docsearch.js vs elasticlunr vs @cmfcmf/docusaurus-search-local
Search Libraries for Documentation Sites Comparison
1 Year
docsearch.jselasticlunr@cmfcmf/docusaurus-search-localSimilar Packages:
What's Search Libraries for Documentation Sites?

Search libraries are essential tools for enhancing the discoverability of content within documentation sites. They enable users to quickly find relevant information by indexing and searching through text, providing a seamless user experience. These libraries vary in features, ease of integration, and customization options, catering to different project needs and developer preferences. Selecting the right search library can significantly impact the usability and efficiency of a documentation site, making it crucial to understand their unique functionalities and strengths.

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docsearch.js146,0924,217-996 years agoMIT
elasticlunr43,0842,068-779 years agoMIT
@cmfcmf/docusaurus-search-local25,710474330 kB39a year agoMIT
Feature Comparison: docsearch.js vs elasticlunr vs @cmfcmf/docusaurus-search-local

Integration

  • docsearch.js:

    Docsearch.js is designed to work with various static site generators and frameworks, providing a flexible integration process. It requires some setup to connect with Algolia's search API, but offers extensive customization options for search results and UI.

  • elasticlunr:

    Elasticlunr is a standalone library that can be easily integrated into any JavaScript project. It requires manual setup for indexing and searching, but offers great flexibility in terms of customization and control over the search process.

  • @cmfcmf/docusaurus-search-local:

    This package is specifically designed for Docusaurus, ensuring a smooth integration process with minimal configuration required. It leverages Docusaurus's existing structure, making it easy to set up and use.

Search Performance

  • docsearch.js:

    Docsearch.js offers high-performance search capabilities by utilizing Algolia's powerful search engine. It provides instant search results and can handle large datasets effectively, making it ideal for extensive documentation sites.

  • elasticlunr:

    Elasticlunr provides a good balance of performance for smaller datasets, offering full-text search capabilities directly in the browser. However, its performance may degrade with larger datasets compared to server-side solutions.

  • @cmfcmf/docusaurus-search-local:

    This package provides efficient search performance by indexing the content of your Docusaurus site locally, allowing for quick search results without relying on external servers. However, performance may vary based on the size of the documentation.

Customization

  • docsearch.js:

    Docsearch.js offers extensive customization options, allowing developers to tailor the search experience, including the appearance of the search box and results, as well as the ranking of search results based on user-defined criteria.

  • elasticlunr:

    Elasticlunr provides significant customization capabilities, allowing developers to define their own indexing and searching strategies. You can customize tokenization, stemming, and scoring algorithms to fit specific project requirements.

  • @cmfcmf/docusaurus-search-local:

    Customization options are somewhat limited, as the package is tailored for Docusaurus. However, it allows for some degree of styling and configuration to fit the look and feel of your site.

Offline Capability

  • docsearch.js:

    Docsearch.js relies on Algolia's cloud service for search functionality, which means it requires an internet connection to fetch search results and will not work offline.

  • elasticlunr:

    Elasticlunr is a client-side library, allowing for full offline capability. Users can search through indexed content without needing any external services, making it ideal for applications where offline access is necessary.

  • @cmfcmf/docusaurus-search-local:

    This package operates entirely on the client side, making it suitable for offline use. Users can search through the documentation without needing an internet connection after the initial load.

Ease of Use

  • docsearch.js:

    While docsearch.js offers powerful features, it requires some initial setup and configuration with Algolia, which may be challenging for less experienced developers. However, comprehensive documentation is available to assist with the integration process.

  • elasticlunr:

    Elasticlunr is relatively easy to use for developers familiar with JavaScript. Its API is straightforward, but it may require more effort to set up indexing and searching compared to dedicated solutions.

  • @cmfcmf/docusaurus-search-local:

    This package is designed for ease of use within Docusaurus, making it accessible for developers who may not have extensive experience with search implementations. The setup is straightforward and user-friendly.

How to Choose: docsearch.js vs elasticlunr vs @cmfcmf/docusaurus-search-local
  • docsearch.js:

    Opt for docsearch.js if you require a powerful, hosted search solution that leverages Algolia's infrastructure for fast and efficient search capabilities, especially for larger documentation sites with extensive content.

  • elasticlunr:

    Select elasticlunr if you prefer a lightweight, client-side search library that allows for full-text search capabilities without the need for external services, making it suitable for smaller projects or offline applications.

  • @cmfcmf/docusaurus-search-local:

    Choose this package if you are using Docusaurus and need a straightforward, local search solution that integrates seamlessly with your documentation site, providing an easy setup with minimal configuration.

README for docsearch.js

Table of Contents generated with DocToc

DocSearch

The easiest way to add search to your documentation. For free.

npm version build coverage License Downloads jsDelivr Hits

DocSearch will crawl your documentation website, push its content to an Algolia index, and allow you to add a dropdown search menu for your users to find relevant content in no time.

Check out our website for a complete explanation and documentation.

Bootstrap demo

Related projects

DocSearch is made of 3 repositories:

  • algolia/docsearch contains the docsearch.js code source and the documentation website.
  • algolia/docsearch-configs contains the JSON files representing all the configs for all the documentations DocSearch is powering
  • algolia/docsearch-scraper contains the crawler we use to extract data from your documentation. The code is open-source and you can run it from a Docker image