OpenSearch

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In OpenSearch is one of XML -based collection of techniques that enables search results from search engines and websites spend in a standardized and machine-readable format. OpenSearch was developed by Amazon.com or A9.com and introduced in March 2005. The OpenSearch specification has been licensed by A9 under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 license.

construction

OpenSearch consists of two main elements:

  • an OpenSearch description file . This is an XML file that describes how to access a search engine or website , e.g. B. in the form of a browser plug-in . The OpenSearch description file contains detailed documentation of the search service, its content in free text description and many other details (e.g. language, age rating, text encoding) as well as details on the call-up URL and the attribute fields of the search (search string, number of desired results, page display , Access page). A URL to the OpenSearch description thus fully describes the search service.
  • a search result output format based on RSS 2.0 or Atom 1.0 that is used to output the search result. The OpenSearch output can be displayed with any RSS feed reader . However, the output format includes additional information on the search result that is not provided in the RSS format and therefore cannot be displayed by general feed readers. The additional attributes are embedded in an OpenSearch namespace in the RSS. These attributes are, for example, information typical of search results, such as the number of total results of the search, number of results per page or index position of the first search result on the delivered page.

Browsers that support OpenSearch

OpenSearch implementations

A possible implementation of OpenSearch is demonstrated using the example of Mozilla Firefox.

The Firefox browser indicates the presence of new search engines through the triangle outlined in blue

The integration of a new search engine can be displayed and offered on websites with the so-called auto-discovery function. If you look at such a page, the offer to add the new search engine to the previous search engines is indicated by a blue discoloration of the symbol of the currently set search engine (see illustration).

suggesting search in reality

There is also the option of displaying suggestions while you are writing ( suggesting search ), a function that was implemented in Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer 8 so far (as of 2009) . In the example, the letters Kreuzbe were entered in the Wikipedia search field and Wikipedia replies with the first of the matching page names as you type, so that a very quick overview of the page names actually available is provided.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Richard W. Wiggins: Amazon's New OpenSearch Enables Search Syndication
  2. ↑ OpenSearch for Safari . Retrieved October 15, 2013.