Federated search – what it is, why use it, best practices | Algolia

Federated search allows users to run a single query across multiple sites or data sources and displays the results in a unified layout. This can be beneficial for media streaming platforms, ecommerce websites, and large-scale enterprises with diverse information sources. The Australian state of New South Wales implemented federated search on its government website NSW.gov.au to improve user experience by blending datasets from different sites and using relevance scoring and machine learning to enhance results. Key considerations for implementing federated search include managing different schemas, handling duplicate content, creating appropriate filters, and monitoring analytics to ensure users find the information they need.