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

	JTannerWMF
	Dec 17 2025, 1:31 PM

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

Related Objects
Search...

		Status	Subtype	Assigned	Task
		Open		None	T412856 Hybrid (Semantic + Lexical) Search MVP on Android
		Open		cooltey	T412944 [S] Update Search field placeholder text for experiment group

Event Timeline

JTannerWMF created this task.Dec 17 2025, 1:32 PM

Restricted Application added a subscriber: Aklapper. · View Herald TranscriptDec 17 2025, 1:32 PM

JTannerWMF updated the task description. (Show Details)Dec 17 2025, 1:32 PM

JTannerWMF added a parent task: T412856: Hybrid (Semantic + Lexical) Search MVP on Android.Dec 17 2025, 2:02 PM

TLessa-WMF updated the task description. (Show Details)Dec 19 2025, 5:53 PM

TLessa-WMF updated the task description. (Show Details)

JTannerWMF moved this task from Backlog to MVP on the Semantic Search board.Jan 6 2026, 2:32 PM

JTannerWMF edited projects, added Semantic Search (MVP); removed Semantic Search.

JTannerWMF moved this task from Backlog to P0 on the Semantic Search (MVP) board.Jan 6 2026, 3:16 PM

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.

JTannerWMF moved this task from Needs Triage to Android Release - FY2025-26 on the Wikipedia-Android-App-Backlog board.Jan 6 2026, 5:09 PM

JTannerWMF edited projects, added Wikipedia-Android-App-Backlog (Android Release - FY2025-26); removed Wikipedia-Android-App-Backlog.

HNordeenWMF moved this task from Epics in Progress to Needs Engineering Sync (P2) on the Wikipedia-Android-App-Backlog (Android Release - FY2025-26) board.Jan 6 2026, 5:25 PM

JTannerWMF moved this task from Needs Engineering Sync (P2) to Ready for future sprints (P1) on the Wikipedia-Android-App-Backlog (Android Release - FY2025-26) board.Jan 6 2026, 5:26 PM

Dbrant set the point value for this task to 3.Jan 6 2026, 5:35 PM

JTannerWMF moved this task from Ready for future sprints (P1) to Current Sprint (P0) on the Wikipedia-Android-App-Backlog (Android Release - FY2025-26) board.Jan 6 2026, 5:48 PM

JTannerWMF added a project: Android Sprint 2025: T.

cooltey claimed this task.Jan 8 2026, 5:27 PM

cooltey moved this task from Current Sprint (P0) to Doing on the Wikipedia-Android-App-Backlog (Android Release - FY2025-26) board.

cooltey opened https://github.com/wikimedia/apps-android-wikipedia/pull/6222

cooltey moved this task from Doing to Code Review on the Wikipedia-Android-App-Backlog (Android Release - FY2025-26) board.Sat, Jan 10, 12:30 AM

Williamrai closed https://github.com/wikimedia/apps-android-wikipedia/pull/6222

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

Make sure you are in the test group 1 or 2 (b or c)
You can go to Developer Settings -> make sure "Hybrid Search test group" is 1 or 2
hybridSearchOnboardingShown and hybridSearchEnabled are on.
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