Contexa AI Search

FAQ

Do I need a Contexa account?

Yes, you need an API key from Contexa.co. A free trial is available.

Will this work with my theme?

Yes, the plugin works with any WordPress theme that supports WooCommerce.

How do I add search to my site?

Use the shortcode [contexa_search] on any page or post.

Does it sync automatically?

Yes, you can enable automatic sync in the settings to keep products updated.

Can I customize the search results display?

Yes! The plugin includes 5 built-in templates and supports custom CSS:

Use built-in templates via shortcode:
– Template 1: Classic Grid (default)
– Template 2: Minimal Clean
– Template 3: Card with Shadow
– Template 4: Modern Bordered
– Template 5: Colorful Gradient

Switch between list and grid layouts:
[contexa_search layout="list"] # Horizontal list layout
[contexa_search layout="grid" columns="3"] # Grid layout with 3 columns

Add custom CSS to your theme:

`css

/* Customize list layout */
.contexa-products-list .contexa-product-card {
padding: 20px;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
}

/* Customize grid layout */
.contexa-products-grid {
grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
gap: 30px;
}

/* Style product cards */
.contexa-product-card {
border-radius: 10px;
box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
}

/* Customize quantity buttons */
.contexa-quantity-selector {
border: 2px solid #000;
}

/* Hide elements */
.contexa-product-excerpt { display: none; }
`

All search results use standard CSS classes – just add your styles to Appearance → Customize → Additional CSS.

How fast is the search?

The plugin uses direct API integration with client-side rendering for maximum performance:
– Cached results: ~200ms
– Uncached results: 1-2 seconds
– 5-minute session cache for frequently searched terms
– No server-side WordPress overhead

Does it support autocomplete?

Yes! The plugin includes inline autocomplete suggestions that appear as you type, powered by the Contexa AI engine.

What recommendation types are available?

The plugin includes 5 AI-powered recommendation engines:

1. Similar Products – [contexa_similar]

   • Best for: Individual product pages
   • Use case: Show alternative or related products
   • Where to place: Below product description, in a separate tab, or sidebar
   • Example: On a phone product page, show other phone models

2. Trending Products – [contexa_trending]

   • Best for: Homepage, category pages, blog sidebar
   • Use case: Display what’s popular right now across your store
   • Where to place: Homepage featured section, sidebar widgets
   • Example: “Trending This Week” section on homepage

3. Personalized – [contexa_personalized]

   • Best for: Homepage, account/dashboard pages, email campaigns
   • Use case: AI-personalized recommendations based on visitor behavior
   • Where to place: Homepage hero section, “Recommended For You” sections
   • Example: Personalized product suggestions based on browsing history

4. Frequently Bought Together – [contexa_frequently_together]

   • Best for: Individual product pages (cross-sell)
   • Use case: Products commonly purchased together with current product
   • Where to place: Below “Add to Cart” button or in product tabs
   • Example: Phone → Phone case, charger, screen protector

5. Cart-Based – [contexa_cart_based]

   • Best for: Cart page, checkout page
   • Use case: Upsell complementary products based on cart contents
   • Where to place: Bottom of cart page, checkout sidebar
   • Example: “Complete Your Purchase” section on cart page

All recommendations include AJAX add to cart with quantity selectors for seamless shopping experience.

Where should I place each recommendation shortcode?

Product Pages:
– [contexa_similar] – Show alternative products
– [contexa_frequently_together] – Cross-sell complementary items

Homepage:
– [contexa_trending] – Popular products section
– [contexa_personalized] – Personalized recommendations

Cart/Checkout:
– [contexa_cart_based] – Last-minute upsells

Category/Shop Pages:
– [contexa_trending] – Trending in this category

Blog/Content Pages:
– [contexa_trending] – Related products in sidebar

You can add shortcodes via:
– Page builders (Elementor, Gutenberg blocks)
– Theme template files (functions.php with hooks)
– Widget areas (sidebar, footer)
– Directly in product descriptions

How do I add recommendations to product pages?

Method 1: Using WooCommerce hooks (recommended)
Add this to your theme’s functions.php:

`php

// Add “You May Also Like” below product description
add_action(‘woocommerce_after_single_product_summary’, ‘add_similar_products’, 15);
function add_similar_products() {
echo do_shortcode(‘[contexa_similar title=”You May Also Like” columns=”4″ limit=”4″]’);
}

// Add “Frequently Bought Together” below Add to Cart button
add_action(‘woocommerce_after_add_to_cart_form’, ‘add_frequently_bought’, 20);
function add_frequently_bought() {
echo do_shortcode(‘[contexa_frequently_together title=”Frequently Bought Together” columns=”4″ limit=”3″]’);
}
`

Method 2: Using page builders
Simply add a Shortcode widget and paste: [contexa_similar]

Method 3: Product tabs
Add recommendations in a custom WooCommerce product tab for a cleaner layout.

How do I add recommendations to the cart page?

Add this to your theme’s functions.php:

`php

add_action(‘woocommerce_after_cart_table’, ‘add_cart_recommendations’);
function add_cart_recommendations() {
echo do_shortcode(‘[contexa_cart_based title=”Complete Your Purchase” columns=”4″ limit=”4″]’);
}
`

Does this work with WPML (multilingual sites)?

Yes! Version 1.6.0 adds full WPML integration:

During Setup Wizard:
– Select which languages to sync (English, Spanish, French, etc.)
– See content counts filtered by selected languages
– Only sync the languages you need

Language Filtering:
– Automatically detects post language using WPML
– Syncs only content in selected languages
– Each language is indexed separately for accurate search results

Example:
If you have 950 total posts (305 English, 400 Spanish, 245 French) and select only English:
– Only 305 English posts will be synced
– Spanish and French posts are excluded
– Saves API quota and improves search relevance

The wizard guides you through language selection step-by-step. You can go back and change languages at any time.

Does this plugin load external resources?

Yes, the plugin loads the Contexa search SDK from api.contexa.co as part of the Contexa.co service. This is required for the AI search functionality to work. The SDK is loaded automatically on all frontend pages when you have an API key configured.

What data does this plugin collect?

This plugin sends product data, search queries, and visitor interactions to Contexa.co to provide AI-powered search functionality. You can control tracking features in the plugin settings. See the Privacy & Data Collection section below for full details.