---
title: Customize search block
slug: cms-12/docs/customize-search-block
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-08-10T15:55:56.000Z
---

You can access the customized search block functionality if an administrator enables the feature.

A customized search block displays content from your website based on your search criteria. For example, you want to display content found using the search term *alloy plan*.

You can modify a block's appearance by including a heading and descriptions and setting the number of results. When you place a customized search block on a page, the results of your criteria display, as shown in the following image.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/FIE-jVIao9l6yxxJlCPgG_fdd1d05e4a8c3fe5d9dcf5e0b11c6fb6b16fd49a0be86d41eccec2ab36798969-image.png)

To create a customized search block, use the following steps after the block is created. You can edit it from the **On-Page Editing** view (basic settings only) or the **All Properties** view (all settings).

1. Create a block, as explained in [Blocks](docId\:YEOqly0YLZ82X4FtILns6), using the **Customized Search** block type.
2. Under **Required Properties**, enter the **Search phrase**. You must enter at least one character. This phrase reappears on the block's properties screen, where it can be edited.
3. Click **Create**. The display options screen displays.
4. Access the **All Properties** view.
5. Under the **Content** tab, enter the search criteria. Only **Search phrase** is required. Use the remaining fields to filter the search and control the display of results. The block displays content that satisfies *all* criteria.
   - **Search heading** – If you want a heading to appear above search results, enter its text.
   - **Basic Search settings**
     - **Search phrase** – Enter text for which you want to search content. You must enter at least one character.
     - **Match all words** – Select to require the search to include *all* text; clear to search for any word in the search phrase.
     - **Number of hits** – Enter the number (1-1000) of search results that appear in the block.
     - **Include description** –Select to display the description of each search result.
   - **Advanced search settings**
     - **Search root** – By default, all content is searched. To filter the search, select a content root; only content within and under the root is searched. For example, you want to search only content in the `/campaigns` folder, or its child folders.
     - **Content types** – By default, all content types are searched. To filter the search, select content types to include. For example, you want only to search pages whose type is Landing Page.
     - **Include Best Bets**. **Use synonyms** – If desired, use the Best Bets and Synonyms features to enhance the search results. See [Promoting content using best bets](docId\:RDHBaqBLSfzgMSk2-1wXn) and [Adding synonyms for similar phrases](docId\:q8l4QvPHrwLfBMqXib_Qj).

## Example: Real Madrid press releases

Your website provides news about the *Union of European Football Associations* (UEFA). You want to display the five most recent press releases about *Real Madrid*. So, you

1. Create a customized search block.
2. Use **Real Madrid** as the **Search phrase**.
3. Assume your site has a page tree node **News**, whose content uses two page types: **News** for ordinary news, and **Press releases**.
   1. Use the **Search root** field to select the **News** page tree node.
   2. Use the **Content types** field to select the **Press release** page type.
4. Set **Number of hits** to **5**.
5. Place the block in appropriate locations on your site.