Algolia

Type: product | Domain relevance: The hosted/API-backed pole of Site Search — the remaining gap after Pagefind filled the build-time pole.


Summary

Algolia is hosted search SaaS. You May Not Need Algolia (2025-03-01) is the decision rule, not a product tutorial: if the search index can be rebuilt from the same static output users browse, start with Pagefind; reach for Algolia when the index must accept live writes, business rules, or user-specific ranking independent of a deploy.


Key Facts

  • Hosted, API-backed, commercial.
  • Right tool when search is a product feature (e-commerce, live catalog), not a docs/blog index.

In the Sources

SourceContext
You May Not Need AlgoliaWhen not to use it.

Entities: Pagefind, Site Search 360 Concepts: Site Search