Most WordPress search plugins treat your site like a blank slate they drop in their own category dropdowns, rebuild your query, and often fight with the filter you’ve already spent hours configuring. SCSS Category Search does the opposite: it’s a lightweight, shortcode based search bar that searches only inside the category your existing filter already has active. It never renders its own category dropdown unless you want it to, and it never touches your existing filter code.en-gb.wordpress+2
If you run a blog with category archives, a WooCommerce store with product category filters, or a custom post type directory with taxonomy-based navigation, this plugin gives you instant, AJAX-powered search that actually understands where your visitor is already browsing.
In 2026, WordPress and WooCommerce site owners face a familiar frustration:
SCSS Category Search is built for the 80% of sites that already have a working category filter and just need search that plays nice with it.
Open to all this plugins also on GIThub:-
you need repo click to this link – https://github.com/scss-live/plugins/
Unlike most search plugins, SCSS Category Search detects your active category automatically and limits search results to that term. Here’s what sets it apart:
category, product_cat, or any custom taxonomy you’ve registered. Just set taxonomy and post_type in the shortcode.wordpress+1Think of it as the “search bar that finally gets your category filter” not a replacement for it.
Search that respects your visitor’s context isn’t just a UX nicety it directly impacts engagement and crawl efficiency:
In short: context-aware search reduces friction, protects SEO, and helps visitors buy or read more.
Option A – As a plugin (recommended):
wp-content/plugins/scss-category-search/scss-category-search.phpOption B – In your child theme:
functions.phpscss-category-search.php below the if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) { exit; } linefunctions.php (don’t paste the second <?php)CSS and JS load only on pages where the shortcode runs nothing else is enqueued.
Drop the shortcode above your existing category-filtered list:
text
Or in a PHP template:
php<?php echo do_shortcode( '
' ); ?>
Results appear directly under the search bar; your existing category list below stays untouched.
Target WooCommerce products or any custom post type with parameters:
text
Key shortcode attributes:
| Attribute | Default | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
taxonomy | category | Your taxonomy (e.g., product_cat) |
post_type | post | Post type to search (e.g., product) |
posts_per_page | 10 | Results per request (max 50) |
min_chars | 2 | Characters typed before searching |
filter_selector | (empty) | CSS selector of your existing filter control |
show_category_filter | yes | Show/hide the in-bar category dropdown |
show_excerpt | yes | Show excerpt under each result |
show_thumbnail | yes | Show featured image thumbnail |
The dropdown inside the bar is preselected with your active category, so visitors see where they’re searching and can narrow without leaving the bar. Changing it re-runs AJAX instantly no page reload, no interference with your main filter.en-gb.wordpress+1
SCSS Category Search finds your active category automatically:
scss_category, category, cat, category_name, etc.wordpressfilter_selector="#category-filter" and the script listens for change or click events on your filter’s dropdown, radios, checkboxes, or links without modifying them.en-gb.wordpress+1scss:category-changed custom event if your filter is fully custom.If nothing is detected, the bar searches all content for that post type and shows “All categories” as the scope.
post_type and taxonomy parameters.