OpenSearch is a collection of simple formats for the sharing of search results or adding custom searches to your browser.

This process is instigated by a preformed string of HTML in the webpage which gives the browser the information that it needs to create the custom search. Some of the variables that are supplied are the 'Name' of the search and 'search string' to be passed.

These custom searches can be detected either by looking in the HTMl or much easier on modern browsers there usually is an add button or icon change that will occur near the search boxes.

Example

<link href="http://quantumwarp.com/search?format=opensearch" rel="search" title="QuantumWarp" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" />

Links

• OpenSearch - Home of the OpenSearch Standard
• EnhanceIE.com - IE, Chrome, Firefox Search Provider builder - This is a small tool from creating the code for an OpenSearch. This code is created using XML. The code might be outdated, i dont know enought to verify this.
• 311: Joomla 3.1 Search Component Tutorial - InMotion Hosting - This article discuss OpenSearch and how to use it in Joomla