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[S] Update Search field placeholder text for experiment group
Open, Needs TriagePublic3 Estimated Story Points

Description

User Story

As a reader who has opted-in to the experiment, I want the search field to signal that search capabilities have expanded, so that I feel encouraged to use semantic style queries.

Description

Update the search placeholder text and subtle UI affordances for users in the experiment group.

Acceptance Criteria

  • Search field placeholder changes when users opt-in to experiment
  • Placeholder supports both keyword and natural-language queries
  • No disruption to existing prefix / suggestion behavior
  • If user is not on an article placeholder text should say "Search or ask anything"
  • If user is on an article placeholder text should say "Ask about <name of article user is currently on>"
  • When user clicks into Search box, behavior should be the same as our current behavior

Design:

• "Search or ask anything" mockup in Figma
• "Ask about <name of article user is currently on>" mockup in Figma


Copy and Translations: TBA

Event Timeline

Dbrant renamed this task from Update Search field placeholder text for experiment group to Update Search field placeholder text for experiment group [S].Jan 6 2026, 4:43 PM
Dbrant renamed this task from Update Search field placeholder text for experiment group [S] to [S] Update Search field placeholder text for experiment group.
Dbrant set the point value for this task to 3.Jan 6 2026, 5:35 PM
cooltey added a subscriber: TLessa-WMF.

Hi @TLessa-WMF

This is ready for review, please go to the feature branch
https://github.com/wikimedia/apps-android-wikipedia/pull/6221

Steps to download the APK
Click on "Checks" -> find "Android branch build" -> scroll down and find "Artifacts" -> Download the "app_alpha_release" file

How to test

  1. Make sure you are in the test group 1 or 2 (b or c)
  2. You can go to Developer Settings -> make sure "Hybrid Search test group" is 1 or 2
  3. hybridSearchOnboardingShown and hybridSearchEnabled are on.
  4. Make sure you have the eligible app languages selected: en, fr, pt

Thanks for this! Here is the design QA @cooltey: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17cauCTaIZ912gDzITnI8KAOHDbSgacjEO4sr_G8_GtY/edit?usp=sharing

Issues (both P0):

  • Ellipsis touching the edge of the search field
  • The fact that the placeholder changes from article to focused search is a bit disorienting and add unnecessary cognitive load
This comment was removed by TLessa-WMF.