Erm… what the hell is faceted search anyway?
It’s a web-industry term for filtering a list of search results (for example, a list of shoes on a shoe store website) by available category. Some of these categories (or facets) are deal-breakers, and some are just nice to have, but all contribute to a pleasant user experience. The opposite is true too – the absence of facets can create an unpleasant, constrictive experience.
For an online shoe shop, essential facets would include:
- Size
- Price
- Basic shoe style (e.g. trainers, boots, heels, sandals, slippers)