WordPress get_search_query: The Complete Developer’s Guide

if (is_search()) {
    $search_term = get_search_query();
    if (!empty($search_term)) {
        echo '<h1>Search Results for: ' . esc_html($search_term) . '</h1>';
    }
}

// For display within HTML text nodes
echo esc_html(get_search_query());

// For use within HTML attributes
echo '<input type="text" value="' . esc_attr(get_search_query()) . '">';

// For use in JavaScript contexts (rare)
echo '<script>var searchTerm = "' . esc_js(get_search_query()) . '";</script>';

// Returns raw, unmodified query (default behavior)
$raw_query = get_search_query(false);

// Returns query escaped for HTML attribute context
$escaped_query = get_search_query(true); // Uses esc_attr()

// Apply custom filters using the WordPress filter hook
add_filter('get_search_query', function($query) {
    return trim(strip_tags($query)); // Basic sanitization example
});

/**
 * Retrieves the contents of the search WordPress query variable.
 *
 * @param bool $escaped Whether the result is escaped. Default false.
 *                      If true, escapes the result with esc_attr().
 * @return string Contents of the search query variable.
 */
get_search_query(bool $escaped = false): string

// In search.php or search template parts
<?php if (have_posts()) : ?>
    <header class="page-header">
        <h1 class="page-title">
            <?php
            printf(
                esc_html__('Search Results for: %s', 'textdomain'),
                '<span>' . esc_html(get_search_query()) . '</span>'
            );
            ?>
        </h1>
    </header>
<?php endif; ?>

// In your search form template
<form role="search" method="get" class="search-form" action="<?php echo esc_url(home_url('/')); ?>">
    <label for="s"><?php esc_html_e('Search for:', 'textdomain'); ?></label>
    <input type="search" id="s" class="search-field" 
           placeholder="<?php esc_attr_e('Enter search terms...', 'textdomain'); ?>"
           value="<?php echo esc_attr(get_search_query()); ?>" 
           name="s" />
    <button type="submit" class="search-submit"><?php esc_html_e('Search', 'textdomain'); ?></button>
</form>

// Add to theme's functions.php or plugin
add_filter('get_search_query', 'custom_search_sanitization');
function custom_search_sanitization($query) {
    // Remove HTML tags and excessive whitespace
    $clean_query = trim(strip_tags($query));
    
    // Limit query length for performance
    if (strlen($clean_query) > 150) {
        $clean_query = substr($clean_query, 0, 150);
    }
    
    // Apply custom business logic
    $clean_query = apply_filters('myplugin_custom_search_logic', $clean_query);
    
    return $clean_query;
}

// Cache frequent search queries to reduce database load
function get_cached_search_results($query) {
    $transient_key = 'search_cache_' . md5($query);
    $results = get_transient($transient_key);
    
    if (false === $results) {
        // Perform expensive search operation
        $args = array(
            's' => $query,
            'posts_per_page' => 10,
            'no_found_rows' => true, // Performance optimization
        );
        $results = new WP_Query($args);
        
        // Cache for 15 minutes for common searches
        set_transient($transient_key, $results, 15 * MINUTE_IN_SECONDS);
    }
    
    return $results;
}

// Filter document title for search pages
add_filter('document_title_parts', function($title_parts) {
    if (is_search()) {
        $search_query = get_search_query();
        $title_parts['title'] = sprintf(
            __('Search Results for "%s"', 'textdomain'),
            esc_html($search_query)
        );
    }
    return $title_parts;
});

// Add JSON-LD structured data
if (is_search()) {
    $search_query = get_search_query();
    $structured_data = array(
        '@context' => 'https://schema.org',
        '@type' => 'SearchResultsPage',
        'name' => sprintf('Search results for "%s"', $search_query),
        'description' => sprintf(
            'Search results for "%s" on %s',
            $search_query,
            get_bloginfo('name')
        )
    );
    
    echo '<script type="application/ld+json">';
    echo wp_json_encode($structured_data, JSON_UNESCAPED_SLASHES | JSON_PRETTY_PRINT);
    echo '</script>';
}

<?php
/**
 * Professional implementation of search results display
 * Incorporates security, accessibility, and SEO best practices
 */
function display_search_results_header() {
    if (!is_search()) {
        return;
    }
    
    $search_query = get_search_query();
    global $wp_query;
    $found_posts = $wp_query->found_posts;
    $search_query_label = !empty($search_query) 
        ? sprintf(__('Search Results for: %s', 'textdomain'), esc_html($search_query))
        : __('Search Results', 'textdomain');
    ?>
    
    <header class="search-results-header" aria-label="Search results">
        <h1 class="search-title" id="search-results-title">
            <?php echo $search_query_label; ?>
        </h1>
        
        <?php if ($found_posts > 0 && !empty($search_query)) : ?>
            <p class="search-results-count" aria-live="polite">
                <?php
                printf(
                    _n(
                        'Found %d result matching your query.',
                        'Found %d results matching your query.',
                        $found_posts,
                        'textdomain'
                    ),
                    number_format_i18n($found_posts)
                );
                ?>
            </p>
        <?php elseif (empty($search_query)) : ?>
            <p class="search-no-query">
                <?php esc_html_e('Please enter a search term to see results.', 'textdomain'); ?>
            </p>
        <?php endif; ?>
    </header>
    
    <?php
}
add_action('before_main_content', 'display_search_results_header', 10);
?>