Understanding Searches & Target Forms
Introduction
Gravity Search is built around two core components: Searches and Target Forms.
Understanding how these components work together is essential before configuring search fields, filters, results, maps, proximity searches, and individual entry views.
Simply put, the Target Form stores the entries and location data, while a Search determines how those entries are queried and displayed. A Search can include an optional frontend search form, but it can also operate without one by using defaults, predefined filters, and initial-load settings.
What Is a Target Form?
A Target Form is the Gravity Form that stores the entries you want users to search.
Entries submitted through the Target Form become the data source that a connected Search can query and display.
Target Form entries can also store one or more geocoded location sources for proximity searches, maps, and distance-based queries.
Examples of Target Forms include:
- Business directory submission forms.
- Property listing forms.
- Member registration forms.
- Event submission forms.
- Store or location databases.
What Is a Search?
A Search is a configured Gravity Search experience used to query and display entries stored in a Target Form.
A Search can include an optional frontend search form containing fields such as text inputs, dropdowns, checkboxes, dates, addresses, and radius controls.
A Search does not collect entries. Instead, it queries entries collected through the connected Target Form and controls how matching entries are presented through results, maps, and individual entry views.
The frontend search form is optional. A Search can display entries automatically using Initial Load, Search Defaults, and Predefined Filters.
How They Work Together
When a Search runs, Gravity Search combines any visitor-provided field values with configured defaults and predefined filters, then queries entries stored in the Target Form.
Matching entries can be displayed through customizable results layouts, maps, and individual entry views configured in Search Settings.
A typical workflow looks like this:
- A user submits data through the Target Form.
- The data is stored as Gravity Forms entries.
- A Search is created and connected to the Target Form.
- Optional search fields, defaults, filters, results, and maps are configured.
- The Search queries the Target Form when it loads or when a visitor submits or changes a filter.
- Matching entries are displayed in lists, grids, maps, or individual entry views.
Location Data Sources
In addition to standard entry data, Target Forms can store one or more geocoded location sources for each entry.
For example, a single entry may contain:
- Home Location
- Work Location
- Warehouse Location
- Store Location
These locations are geocoded and stored in Gravity Search’s location index, allowing efficient proximity searches, distance calculations, and map-based queries.
When configuring a Search, you can choose which location sources participate in proximity searches and map output.
This allows multiple Searches connected to the same Target Form to use different location sources.
For example, one Search may use only Store Locations, while another Search uses both Store and Warehouse Locations.
Multiple Searches Per Target Form
A single Target Form can be connected to multiple Searches.
This allows you to create different search experiences for different audiences while using the same underlying entry data.
For example:
- A public business directory with visitor-facing filters.
- An internal staff search.
- A results-only listing driven by predefined filters.
- A map-only location finder.
- A mobile-friendly Search with a streamlined filter form.
All of these Searches can retrieve entries from the same Target Form while using different filters, layouts, maps, and location sources.
Common Examples
Business Directory
Businesses submit listings through a Target Form. Visitors explore those listings through a Search with optional category, keyword, and location filters.
Property Finder
Properties are stored in a Target Form. A Search allows buyers to browse and filter properties by location, price, and property details.
Member Directory
Members register through a Target Form. A Search displays and filters member profiles using the fields appropriate for the directory.
Store Locator
Store locations are stored in a Target Form. A Search helps visitors find nearby stores using proximity filters, results, and a map.
Next Steps
Now that you understand the relationship between Searches and Target Forms, continue with the following guides: