, radius, units, and other visitor-facing fields.
Unlike the other creation methods, this template opens the Search Form Builder because the selected template already includes frontend search fields.
Selecting a Target Form
The Target Form is the regular Gravity Form that collects and stores the entries the Search will query.
If you created a blank Search or used the Search template, select the appropriate Target Form in Search Settings. A Search created directly from a regular Gravity Form is connected to that form automatically.
The Target Form can contain one or more geocoded location sources. These sources can be used for proximity searches, distance calculations, and map-based search experiences.
Adding Search Fields
Open the Search Form Builder when you want to add or arrange fields that visitors can use to refine the results.
Common search fields include:
- Single Line Text
- Drop Down
- Checkboxes
- Radio Buttons
- Number
- Date
- Address
You can then map these fields to corresponding Target Form fields through the Search Form tab in Search Settings.
An empty Search Form Builder is valid. Search fields are not required when the Search uses predefined filters, default values, or initial-load results.
Configuring Search Settings
Search Settings is the main configuration area for the complete Search.
From Search Settings, you can:
- Select the Target Form.
- Configure default values and predefined filters.
- Control initial-load behavior.
- Map optional search fields to Target Form fields.
- Enable or disable the frontend search form.
- Configure results layouts and maps.
- Configure the individual entry view.
To add or rearrange visitor-facing fields, open the Search Form Builder. Clicking a Search title from the Forms page opens Search Settings rather than the Builder.
Testing Your Search
After configuring the Search, preview or embed it and verify that entries are displayed as expected.
Depending on its configuration, test:
- Initial results when the Search first loads.
- Predefined filters and default values.
- Optional frontend search fields.
- Proximity and radius searches.
- Results and map output.
- Individual entry views.
If the frontend search form is disabled, verify that the Search loads and displays the intended entries without visitor input.
