Build your first faceted search

This quick start creates one filter and one live result list. Use representative published content so the counts and matches are meaningful.

Prerequisites

• A supported archive or an existing custom query.
• At least two published items with different values in one taxonomy or short custom field.
• Permission to edit theme settings and the target page or template.

Configure the context

1. Open Settings → POM Theme → Content model → Faceted search.
2. Enable Enable faceted search if it is off.
3. In the context table, locate the query you want to filter.
4. Select Edit facets.
5. Select Add facet.
6. Enter a customer-facing Label.
7. Choose Checkboxes as Type.
8. Choose the correct Source, then enter its key.
9. Keep Operator as OR for this first test.
10. Leave Enabled active and select Save facets.
11. Return to the context table and select Reindex context.

Wait until the indexing progress completes.

On a Polylang site, indexing keeps each translated post in its assigned language. Verify the listing in each published language after reindexing. A saved query with an explicit language keeps that restriction; otherwise filtering follows the current page language, including AJAX updates. Unassigned content remains available to queries that include it.

Public filtering uses published, non-password-protected content and respects the theme's post-type permission rules for the current visitor. These restrictions also apply to counts and autocomplete suggestions. The feature switch in Theme Options controls Faceted Search activation; the selected context must also be enabled. Disabling a context makes it unavailable to public search requests.

Assemble the page

For Gutenberg and a saved-query context:

1. Edit the destination page and add Faceted Search Facet.
2. Choose the configured Search context and Facet. The preview uses sample values; it does not execute a public search.
3. Add Listings. Under Content, set Content source to Saved query and choose the same Saved query.
4. Under Pagination and filters, enable Use Faceted Search and keep Submit mode as Automatic.
5. Add Faceted Search Counts and Faceted Search Reset, selecting the same Search context.
6. Add Faceted Search Pager when the query can return more than one page.
7. Save the page and open its frontend preview to test the filters.

In Legacy Page Builder, add Faceted Search Facet with the generated Facet ID, then Listings (Feed) using the matching Query type / Custom queries choice. Enable Use with faceted search? and keep Facet submit mode as Automatic. Add the corresponding Counts, Reset and Pager controls, then save.

The native blocks use the same search engine as the Legacy shortcodes. Page Builder administration may be disabled without disabling their public rendering. A separate Finder form can share the saved query, but its filters and results remain independent of Faceted Search. Use one interactive Faceted Search context per page.

Verify the result

Open the public page in a private browser window. Confirm that:

• the unfiltered list contains the expected items;
• each checkbox count is plausible;
• selecting one value narrows the cards;
• the URL gains a pf_ parameter;
• Faceted Search Reset restores the initial set.

If the filter is empty, review Debug a facet. For a production layout, continue with Create a filterable listing.