Umbraco Search Provider

What is it?

A Search Provider integrates custom search functionality into Umbraco's backoffice search bar. It enables users to search custom data sources alongside built-in content, media, and members. The provider implements a search method that returns paginated results matching the user's query.

Documentation

Always fetch the latest docs before implementing:

• Extension Types: https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/customizing/extending-overview/extension-types
• Foundation: https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/customizing/foundation
• Extension Registry: https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/customizing/extending-overview/extension-registry

Related Foundation Skills

• Repository Pattern: For data access in search providers

  • Reference skill: umbraco-repository-pattern

• Context API: For accessing contexts within the provider

  • Reference skill: umbraco-context-api

Workflow

1. Fetch docs - Use WebFetch on the URLs above
2. Ask questions - What data to search? What fields to return? Custom result display needed?
3. Generate files - Create manifest + provider class based on latest docs
4. Explain - Show what was created and how to test

Minimal Examples

Manifest (manifests.ts)

import type { ManifestSearchProvider } from '@umbraco-cms/backoffice/extension-registry';

const manifest: ManifestSearchProvider = {
  type: 'searchProvider',
  alias: 'My.SearchProvider',
  name: 'My Search Provider',
  api: () => import('./my-search-provider.js'),
  meta: {
    label: 'My Items',
  },
};

export const manifests = [manifest];

Provider Implementation (my-search-provider.ts)

import type { UmbSearchProvider, UmbSearchResultItemModel, UmbSearchRequestArgs } from '@umbraco-cms/backoffice/search';
import type { UmbControllerHost } from '@umbraco-cms/backoffice/controller-api';
import { UmbControllerBase } from '@umbraco-cms/backoffice/class-api';

export class MySearchProvider extends UmbControllerBase implements UmbSearchProvider {
  constructor(host: UmbControllerHost) {
    super(host);
  }

  async search(args: UmbSearchRequestArgs) {
    const { query } = args;

    // Fetch results from your data source
    const results = await this.#fetchResults(query);

    return {
      data: {
        items: results,
        total: results.length,
      },
    };
  }

  async #fetchResults(query: string): Promise<UmbSearchResultItemModel[]> {
    // Your search logic here - API call, local filtering, etc.
    const response = await fetch(`/api/my-items/search?q=${encodeURIComponent(query)}`);
    const data = await response.json();

    return data.items.map((item: any) => ({
      entityType: 'my-entity',
      unique: item.id,
      name: item.name,
      icon: 'icon-document',
      href: `/section/my-section/workspace/my-workspace/edit/${item.id}`,
    }));
  }
}

export default MySearchProvider;

Search Result Item Model

// Each result must conform to UmbSearchResultItemModel
interface UmbSearchResultItemModel {
  entityType: string;    // Entity type identifier
  unique: string;        // Unique ID
  name: string;          // Display name
  icon?: string | null;  // Icon to display
  href: string;          // URL to navigate when clicked
}

Provider with Repository

import type { UmbSearchProvider, UmbSearchResultItemModel, UmbSearchRequestArgs } from '@umbraco-cms/backoffice/search';
import { UmbControllerBase } from '@umbraco-cms/backoffice/class-api';
import { MyRepository } from './my-repository.js';

export class MySearchProvider extends UmbControllerBase implements UmbSearchProvider {
  #repository: MyRepository;

  constructor(host: UmbControllerHost) {
    super(host);
    this.#repository = new MyRepository(this);
  }

  async search(args: UmbSearchRequestArgs) {
    const { data } = await this.#repository.search(args.query);

    const items: UmbSearchResultItemModel[] = data?.items.map((item) => ({
      entityType: 'my-entity',
      unique: item.id,
      name: item.name,
      icon: item.icon ?? 'icon-document',
      href: `/section/my-section/workspace/my-workspace/edit/${item.id}`,
    })) ?? [];

    return {
      data: {
        items,
        total: data?.total ?? 0,
      },
    };
  }
}

export default MySearchProvider;

Search with Context (e.g., search from specific location)

async search(args: UmbSearchRequestArgs) {
  const { query, searchFrom } = args;

  // searchFrom contains the entity to search from (if specified)
  const parentId = searchFrom?.unique;

  const results = await this.#fetchResults(query, parentId);

  return {
    data: {
      items: results,
      total: results.length,
    },
  };
}

Search Request Args

Property	Description
query	The search term entered by user
searchFrom	Optional entity to search from (for scoped searches)

That's it! Always fetch fresh docs, keep examples minimal, generate complete working code.