Create a Result List

This is for:

Developer

Coveo Atomic lets you choose how to display search results by specifying a layout, a density, and an image size. Atomic also lets you define templates for multiple types of search results to personalize how they look.

Step 1: Choose a layout

A layout defines how you organize the results of a query. Layouts affect how many results to display per row and how visually distinct they are from each other. You can choose a layout by setting the display attribute on the atomic-result-list component. The three available layouts types are: list, grid, and table.

List

List is the default layout. The list layout displays a single column containing all the results, taking the full available width. On a desktop browser, a divider separates the list results. On mobile, they’re displayed as cards surrounded by outlines.

<atomic-result-list
  display="list"
>
  ...
</atomic-result-list>
Atomic List Layout

Grid

The grid layout displays a number of columns containing the results. The number of columns varies based on the available space.

<atomic-result-list
  display="grid"
>
  ...
</atomic-result-list>
Atomic Grid Layout

Table

The table layout displays the results in a table. Tables aren’t responsive, so this layout could extend beyond the width of the screen on mobile devices. Unlike the list or grid layouts, you must define columns for the table layout.

<atomic-result-list
  display="table"
>
  ...
</atomic-result-list>
Atomic Table Layout

Step 2: Choose an image size

The image attribute defines the expected size of the image, and has four possible values:

  • none

  • icon (default)

  • small

  • large

None

<atomic-result-list
  image-size="none"
>
  ...
</atomic-result-list>
Atomic Image Size - "none"

Icon

<atomic-result-list
  image-size="icon"
>
  ...
</atomic-result-list>
Atomic Image Size - "icon"

Small

<atomic-result-list
  image-size="small"
>
  ...
</atomic-result-list>
Atomic Image Size - "small"

Large

<atomic-result-list
  image-size="large"
>
  ...
</atomic-result-list>
Atomic Image Size - "large"

Step 3: Choose a density

The density attribute defines the spacing of various elements in the result list, including the gap between results, the gap between parts of a result, and the font sizes of different parts of a result. This has three possible values:

  • comfortable

  • normal (default)

  • compact

Comfortable

<atomic-result-list
  density="comfortable"
>
  ...
</atomic-result-list>
Atomic Comfortable Result Density

Normal (default)

<atomic-result-list
  density="normal"
>
  ...
</atomic-result-list>
Atomic Normal Result Density

Compact

<atomic-result-list
  density="compact"
>
  ...
</atomic-result-list>
Atomic Compact Result Density

Step 4: Define a result template

Each result rendered will be a copy of a specified result template. You can define multiple result templates with different conditions to personalize different types of results. If a result template doesn’t have any conditions, it’s considered the default template. If no other template conditions are fulfilled, the results are rendered using the default template.

Here’s an example of how to define a template that’s only rendered when the sourcetype field of a result is Salesforce:

<atomic-result-list>
  <atomic-result-template must-match-sourcetype="Salesforce">
    <template>
      ...
    </template>
  </atomic-result-template>
</atomic-result-list>

List or grid layout

Atomic Grid or List Template Layout

In a list or grid layout, result templates must be divided into multiple building blocks called result sections. Atomic supports eight result sections, each of which has a different purpose and behavior:

  • visual

  • badges

  • actions

  • title

  • title metadata

  • emphasized

  • excerpt

  • bottom metadata

Most sections have a font size and a line height that varies based on the layout, the image size, and the density. Result sections are rearranged and resized based on:

  • The layout

  • The density

  • The image size

  • The screen size (mobile or desktop)

Here’s an example of how to define result sections:

<template>
  <atomic-result-section-visual image-size="icon">
    ...
  </atomic-result-section-visual>
  <atomic-result-section-title>
    ...
  </atomic-result-section-title>
  <atomic-result-section-excerpt>
    ...
  </atomic-result-section-excerpt>
  <atomic-result-section-bottom-metadata>
    ...
  </atomic-result-section-bottom-metadata>
</template>

Visual section

Element: atomic-result-section-visual

Attributes:

  • image-size: Enforces a different image size than otherwise specified in the result list.

Purpose: This section provides visual information about the item. For example, in Commerce, an image is a great shorthand for a product category. An icon can quickly show the item type, or an avatar can quickly show the target customer.

Behavior:

  • Has a fixed size that depends on the specified image size, the layout, the density, and the screen size.

    • When the image size is set to icon, this section stays very small.

    • You should ensure that elements inside of it take the available space.

  • Always has a 1:1 aspect ratio.

Badges section

Element: atomic-result-section-badges

Purpose: This section provides badges that highlight special features of the item.

Behavior:

  • Exposes the --row-height CSS variable so that child elements adjust according to the current line height.

    • You should ensure that elements inside of it have height: var(--row-height).

  • Is a wrapping flexbox with a gap.

  • May appear over, next to, or beneath the visual section.

Actions section

Element: atomic-result-section-actions

Purpose: This section allows the information seeker to perform an action on an item without having to view its details. For example, in Commerce you can add an item to the cart directly or add it to a wish list to view at a later time.

Behavior:

  • Exposes the --row-height CSS variable so that child elements adjust according to the current line height.

    • You should ensure that elements inside of it have height: var(--row-height).

  • Is a wrapping flexbox with a gap.

  • May appear over, next to, or beneath the visual section.

Title section

Element: atomic-result-section-title

Purpose: This section identifies the item by its name, and its main use is to make the result list scannable. This is usually the page title.

Behavior:

  • Has a fixed height of two lines on grid layouts.

  • Exposes the --line-height variable so child elements can adjust to the current line height.

  • Has a defined CSS color property for text.

Title metadata section

Element: atomic-result-section-title-metadata

Purpose: This section surfaces some fields that are directly related to the title of the item. For example, in Commerce, this could be the item's rating, which is tied to the nature of the product itself, rather than to the product’s description.

Behavior:

  • Has a very small font size.

  • Is the closest element beneath the title section.

Emphasized section

Element: atomic-result-section-emphasized

Purpose: This section displays the field that’s important for its search criteria. For example, in Commerce, a product’s cost is often more important than the title itself.

Behavior:

  • Has a very large font size.

  • Is the second closest element beneath the title section.

Excerpt section

Element: atomic-result-section-excerpt

Purpose: This section contains an informative summary of the item's content.

Behavior:

  • Has a fixed height of one to three lines, depending on the layout and density.

  • Ellipses overflowing text.

  • Exposes the --line-height variable so that child elements can adjust to the current line height.

  • Has a defined CSS color property for text.

Bottom metadata section

Element: atomic-result-section-bottom-metadata

Purpose: This section displays additional descriptive information about the item.

Behavior:

  • Has a maximum height of two lines.

    • We recommend that you use atomic-result-fields-list to ensure that the fields in this section don’t overflow.

  • Exposes the --line-height variable so child elements can adjust to the current line height.

  • Has a defined CSS color property for text.

  • Has a font weight.

Table layout

Atomic Table Result Template Layout

In a table layout, result templates must be divided into titled columns:

<template>
  <atomic-table-element label="Description">
    ...
  </atomic-table-element>
  <atomic-table-element label="author">
    ...
  </atomic-table-element>
  <atomic-table-element label="source">
    ...
  </atomic-table-element>
  <atomic-table-element label="language">
    ...
  </atomic-table-element>
  <atomic-table-element label="file-type">
    ...
  </atomic-table-element>
</template>

Step 5: Add template components

Each result is a copy of the template. However, template components will vary based on the result that they’re in. The following result components are currently supported:

Step 6: Style result templates

It’s possible to style results by adding a style tag inside their result template:

<atomic-result-list>
  <atomic-result-template>
    <template>
      <style>
        ...
      </style>
      ...
    </template>
  </atomic-result-template>
</atomic-result-list>

You can use parts to customize the contents of certain components, such as the atomic-result-badge:

atomic-result-badge::part(result-badge-element) {
  background-color: var(--atomic-primary);
  color: var(--atomic-on-primary);
}