SearchX Documentation — AI-Powered E-Commerce Search

Configure word groups that should be treated as equivalent when searching.

Overview

Synonyms allow you to define groups of words that should return the same search results. When a user searches for one word in a synonym group, products matching any other word in that group will also be returned, improving discoverability and accommodating different product terminology.

How Synonyms Work

When you create a synonym group, all words in that group become interchangeable in search queries:

Synonym Group: ["sneakers", "trainers", "running shoes"]

Search for "sneakers" → Returns products with "sneakers", "trainers", or "running shoes"
Search for "trainers" → Returns products with "sneakers", "trainers", or "running shoes"
Search for "running shoes" → Returns products with "sneakers", "trainers", or "running shoes"

Setting Up Synonyms

Go to Applications > your app > Settings.
Navigate to the Synonyms section.
Click Add Synonym Group.
Enter at least 2 words that should be treated as equivalent.
Add multiple groups for different product categories or terms.
Click Save.

Visual Editor vs CSV Mode

SearchX provides two ways to manage synonyms:

Visual Editor (Recommended)

The default interface provides an intuitive way to create and manage synonym groups:

Add words one at a time using the input field
See all groups at a glance
Remove individual words or entire groups easily
Real-time validation prevents duplicates and errors

CSV Mode (Bulk Import)

For advanced users or bulk imports, CSV mode allows pasting comma-separated groups:

sofa, couch, settee
sneakers, trainers, running shoes
laptop, notebook, portable computer
smartphone, mobile phone, cell phone

CSV Format Rules:

One synonym group per line
Words separated by commas
Minimum 2 words per line
Empty lines are ignored

Use Cases

Regional Terminology

Account for different terms used in various English-speaking markets:

sneakers, trainers, running shoes
sweater, jumper, pullover
pants, trousers

Brand vs Generic Terms

Link brand names to generic product categories:

hoover, vacuum cleaner
kleenex, tissue, facial tissue
bandaid, adhesive bandage, plaster

Product Variants

Connect different names for the same product type:

sofa, couch, settee
laptop, notebook, portable computer
smartphone, mobile phone, cell phone

Abbreviations & Full Forms

Ensure abbreviations find full product names:

tv, television
pc, personal computer, desktop
ac, air conditioner

Technical Terms

Help non-technical users find specialized products:

ssd, solid state drive
ram, memory, computer memory
usb-c, type-c, usbc

Validation Rules

SearchX enforces these rules to maintain synonym quality:

Group Requirements

✅ Each group must have at least 2 words
✅ Words are case-insensitive (Laptop = laptop)
❌ Empty or whitespace-only words are rejected

Uniqueness

❌ No duplicate words within the same group
❌ A word cannot appear in multiple synonym groups

Invalid Example:

Group 1: sofa, couch, settee
Group 2: couch, loveseat           ❌ "couch" appears in both groups

Valid Example:

Group 1: sofa, couch, settee
Group 2: loveseat, two-seater      ✅ No overlap

Best Practices

Keep Groups Focused

Create synonym groups around specific products or concepts:

✅ ["laptop", "notebook", "portable computer"] — Clear equivalence
❌ ["laptop", "computer", "electronics", "tech"] — Too broad

Respect Semantic Meaning

Only group words that truly mean the same thing:

✅ ["sofa", "couch"] — Direct synonyms
❌ ["sofa", "chair", "furniture"] — Different products

Consider Search Intent

Think about what users expect when searching:

✅ ["smartphone", "mobile phone", "cell phone"] — Same intent
❌ ["smartphone", "iphone"] — Different specificity (brand vs category)

Start Small, Iterate

Begin with 3-5 common synonym groups
Monitor search analytics to identify missing terms
Add groups based on actual search queries

Test Your Changes

After adding synonyms:

Search for one word in the group
Verify products with all other group words appear
Check that relevance ranking still makes sense

Platform Defaults

SearchX includes common English-language synonyms by default. Your custom synonyms are merged with these platform defaults automatically.

You don't need to add these common terms:

Color variations (grey, gray)
Common misspellings of generic terms
Standard abbreviations (TV, television)

Do add these:

Industry-specific jargon
Regional terminology for your market
Brand-specific terms unique to your catalog
Product names specific to your business

API Management

Programmatic management of synonyms via the public API is coming soon. For now, synonyms are managed through the SearchX dashboard.

Impact on Search

What Synonyms Affect

✅ Search queries — User searches match all synonym group words
✅ Product discovery — Products findable via alternative terminology
✅ Relevance — Results rank naturally across all synonym variations

What Synonyms Don't Affect

❌ Filters/Facets — Synonyms don't apply to category or brand filters
❌ Sorting — Sort behavior remains unchanged
❌ Product attributes — Original product data stays unchanged

Common Scenarios

"No results" for Regional Terms

Problem: UK users search for "trainers", but products are labeled "sneakers".

Solution:

trainers, sneakers, running shoes

Brand Name Searches

Problem: Users search for your store's brand name expecting to find product categories.