Search Preview
Use Search Preview to run queries against the current catalog index without adding storefront analytics or usage. It shows ranked products, scores, indexed product data, and VIBE’s interpretation of the query.
It has two tabs: Search, to run a query, and Browse, to test Explore controls and collections without a shopper query.
Run a search
Section titled “Run a search”Type a query in the box and select Search (or press Enter). VIBE returns the ranked results from your indexed catalog.
Read the results
Section titled “Read the results”The results table lists the products VIBE returned, in rank order:
- Product is the product title, with its handle and stock status.
- Score is the overall relevance score for the query, with a label such as Very high or Low. Higher scores rank first.
- Semantic score is how close the product is to the query in meaning, separate from exact keyword matching. A product can have a high semantic score even when the query words do not appear in its text.
Compare the two scores to identify whether the result depends more on keywords or meaning.
The diagnostic panel
Section titled “The diagnostic panel”Select a result to open its Selected product panel:
- Semantic projection plots the query as a star and each result as a dot. Shorter distances indicate greater semantic similarity.
- Search data shows the ranking signals and values used for this result.
- Product data shows the indexed fields used for the product.
- Product sync shows the product’s sync state, so you can confirm it is indexed and current.
- Query understanding shows concepts inferred from the query. If none are shown, VIBE treated the query as plain keywords.
The first result is selected automatically. Select another row to compare its diagnostic data. Search data is available on Growth and higher. Starter shows the result list and an upgrade note for the gated per-result search data.
Browse with Explore controls
Section titled “Browse with Explore controls”Open the Browse tab to test semantic browsing without opening the storefront.
- Choose a starting collection when collections are available.
- Adjust one or more active controls.
- Select Explore products.
- Review the returned products and response time.
- Reset or move the controls and compare.
Browse is useful for checking whether a control has a clear effect and whether a starting collection produces a sensible catalog subset.
If no controls or collections are available, complete a product sync and configure Explore controls.
When to use it
Section titled “When to use it”- Check relevance after a catalog change, to confirm the right products still surface near the top.
- Debug a specific product: search for it and read the scores and product data to see why it ranks where it does.
- Review how VIBE interpreted a query in Query understanding and the semantic projection.
- Test the effect of a new control or merchandising rule before relying on it in the storefront.
Search Preview is a live preview of your search results. Results may differ slightly in the storefront, where a shopper’s controls, filters, and active rules also apply.
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”Preview results differ from what I see on my storefront. Why? Search Preview shows the base ranking. Storefront results also include the shopper’s Explore control positions, active filters, and merchandising rules, so the order can differ.
A product I expected is not in the results. Search for it directly and read its Score, Semantic score, and Product data in the panel. If it does not appear at all, it may not be indexed or may be excluded; check it on Sync and index.
What does Query understanding mean when it says no concepts were inferred? VIBE treated the query as plain keywords rather than mapping it to broader concepts. This is common for short, literal queries.
Does Preview add to Analytics or monthly session usage? No. Preview requests are diagnostic. They do not write normal storefront search events or add billable shopper usage.