So your site's internal search should go above the scroll... but where?

I don't believe there is necessarily a one-size-fits-all answer to that question. It's going to depend on many factors, not the least of which are your organization's advertising and marketing commitments.

As long as the search box resides at the top of the page -- and there is at least some preliminary evidence to suggest that's where most users expect to find it -- I think any of the following are fine options, but prefer the first three:

1. In the masthead
A slight favorite. The location is prominent, indicates that the search encompasses the entire site and it doesn't conflict with users' expectations of other content areas. Newsday even manages to utilize the space for its search and advertising.
• Seattle Post-Intelligencer
• Post & Courier (Charleston)
• Rocky Mountain News (Denver)

2. Below masthead, above navigation and content
A very close second. In fact, in practice there's only a slight difference between this placement and actually putting the search within the masthead. Advantages: The search can be visually separated from any advertising in the masthead. If left-aligned (recommended) it is in the same field of vision as left-rail navigation. And again, it doesn't interfere with other content areas.
• Los Angeles Times
• San Diego Union Tribune
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch

3. Top of left-rail navigation
A very, very close third. From a visual standpoint alone, I prefer it over #2. My only real complaint with this placement is that it pushes down the site navigation elements. As a purist of navigation design, I'm not crazy about that aspect, though I could probably buy into the argument that it belongs there on the grounds that search is, after all, a form of navigation.
• San Francisco Chronicle
• Lawrence Journal World (Kansas)
• Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)

4. Top left of the content well
A good enough spot in terms of visibility and usability (assuming it can occupy this position across all pages), but I'd much rather see this area used for breadcrumb navigation.
• New York Times
• Indianapolis Star

5. Top of right-side rail
As a final option I would choose the top of a right-side rail, but the reality is that many sites use this valuable space to meet other business needs -- primarily advertising. If this area is used largely for advertising on your site, it seems a bit of a strange juxtaposition to place the site search here alone in a sea of ads. Note the examples I chose to illustrate all use the right rail for other non-advertising needs -- not a bad location if this is the case.
• Press-Enterprise (Riverside, Calif.)
• Seattle Times
• Cincinnati Enquirer

The only top-of-the-page placement I really dislike is above the masthead. Even with an input box, the search seems to get lost up there outside the page content.
• Orlando Sentinel
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Still having a tough time deciding? Take the background color of your site segments into consideration. The white search box is going to be easier to find amid other page elements on a dark background than it will be on a white or light-colored background.

And keep in mind, the location you choose will affect your search display options.

Next: Quick-search interface design
See also: The basics of search design

April 27, 2003