searchNdiscovery.md•9.31 kB
# Search & Discovery
> Learn how users discover and access Mini Apps in the Base ecosystem, including discovery surfaces, ranking systems, and optimization strategies for maximum visibility.
> **What you’ll learn**\
> By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to:
>
> * Get your Mini App indexed in Base App search and understand how indexing works.
> * Choose the right categories and implement strategies to improve visibility across discovery surfaces.
> * Apply best practices to increase discoverability across Base App surfaces.
## Search
### How Search Works
Users discover Mini Apps through direct search queries in Base App.
<Frame caption="Here in The Base App you can see searching based on partial titles">
<img src="https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/search.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=f87a4b9a69d19a5a8a88c55b3d287e80" alt="search bar in base app" height="200" data-og-width="1206" data-og-height="571" data-path="images/minikit/search.jpg" data-optimize="true" data-opv="3" srcset="https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/search.jpg?w=280&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=6a6e561a1d0cdb58e91ee79f5b5e1167 280w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/search.jpg?w=560&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=d5c1d8c6a5444af1f55a4a062fcc1aa5 560w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/search.jpg?w=840&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=86cac0abacc3ea32023b5d12fed04484 840w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/search.jpg?w=1100&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=792ec771b9044e23c66631526c23fd07 1100w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/search.jpg?w=1650&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=3e6909bfc6f745172bcb90193251f807 1650w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/search.jpg?w=2500&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=4c60a4aef5635b57b5129da7a38f2d84 2500w" />
</Frame>
Your Mini App will only appear in search results after it has been indexed. To ensure indexing, share your Mini App at least once in Base App. Indexing typically takes \~10 minutes after the first share.
### Managing Search Indexing
Development Environment: add `"noindex": true` to prevent dev/staging from appearing in search. Remove or set false for production.
**Removing from Search:**
To remove your Mini App from search results, invalidate your manifest (removes from all discovery).
<Warning>
If your Mini App does not show in search please follow the debugging guide [here](/mini-apps/troubleshooting/common-issues#1-app-discovery--indexing-issues)
</Warning>
## Discovery Surfaces
### Saved Apps
Personal launcher and quick access hub
<Frame caption="Saved Apps">
<img src="https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/my-apps.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=3349b96c18831bf64a800dab88810e3a" alt="saved apps" height="200" data-og-width="1206" data-og-height="631" data-path="images/minikit/my-apps.jpg" data-optimize="true" data-opv="3" srcset="https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/my-apps.jpg?w=280&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=ab01575896d9db82547f33c7f3b20e44 280w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/my-apps.jpg?w=560&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=c61996d4e0558b326628e7b5a060ade9 560w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/my-apps.jpg?w=840&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=00b30687170f2830e9b64bf7708505b8 840w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/my-apps.jpg?w=1100&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=8185388a2e7d977b9dfab749348451a8 1100w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/my-apps.jpg?w=1650&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=6692c5d862830070d86a6e34630c6e22 1650w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/my-apps.jpg?w=2500&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=0728cf471741dfb7e98250d5ef64a7cf 2500w" />
</Frame>
Appears here:
* User's saved Mini Apps
* Recently used applications
Prompt users to save via the Add Frame flow at key value moments.
### App Categories
Browsable directory organized by interest
<Frame caption="App Categories">
<img src="https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/categories.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=fb4561c63e1a1e54d6c39a0496a700c2" alt="app categories" height="100" data-og-width="1206" data-og-height="1271" data-path="images/minikit/categories.jpg" data-optimize="true" data-opv="3" srcset="https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/categories.jpg?w=280&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=78df101f5a51eed698737ef20f706adb 280w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/categories.jpg?w=560&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=e2a89e5c92632da2c5fe0378c2d3aab6 560w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/categories.jpg?w=840&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=abc18eb42055463b2ac90552cd58b6db 840w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/categories.jpg?w=1100&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=f9d3684cd503216f52efe5d2a7816558 1100w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/categories.jpg?w=1650&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=38b56e908cd1973bf63258078296371a 1650w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/categories.jpg?w=2500&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=af8be383a38034eb282b0ec3bca401fe 2500w" />
</Frame>
<Warning>
Choose your primaryCategory carefully as it determines where your app appears in Base App's category browsing.
</Warning>
<Frame caption="Ranking for the Social Category">
<img src="https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/ranking.jpeg?fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=a6cb4734052b82aad0930c94ed7ac83c" alt="app categories" className="h-18 w-auto" data-og-width="836" width="836" data-og-height="556" height="556" data-path="images/minikit/ranking.jpeg" data-optimize="true" data-opv="3" srcset="https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/ranking.jpeg?w=280&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=c2b4dbdafb41300b6ba71ace8167aeb4 280w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/ranking.jpeg?w=560&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=7dd3c5fd8726145b9ffb41f9fe3a94f4 560w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/ranking.jpeg?w=840&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=97f2c66f386418b3b31024d1a911719b 840w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/ranking.jpeg?w=1100&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=45a23dcfb0dc945ed155f31d37eda23f 1100w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/ranking.jpeg?w=1650&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=adad8049b666d5ebe4d1c0ab7b8ddee5 1650w, https://mintcdn.com/base-a060aa97/gS084HRa38b8UMsN/images/minikit/ranking.jpeg?w=2500&fit=max&auto=format&n=gS084HRa38b8UMsN&q=85&s=2f8f7bb74297ab1f3a30eaff22d23e84 2500w" />
</Frame>
<Tip> The Base app uses aggregated data (7-day rolling window) to generate dynamic category rankings.</Tip>
## Visual Specifications
For detailed visual mapping of how metadata translates to UI elements, see the [Figma specification file](https://www.figma.com/design/4wx6s24NB0KLgprQAyMT8R/TBA-Mini-App-Specs).
## Optimization Strategies
### Category Optimization
* **Choose primaryCategory strategically** based on your target audience and competition
* **Monitor category rankings** and adjust strategy based on performance
* **Consider seasonal trends** that might affect category popularity
### Metadata Best Practices
* **High-quality icon** (1024×1024, clear and recognizable at small sizes)
* **Compelling description** under 130 characters that clearly communicates value
* **Relevant tags** that match user search behavior
* **OG image optimized** for social sharing (1200×630) with clear visual hierarchy
## Build for Discovery: Checklist
* [ ] High-quality icon (1024×1024, clear at small sizes)
* [ ] Compelling description under 130 characters
* [ ] Relevant category selection for your target audience
* [ ] OG image optimized for social sharing (1200×630)
* [ ] Test metadata rendering across different clients
* [ ] Implement proper manifest files with correct categorization
* [ ] Choose relevant categories (primaryCategory)
* [ ] Create shareable moments that naturally encourage shares
* [ ] Design compelling embeds with clear CTAs
* [ ] Encourage saves for easy return access
## Complete Implementation Guide
For step-by-step implementation including code examples, see:
* [Manifest Configuration](/mini-apps/core-concepts/manifest)
* [Embed Implementation](/mini-apps/core-concepts/embeds-and-previews)
Further reading:
* [Sharing & Embeds](/mini-apps/core-concepts/embeds-and-previews)
* [Manifest](/mini-apps/core-concepts/manifest)