Search Fields

Search fields allow a user to type in exactly what they’re looking for.

Variations

Primary

Use when search is a major function of a page.

<div class="mds-search-field mds-search-field-example" role="search">
    <input type="text" class="mds-search-field__input" aria-label="Search" placeholder="Search for Security">
    <svg class="mds-icon mds-search-field__search-icon" aria-hidden="true">
        <use xlink:href="/assets/icons/mds_icons.svg#search--s"> </use>
    </svg>
    <span class="mds-search-field__input-focus-outline"></span>
</div>
<div class="mds-search-field mds-search-field-example" role="search">
    <input type="text" class="mds-search-field__input" aria-label="Search" placeholder="Search for Security" disabled>
    <svg class="mds-icon mds-search-field__search-icon" aria-hidden="true">
        <use xlink:href="/assets/icons/mds_icons.svg#search--s"> </use>
    </svg>
    <span class="mds-search-field__input-focus-outline"></span>
</div>
  • Use paired with a masthead when search is a top-level method of navigation.
Global search functionality on Morningstar.com.
Component search functionality on Morningstar Developer.
Global search functionality on Morningstar Credit Ratings.

Secondary

Use in most cases, when search is a supplemental function on a page.

<div class="mds-search-field mds-search-field--secondary mds-search-field-example" role="search">
    <input type="text" class="mds-search-field__input" aria-label="Search" placeholder="Search for Security">
    <svg class="mds-icon mds-search-field__search-icon" aria-hidden="true">
        <use xlink:href="/assets/icons/mds_icons.svg#search--s"> </use>
    </svg>
    <span class="mds-search-field__input-focus-outline"></span>
</div>
<div class="mds-search-field mds-search-field--secondary  mds-search-field-example" role="search">
    <input type="text" class="mds-search-field__input" aria-label="Search" placeholder="Search for Security" disabled>
    <svg class="mds-icon mds-search-field__search-icon" aria-hidden="true">
        <use xlink:href="/assets/icons/mds_icons.svg#search--s"> </use>
    </svg>
    <span class="mds-search-field__input-focus-outline"></span>
</div>
  • Use for non-global searches.
Searching for reports inside Direct Cloud.
Searching within Research Portal inside Direct Cloud.
  • Use within a Menu.
Searching within column sets Menu inside Direct Cloud.

Sizing

<div class="mds-search-field mds-search-field--secondary mds-search-field--small mds-search-field-example" role="search">
    <input type="text" class="mds-search-field__input" aria-label="Search" placeholder="Search for Security">
    <svg class="mds-icon mds-search-field__search-icon" aria-hidden="true">
        <use xlink:href="/assets/icons/mds_icons.svg#search--s"> </use>
    </svg>
    <span class="mds-search-field__input-focus-outline"></span>
</div>

Guidelines

Use When

  • Searching for content in an entire app or site.
  • Searching within and filtering down a large List Group of options.
  • Searching within a more specific set of data, i.e., Morningstar Research or Morningstar Reports.

Visual Language

  • Use placeholder text to provide additional context around the data being searched. For example, “Search for Morningstar Reports”.

Behaviors

  • When a user enters text in the field, a remove icon, remove--s, allows the user to clear their entry. For live search, clicking the remove icon also clears the results of the current search.

Editorial

  • Briefly describe what the user might search for in the placeholder text, if space permits. For example, “Search for ETFs, Research, and Reports”.
  • If there’s not enough space to express a complete thought, use “Search…”
  • Use “Search for” not “Search by”—reserve “by” for filtering, i.e., “Filter by sector”.
  • Use title case and don't end sentences with periods.
  • Show searched term(s) when showing results.

Accessibility

  • Include role="search" for the .search-field div or form.
  • Include aria-label="Search" for the .search-field__input input.

Code Reference

CSS Class References

Class Applies to Outcome

.search-field--secondary

.search-field

Renders the search field using the secondary style.

.search-field--small

.search-field

Applies the small-size styling to the search field.

.search-field--large

.search-field

Applies the large-size styling to the search field.

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