WordPress Search Form

Adding a search form to WordPress is actually quite simple. All you need to do is create a new file add some code and than place a line of code where you want your search form to appear. Below you will find the code needed for the searchform.php file and how to make the search form appear on your site.

Create the Search Form File

First thing you will need to do is create a searchform.php file using a text editor and paste the following code:

<form method=”get” id=”search-form”
action=”<?php bloginfo( ‘home’ ); ?>/”>
<input type=”text”
value=”" name=”s” id=”searchinput” />
<input type=”submit” id=”searchsubmit”
value=”Search” />
</form>

Upload this file

Once you have created your searchform.php file you will have to add it to your theme’s folder (the wp theme you intend on using). If you haven’t uploaded this theme to your server do it, otherwise you can drag your searchform.php file into your theme’s folder on the server.

Next you will have to call this file in order to show the search box.

Call the Searchform

Now that you have your searchform.php file you will want to make a call to the searchform from wherever you want on your theme file (Maybe the sidebar? The header?). Open your theme file of choice and past the following where you want your search box to appear:

<?php include (TEMPLATEPATH . ‘/searchform.php’); ?>

Style Your Search Form

This post is intended for advanced users, so I assume you know hot style this search form. But basically, you will want to style the following id’s “search-form”, “searchinput” and “searchsubmit” via your stylesheet.css so you can achieve the look you want for your search bar.