Gutenberg-Native Semantic Search Block

Gutenberg-native search

Semantic search that lives in a Gutenberg block.

Drop it into any page, template or header in the block editor. No shortcodes to remember. No page builder to buy. No widget area to configure. Just blocks — the way WordPress builds websites in 2026.

Install free from WordPress.org →

Works with any block theme. Zero configuration to start.

Two blocks. One search that thinks.

Both are true Gutenberg blocks — searchable in the inserter, configurable in the sidebar, styled by your theme. Place either where you want it, or place both. Or place none: the plugin still upgrades your existing WordPress search silently.

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Block name

AI Search Box

A search field that shows results in a dropdown as the user types: thumbnail, product title and price on a single row, updated live.

Keyword matches appear on every keystroke (they cost no embeddings). AI semantic suggestions are added when typing pauses — one request, cached for 5 minutes.

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Block name

AI Search Button

A search icon for your header or menu that opens a full-screen search overlay when clicked. The overlay has the same live dropdown as the Search Box, just presented as a focused mode.

Ideal for headers where you don’t want a permanent search bar taking space, but still want fast semantic search one click away.

How it feels in the editor

Open any page, template part or header in the block editor. Click the + button. Type “AI Search”. The two blocks are right there. Place the one you want. Zero configuration required to go live.

wp-admin — Editor
Home  ›  Template  ›  Header
AI SEARCH BOX

Preview shows how visitors will see it. Configure thumbnails, prices and result count in the sidebar →

Why “block” matters

Widgets & shortcodes

The 2015 approach

You paste a shortcode. You configure it in Widgets → Sidebar. You styling-fight it into your header. It works, but it belongs to an older WordPress.

Page builder blocks

The Divi/Elementor approach

Great if you own that page builder. Not great if you use block themes, Twenty Twenty-Six, or the FSE editor. Locks you in.

Native Gutenberg blocks

What AI Search ships

Works everywhere Gutenberg works: post editor, site editor, template parts, widget areas via the block-based widget screen. Adopts your theme’s colours, fonts, radius. Zero lock-in.

Built on the Interactivity API

The Search Box block uses WordPress core’s Interactivity API — the same primitive that powers block navigation, the query loop, and the newer core blocks landing since WordPress 6.5. That means it plays nicely with your theme, respects colour and typography presets, honours dark mode, and stays fully accessible on keyboard and screen reader without any extra work from you.

No custom JavaScript framework loaded on your site. No third-party CDN. Just the same interactivity primitives WordPress already ships.

Try it before installing

The live search demo runs both blocks on three real catalogues. Type anything into any of them and watch keyword matches appear on every keystroke, with AI suggestions joining when you pause.

Open the live search demo →

Add Gutenberg-native semantic search to your site.

Free tier: 10,000 embeddings/month, unlimited free searches. No credit card, no OpenAI account. Works with any block theme.

Install free from WordPress.org →

Also try cross-lingual semantic search →