Chapter 31. Extending the Search Experience

Search Integration allows you to add your app to a list of predefined categories. When the user performs a search using the built-in Search app, if a search result falls into one of the categories, a link to your app is displayed. This functionality works even if your app is not installed on the device, allowing the user to install and launch the selected app directly from a search result.

Extending the search experience of the phone allows your app to add features that enrich the user’s experience and extends your app’s presence on the phone.

This chapter begins with an overview of search quick cards and outlines the steps to navigate from a search result to an app. It then looks at associating your app with predefined search categories, via the WMAppManifest.xml file and the Extras.xml file. It then demonstrates two ways for performing redirection within your app, via a search deep-link URI.

The chapter then looks at creating a simple landing page that displays quick card information.

Finally, the chapter looks at retrieving the search query when your app is launched directly from search results, via App Instant Answer.

The source code for this chapter can be found in the SearchExtensibility solution, in the downloadable sample code.