Recommendation 16.1.6 A homepage has a link to Search or a search box
The New Zealand Web Standards 2.0 were released in March 2009 and replace the previous version, the New Zealand Government Web Standards 1.0 (below). See Meeting the standards for more information.
The Recommendation
Recommendation 16.1.6 A homepage has a link to Search or a search box
Guide to this recommendation
If a search facility is offered on a web site, then it is expected the search facility itself resides on a homepage, or the homepage has a link to a page with more comprehensive search facilities.
The agency may offer Search facilities subject to the practicality of doing so. The value of search facilities grows in proportion to the size of a web site. If the site is very small, of the order of 3 pages or less, a search facility would be somewhat superfluous. However, the agency in such cases may still decide a search facility adds value.
A search facility can be considered an extended navigation tool. The agency may determine that the navigational facilities offered on their web site, such as a site map, are sufficient to cover the requirements of a search facility.
Rationale for this recommendation
Users wish to find whatever they are seeking as soon as possible. A search facility, if enabled, is a navigational tool most web users are familiar with. Users should thus be able to find the search facility with ease.
