Introducing the OpenSearch Query Wizard

Hello, Xano Community! It’s Izzy here from the Xano engineering team. I'm thrilled to introduce one of our latest features designed to enhance search and analytics within your applications, making it more low code-friendly than ever! Today, we’re diving deep into the world of AWS OpenSearch and how seamlessly it integrates with Xano.

What Is AWS OpenSearch?

OpenSearch is an open-source suite providing extensive search and analytics capabilities. It leverages natural language processing, text analyzers, and built-in machine learning, ensuring the return of highly relevant data. Ideal for log analytics, application monitoring, and enhancing website searches, OpenSearch acts similarly to a database but is significantly more powerful, especially when dealing with text.

Why Opt for OpenSearch Over a Regular Database?

While database queries are straightforward, often resulting in a match or no match, they can be limiting, especially with text searches. OpenSearch fills this gap with its sophisticated text analysis and natural language processing, assigning a relevancy score to each document based on how well it matches the search criteria.

Integrating OpenSearch with Xano

Setting Up Your Environment:

Begin by setting up your OpenSearch domain on AWS. Once set up, grab your domain endpoint. It's best practice to store this endpoint and your credentials as environment variables in your Xano workspace for easy and secure access throughout your APIs.

Creating a New Function Stack:

In your Xano dashboard, navigate to create a new function stack and select 'Amazon OpenSearch.' You’ll find options to create requests, manage documents, and run searches. Today, we’re focusing on creating a dynamic search query.

Configuring Your Query:

In the configuration panel, input your OpenSearch credentials and select your index. For our tutorial, we're using a 'movies' index as an example.

Building Your Query:

Utilize the new Query Wizard to build your search parameters. You can specify conditions like 'match title' or 'filter by genre.' You can also manage the number of results returned and their starting point, which is fantastic for implementing pagination.

Dynamic Searches:

Enable dynamic queries by incorporating user inputs into your search criteria, allowing end-users to interactively search through your application's data.

Sorting and Filtering:

Adjust how results are sorted and filtered. You might want to sort by rating, relevance, or even apply range filters to hone in on precisely what your users are seeking.

This walkthrough just scratches the surface of what's possible with OpenSearch and Xano. Whether you’re building an internal analytics tool or improving your application's search functionality, OpenSearch combined with Xano offers a robust solution.

Support and Documentation

If you encounter any hiccups or have questions, don't hesitate to reach out to our stellar support team. And remember, this video and the Xano documentation are always here as resources to guide you through your OpenSearch integration journey.

Thank you for tuning in, and I look forward to seeing the incredible applications you'll build with the power of OpenSearch and Xano at your fingertips!