Provide Guidance to the User When Search Returns No Results #29

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opened 2024-01-14 14:33:11 -06:00 by jimmyb · 1 comment

jimmyb commented

2024-01-14 14:33:11 -06:00

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Game search pages should give users clear, helpful guidance when a query returns no matching games.

The original issue asked for a better no-results message that explains spelling, exact matching, spacing/special characters, and the site’s preference for North American titles. In the current Laravel checkout, a GameSearchController exists with basic name/alternate-title search logic, but the public search route and referenced pages.search.games.show view are not wired up in the rebuilt site yet. The global header search form also still posts to #. This issue tracks rebuilding the public game search surface with a useful empty state from the start.

Scope

Public game search form in the site header.
Public game search results page.
No-results and validation/empty-query messaging.
Existing game title and alternate-title search behavior.
Clear route/link to the appropriate game request/support path when available.
Existing Laravel/Tailwind site layout patterns.

Acceptance Criteria

The header search form submits to a real public game search route.
Search results render matching active games by name and alternate titles.
Search results exclude deleted or soft-deleted games.
When no games match, the page displays the submitted query safely escaped.
The no-results message tells users to check spelling, spacing, special characters, and North American title variants.
The no-results message points users to the current game-request/support path only if that path exists; otherwise it avoids broken forum/request links.
Empty or invalid searches show a clear validation message instead of an empty generic page.
Search terms are preserved in the input/results page after submit.
Result links use canonical game profile routes.
User-facing UI supports light/dark mode and follows existing Laravel/Tailwind site patterns.

Test Coverage Required

Feature test confirming the header search form points to the public search route.
Feature test confirming search results include active matches by game name and alternate title.
Feature test confirming deleted or soft-deleted games are excluded.
Feature test confirming no-results copy includes the searched query and guidance about spelling, spacing/special characters, and North American titles.
Regression test confirming no-results query text is safely escaped.
Feature test confirming empty/invalid query validation renders a clear message.
Regression test confirming no broken request/forum link is rendered unless a valid current route exists.
Tests should use Pest and focused search feature coverage.
Run the focused search tests, then run vendor/bin/pint --dirty before closing the issue.

Progress Checklist

Global header search input exists
GameSearchController exists
Game profile route exists
Game model stores name and alt_titles
Add or confirm public game search route
Point the header search form to the search route
Build or restore the public search results view
Render active game results with canonical links
Add helpful no-results guidance for spelling, exact text, spacing, special characters, and North American titles
Avoid broken request/forum links until a current request path exists
Add tests for routing, results, filtering, no-results copy, escaping, and validation
Confirm search UI matches existing site layout and dark-mode patterns

Game search pages should give users clear, helpful guidance when a query returns no matching games. The original issue asked for a better no-results message that explains spelling, exact matching, spacing/special characters, and the site’s preference for North American titles. In the current Laravel checkout, a `GameSearchController` exists with basic name/alternate-title search logic, but the public search route and referenced `pages.search.games.show` view are not wired up in the rebuilt site yet. The global header search form also still posts to `#`. This issue tracks rebuilding the public game search surface with a useful empty state from the start. ## Scope - Public game search form in the site header. - Public game search results page. - No-results and validation/empty-query messaging. - Existing game title and alternate-title search behavior. - Clear route/link to the appropriate game request/support path when available. - Existing Laravel/Tailwind site layout patterns. ## Acceptance Criteria - The header search form submits to a real public game search route. - Search results render matching active games by name and alternate titles. - Search results exclude deleted or soft-deleted games. - When no games match, the page displays the submitted query safely escaped. - The no-results message tells users to check spelling, spacing, special characters, and North American title variants. - The no-results message points users to the current game-request/support path only if that path exists; otherwise it avoids broken forum/request links. - Empty or invalid searches show a clear validation message instead of an empty generic page. - Search terms are preserved in the input/results page after submit. - Result links use canonical game profile routes. - User-facing UI supports light/dark mode and follows existing Laravel/Tailwind site patterns. ## Test Coverage Required - Feature test confirming the header search form points to the public search route. - Feature test confirming search results include active matches by game name and alternate title. - Feature test confirming deleted or soft-deleted games are excluded. - Feature test confirming no-results copy includes the searched query and guidance about spelling, spacing/special characters, and North American titles. - Regression test confirming no-results query text is safely escaped. - Feature test confirming empty/invalid query validation renders a clear message. - Regression test confirming no broken request/forum link is rendered unless a valid current route exists. - Tests should use Pest and focused search feature coverage. - Run the focused search tests, then run `vendor/bin/pint --dirty` before closing the issue. ## Progress Checklist - [x] Global header search input exists - [x] `GameSearchController` exists - [x] Game profile route exists - [x] Game model stores `name` and `alt_titles` - [x] Add or confirm public game search route - [x] Point the header search form to the search route - [x] Build or restore the public search results view - [x] Render active game results with canonical links - [x] Add helpful no-results guidance for spelling, exact text, spacing, special characters, and North American titles - [x] Avoid broken request/forum links until a current request path exists - [x] Add tests for routing, results, filtering, no-results copy, escaping, and validation - [x] Confirm search UI matches existing site layout and dark-mode patterns

jimmyb added the

type: improvement

component: game search

component: backend

labels

2024-01-14 14:33:11 -06:00

Codex changed title from ~~Add additional info to searches with no matches.~~ to Improve no-results guidance on game search pages

2026-05-26 00:53:39 -05:00

jimmyb added this to the Laravel 13 + TailwindCSS project

2026-06-01 21:23:52 -05:00

jimmyb added the

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