Creating a Search Output File in Lesson Five

In this article, we will learn how to generate an output file in lesson five that will be built every time we statically build our site. This output file will contain all the post data that we need to query when we type in our search.

1. Introduction

In lesson five, our goal is to create an output file that will store all the necessary post data for our search functionality. This output file will be in JSON format and will be queried using client-side JavaScript.

2. Why do we need this?

Our aim is to enable users to type in a search term and retrieve relevant content from our posts. By creating a search output file and loading it onto our search route, we can easily query the data and implement a fuzzy searcher for more accurate search results.

3. Setting up Different Endpoints with Astra

Astra, our chosen platform, allows us to set up different endpoints for various types of static files, including JavaScript (JS) or TypeScript (TS) files. These files can be transformed into JSON files, making it easier to work with the data. Additionally, images can also be included in these endpoints.

4. Creating the JSON File

To create the JSON output file, we need to add a file called search.json.js inside the pages directory. This file will export an async function called get for a GET request. The function will return a new response with JSON content. We will use the JSON.stringify method along with the await getPosts function as the data to be stringified. Additionally, we need to pass in a status of 200 and set the content type as application/json.

5. Defining the getPosts Function

The getPosts function will be an async function that retrieves the necessary post data. Currently, it returns a string with no content. To retrieve the actual post data, we can use the await keyword followed by the collection property from Astro content. By returning the posts, we can fetch all the posts available on this specific route.

6. Testing the Search Output

After implementing the above steps, we can test the search output by refreshing the page. The result should show all the posts in the console log, including their IDs, slugs, bodies, titles, descriptions, publication dates, and hero images.

7. Customizing the Search Output

To optimize the search route and reduce the amount of data loaded, we can customize the search output. Instead of returning all the post data, we can return only the necessary properties for our search functionality. By using the post.map function, we can create a new object for each post containing specific properties like slug, title, description, and publication date. This will make the search file smaller and faster to load.

8. Implementing the Search Functionality

Now that we have the search route set up, we can move on to implementing the search functionality. When a user starts typing in the search field, we want to query the JSON file we created earlier and display the matching results. By using client-side JavaScript, we can easily manipulate the data and show only the relevant content based on the user's input.

Conclusion

Lesson five guides us through the process of creating an output file that contains all the necessary post data for our search functionality. By querying this file and implementing client-side JavaScript, we can create a search feature that provides accurate and efficient results.