Editing Help:Searching bg3.wiki

[[File:Bg3wiki search gif.gif|thumb|right|Demonstration of using a search keyword to directly navigate to bg3.wiki]]
{{#seo:
| image = bg3wiki_help.png
| description = A guide to help BG3 players search for relevant content on the Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki.
}}
If you've ever tried searching for BG3 info on Google, you've probably noticed that bg3.wiki pages often don't appear in the search results. This is due to the way Google handles Search Engine Optimization (SEO), which is outside the scope of this article. Suffice it to say that non-commercial websites like bg3.wiki have a difficult time with SEO.

'''The point: This article describes a simple way to bypass Google and find relevant information on bg3.wiki.''' We'll keep working on the Google side of things. In the meantime, hopefully this workaround helps.

== Search bg3.wiki Directly From Your Address Bar ==
Here are browser-specific instructions on how to define a custom search keyword, which you can type in your address bar to focus your search directly on bg3.wiki.

For example, if you enter the example values described in the instructions below, typing <code>bg3wiki spells</code> in your browser's address bar and pressing '''Enter''' will immediately perform a search for 'spells' on bg3.wiki. If your search term matches an existing article name, you'll be taken directly to that article (in this case, [[Spells]]). Otherwise, you'll be taken to a page of search results on bg3.wiki.

This only takes a couple minutes to set up, doesn't require you to install anything, and could save you hours of frustrating failed searches in the future - if you're addicted to BG3 like we are.

Scroll to the section for your browser below.

=== {{color|#4285f4|G}}{{color|#ea4335|o}}{{color|#fbbc05|o}}{{color|#4285f4|g}}{{color|#34a853|l}}{{color|#ea4335|e}} Chrome ===
[[File:bg3wiki googlechrome search.png|right|thumb|(Step 3) Chrome's '''Add search engine''' box]]
# In the top right corner of Chrome, click {{SmallIcon|browser more vertical.png}} '''Customize and control Google Chrome''', then navigate to '''Settings''' &gt; '''Search engine''' &gt; '''Manage search engines and site search'''.
# Under the '''Site search''' heading, click the '''Add''' button.
# Enter the following details in the '''Add search engine''' box.
#* '''Search engine:''' The name that will appear in your address bar when you type the Shortcut below.
#** Ex: <code>BG3Wiki</code>
#* '''Shortcut:''' The keyword you'll enter in your address bar to trigger a bg3.wiki search.
#** Ex: <code>bg3wiki</code> or <code>bg3w</code> or <code>b3w</code><br />(this can be anything you'd like - just make sure it's a word or phrase you're unlikely to type when you're not trying to search for bg3.wiki info)
#* '''URL with %s in place of query:''' This is where your browser will search when you type the Shortcut above. Copy and paste one of the following.
#** <code>https://bg3.wiki/w/index.php?search=%s&title=Special%3ASearch&go=Go</code><br />(if you want to immediately navigate to an existing article when your search term matches an existing BG3Wiki article name)
#** <code>https://bg3.wiki/w/index.php?search=%s&title=Special%3ASearch&fulltext=1</code><br />(if you'd rather ''always'' see a list of search results instead of navigating directly to existing articles)
# When finished, click '''Add''' again to finish the process.

Once you've added the search engine, you can type <code>&lt;your shortcut&gt; &lt;your search term&gt;</code> (ex: <code>bg3wiki feats</code>) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.

=== {{color|#1190f5|Microsoft Edge}} ===
[[File:bg3wiki microsoftedge search.png|right|thumb|(Step 3) Edge's '''Add search engine''' box]]
# In the top right corner of Edge, click {{SmallIcon|browser more.png}} '''Settings and more''', then navigate to {{SmallIcon|browser gear.png}} '''Settings''' &gt; '''Privacy, search, and services''' &gt; scroll down and click '''Address bar and search'''.
# Within the '''Manage search engines''' view, click the '''Add''' button.
# Enter the following details in the '''Add search engine''' box.
#* '''Search engine:''' The name that will appear in your address bar when you type the Shortcut below.
#** Ex: <code>BG3Wiki</code>
#* '''Shortcut:''' The keyword you'll enter in your address bar to trigger a bg3.wiki search.
#** Ex: <code>bg3wiki</code> or <code>bg3w</code> or <code>b3w</code><br />(this can be anything you'd like - just make sure it's a word or phrase you're unlikely to type when you're not trying to search for bg3.wiki info)
#* '''URL with %s in place of query:''' This is where your browser will search when you type the Shortcut above. Copy and paste one of the following.
#** <code>https://bg3.wiki/w/index.php?search=%s&title=Special%3ASearch&go=Go</code><br />(if you want to immediately navigate to an existing article when your search term matches an existing BG3Wiki article name)
#** <code>https://bg3.wiki/w/index.php?search=%s&title=Special%3ASearch&fulltext=1</code><br />(if you'd rather ''always'' see a list of search results instead of navigating directly to existing articles)
# When finished, click '''Add''' again to finish the process.

Once you've added the search engine, you can type <code>&lt;your shortcut&gt; &lt;your search term&gt;</code> (ex: <code>bg3wiki armour</code>) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.

=== {{color|#ff831a|Mozilla Firefox}} ===
[[File:bg3wiki mozillafirefox addkeyword.png|right|thumb|250px|(Step 1) Right-clicking on the Search box]]
[[File:bg3wiki mozillafirefox search.png|right|thumb|250px|(Step 2) Firefox's '''Add bookmark''' box]]
Unlike most browsers, Firefox requires you to attach your custom search keyword to a bookmark, but the process is largely the same.

# From any bg3.wiki page (including this one), right-click on the '''Search Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki''' box in the top right corner of the page and select '''Add a Keyword for this Search'''.
# Enter the following details in the '''Add bookmark''' box that appears.
#* '''Name:''' The name that will appear in your Firefox bookmarks.
#** Ex: <code>Search Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki</code>
#* '''Location:''' The location of this entry in your Firefox bookmarks. This can be wherever you'd like.
#* '''Keyword:''' The keyword you'll enter in your address bar to trigger a bg3.wiki search.
#** Ex: <code>bg3wiki</code> or <code>bg3w</code> or <code>b3w</code><br />(this can be anything you'd like - just make sure it's a word or phrase you're unlikely to type when you're not trying to search for bg3.wiki info)
# When finished, click '''Save''' to finish the process.

Once you've added the search engine, you can type <code>&lt;your keyword&gt; &lt;your search term&gt;</code> (ex: <code>bg3wiki potions</code>) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.

Alternatively (and more simply), follow the official guide for how to add BG3.wiki as a search engine to Firefox's built-in search bar with just a few clicks: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/add-or-remove-search-engine-firefox#
{{clear}}

=== {{color|#f7192b|Opera}} ===
[[File:bg3wiki opera addsearchengine.png|right|thumb|250px|(Step 1) Right-clicking on the Search box]]
[[File:bg3wiki opera search.png|right|thumb|250px|(Step 2) Opera's '''Create search engine''' box]]
# From any bg3.wiki page (including this one), right-click on the '''Search Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki''' box in the top right corner of the page and select '''Create search engine...'''
# Enter the following details in the '''Create search engine for "bg3.wiki"''' box that appears.
#* '''Name:''' The name that will appear when you type the Keyword below.
#** Ex: <code>bg3.wiki</code>
#* '''Keyword:''' The keyword you'll enter in your address bar to trigger a bg3.wiki search.
#** Ex: <code>bg3wiki</code> or <code>bg3w</code> or <code>b3w</code><br />(this can be anything you'd like - just make sure it's a word or phrase you're unlikely to type when you're not trying to search for bg3.wiki info)
# When finished, click '''Save''' to finish the process.

Once you've added the search engine, you can type <code>&lt;your keyword&gt; &lt;your search term&gt;</code> (ex: <code>bg3wiki companions</code>) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.
{{clear}}

=== {{color|#f04c2a|Brave Browser}} ===
[[File:bg3wiki brave search.png|right|thumb|(Step 3) Brave's '''Add search engine''' box]]
# In the top right corner of Brave, click {{SmallIcon|browser hamburger.png}} '''Customize and control Brave''', then navigate to '''Settings''' &gt; '''Search engine''' &gt; '''Manage search engines and site search'''.
# Under the '''Site search''' heading, click the '''Add''' button.
# Enter the following details in the '''Add search engine''' box.
#* '''Search engine:''' The name that will appear in your address bar when you type the Shortcut below.
#** Ex: <code>BG3Wiki</code>
#* '''Shortcut:''' The keyword you'll enter in your address bar to trigger a bg3.wiki search.
#** Ex: <code>bg3wiki</code> or <code>bg3w</code> or <code>b3w</code><br />(this can be anything you'd like - just make sure it's a word or phrase you're unlikely to type when you're not trying to search for bg3.wiki info)
#* '''URL with %s in place of query:''' This is where your browser will search when you type the Shortcut above. Copy and paste one of the following.
#** <code>https://bg3.wiki/w/index.php?search=%s&title=Special%3ASearch&go=Go</code><br />(if you want to immediately navigate to an existing article when your search term matches an existing BG3Wiki article name)
#** <code>https://bg3.wiki/w/index.php?search=%s&title=Special%3ASearch&fulltext=1</code><br />(if you'd rather ''always'' see a list of search results instead of navigating directly to existing articles)
# When finished, click '''Add''' again to finish the process.

Once you've added the search engine, you can type <code>&lt;your shortcut&gt; &lt;your search term&gt;</code> (ex: <code>bg3wiki weapons</code>) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.

== Using an Alternative Search Engine ==
You might also want to try something other than Google Search. Endorsing any specific search engine is not really the point of this article, but other search engines have a better track record of showing relevant bg3.wiki articles for your search terms, instead of ads and content farms. Maybe try searching Google for 'alternatives to Google' if you're feeling adventurous? :)