NP Search Documentation

Start here if you want the shortest path from evaluation to installation. This page is designed to answer the questions merchants and agencies usually have before and after adding NP Search to a PrestaShop 8 or 9 store.

New here?

Use the demo first, then read the quick start below. You should know whether NP Search fits your storefront before you spend more time on configuration details.

Demo PS9 Product page

Ready to install?

NP Search is built for PrestaShop 8 and 9, with source code included and no SaaS dependency chain. The quick start covers the shortest route from ZIP upload to first validation.

Quick start Screenshot guide

Need a fit check?

If you are unsure about theme compatibility, rollout, or pre-sales technical details, use the support page before purchasing or installing.

Support Email support

1. Quick Start

If you want the shortest version, this is the path:

Confirm you are on PrestaShop 8 or 9

Test the live demo so the storefront behavior is clear

Upload the ZIP in Module Manager

Validate the search widget on the frontend

Check synonyms, analytics, and selectors in the backoffice

Recommended flow: Demo → Product page → Docs → Screenshot install guide → Support if needed → Purchase. That is the intended decision path.

Open 2.6.2 screenshot guide

2. Before You Install

NP Search is designed for stores that already have meaningful search intent and want a stronger on-site search experience without moving to an external SaaS stack.

Supported storefronts: PrestaShop 8 and 9
Frontend stack: Vanilla JS + CSS
Backend stack: Pure PHP + MySQL / MariaDB FULLTEXT
License model: Lifetime license, one installation, source code included
Best practice: Test on a staging environment or non-critical store first if you have heavy theme customization

3. Installation

Download the ZIP

After purchase, download the current NP Search ZIP package from your account page: npsearch-ps8-2.6.2.zip for PrestaShop 8 or npsearch-ps9-2.6.2.zip for PrestaShop 9.

Upload in Module Manager

Go to Back Office → Modules → Module Manager, click Upload a module, and select the ZIP file.

Let NP Search bootstrap itself

On install, NP Search automatically creates its index tables, seeds synonyms, registers hooks, and replaces the native search flow where compatible.

Important: If you run a highly customized theme, keep reading the theme compatibility and selector notes below. Most stores will work quickly, but custom themes may need explicit selector mapping.

4. First Validation

After installation, validate these points before treating the rollout as done:

The search widget appears in the storefront header

Clicking the search area opens the overlay

Typing returns product suggestions in real time

Submitting search loads the search results page correctly

Backoffice setup workspace, theme adapter, cron card, and analytics dashboard load normally

The 2.6.2 screenshot install guide matches your installation path

NP Search widget replaces the native search bar in the header when the theme integration is working correctly

5. Search Overlay

When a customer clicks the search input, NP Search opens a full overlay designed to shorten time-to-result.

Debounced search input for responsive typing
Popular categories and brands as entry shortcuts
Recent searches stored locally for convenience
Overlay interaction that feels like an intentional search surface, not a weak default search field

The empty state gives shoppers sensible starting points instead of a dead blank search box

6. Search Results

As the customer types, results appear in real time with product cards, relevance handling, and merchant-friendly fallback behavior.

Product cards with image, name, price, and stock signals
Hybrid relevance logic using FULLTEXT, exact and prefix signals, and fuzzy fallback
Faceted filtering for categories, brands, stock, and price
Merchandising controls for pinned and boosted products on exact queries
Click analytics for measuring product engagement from search results
Sorting and pagination for larger catalogs

Search results with cards, filters, and real storefront relevance handling

Why this matters: search should not only look better — it should reduce zero-result exits and reveal where the catalog language is failing customers.

7. Backoffice Configuration

Go to Modules → NP Search → Configure to manage the merchant-facing controls.

Settings

Setup workspace: start with the next-best-action banner, index health, theme adapter status, and vocabulary status
Theme adapter: NP Search detects the current theme and reports hook coverage before you go live
Custom search selectors: use this when your theme has custom search triggers that NP Search should intercept
Hide native search elements: useful when you want the NP Search interface to fully replace the native widget
Cron presets: copy an hourly, six-hour, or daily rebuild command and rotate the cron token when needed

Search Index

Index status: confirm products are indexed correctly
Rebuild Index: useful after bulk imports or major catalog edits

The index updates automatically on product add, edit, and delete events.

8. Synonym Management

NP Search ships with 585+ synonym groups across 23 sectors, which helps stores recover intent from real-world shopper language.

What you can do

Add new synonym groups
Edit existing groups
Activate or deactivate groups by sector
Re-seed the default synonym set if needed

Example

If your customers search with terms like sneakers, trainers, zapatillas, or other local phrasing, NP Search can expand those relationships instead of forcing exact catalog wording.

Generic Electronics Fashion Beauty Sports Food Home Pets Baby Automotive Health Toys Typos Units Seasons Regional ES/LATAM Tech specs Intent phrases Jewelry Office DIY/Garden Media Vaping

9. Analytics Dashboard

The analytics view helps merchants improve search instead of guessing.

Total searches
Zero-result rate
Fuzzy fallback rate
Action Center with prioritized zero-result, conversion, and latency recommendations
Popular searches
Zero-result queries
Daily search volume
Operations panel for cron, synonym CSV import/export, and analytics export

Good habit: review zero-result searches regularly. They often tell you exactly where to add synonyms or where the catalog vocabulary is not matching customer intent.

10. Theme Compatibility

NP Search is designed to work with PrestaShop 8 and 9 storefronts, including default themes and many custom themes.

Classic — tested
Hummingbird — tested
NP Starter — detected and supported by the built-in adapter
Custom themes — typically workable with hook detection and custom selector settings

If your theme is customized

Check whether the storefront search area is being intercepted properly
If not, identify the theme search selector in DevTools
Add that selector in NP Search → Configure
Re-test on frontend and mobile

11. FAQ

Does NP Search work with PrestaShop 9?

Yes. NP Search is positioned for PrestaShop 8 and 9, with dedicated source and demo environments for both versions.

Does it require jQuery, React, or another framework?

No. NP Search is built with vanilla JavaScript and CSS on the frontend, plus PHP on the backend.

Does it require Redis, Elasticsearch, or an external hosted service?

No. NP Search uses MySQL or MariaDB FULLTEXT and its own module logic rather than an external search subscription.

What should I do before purchasing?

Use the demo, review the product page, read this quick start, and contact support if you still need a fit check for theme or rollout questions.

Can I add my own synonyms?

Yes. The backoffice includes synonym CRUD controls so you can add, edit, activate, or deactivate groups.

What happens if I uninstall NP Search?

The module removes its own search data and the store falls back to the native PrestaShop search flow.

12. Support

If you need help, use the support path that matches the question:

Technical support: issues after install, selector mapping, unexpected storefront behavior
Sales and pre-sales: fit checks, rollout questions, compatibility uncertainty before purchase
General contact: anything that does not fit the two categories above

Best next step: visit Support or email support@neuroplugin.com with your PrestaShop version, module version, theme name, and the specific issue or question.