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Difference Between Backend Members List Search & Frontend Directory Search
Difference Between Backend Members List Search & Frontend Directory Search
Melisa Smith avatar
Written by Melisa Smith
Updated over a week ago

Quick quiz! What's the difference in the quick search bar on the admin members list page and the search function in the frontend member directory?

Backend members list:

Frontend member directory:

Answer: The backend members list and the frontend member directory have different purposes and parameters, and therefore, likely won't match in a 1:1 comparison.

On the backend members list, the search bar functions as a "quick search" to be able to quickly find a single member so an admin can easily get to that member's record - it solely looks at the name, email, or the first line of a member's address. It's not meant to query groups of members since admins can create groups and/or reports to pull those things.
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On the frontend member directory, website visitors searching are likely trying to find groups of members (by keyword for example), rather than just one particular member a majority of the time, so there are different search criteria available - name, parent name, professional title, custom field values from the member records, and text a member adds to their description.
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It's also important to note that the frontend directory is based on a group with limitations, usually current members only, while the backend member list is going to search any record in the system (unless you're also using the filters).
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If your goal as an admin is to query certain groups of members, we can help you get groups or reports created to do that, just ask!

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