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name: algolia-search description: "Expert patterns for Algolia search implementation, indexing strategies, React InstantSearch, and relevance tuning Use when: adding search to, algolia, instantsearch, search api, search functionality." source: vibeship-spawner-skills (Apache 2.0)

Algolia Search Integration

Patterns

React InstantSearch with Hooks

Modern React InstantSearch setup using hooks for type-ahead search.

Uses react-instantsearch-hooks-web package with algoliasearch client. Widgets are components that can be customized with classnames.

Key hooks:

• useSearchBox: Search input handling
• useHits: Access search results
• useRefinementList: Facet filtering
• usePagination: Result pagination
• useInstantSearch: Full state access

Next.js Server-Side Rendering

SSR integration for Next.js with react-instantsearch-nextjs package.

Use <InstantSearchNext> instead of <InstantSearch> for SSR. Supports both Pages Router and App Router (experimental).

Key considerations:

• Set dynamic = 'force-dynamic' for fresh results
• Handle URL synchronization with routing prop
• Use getServerState for initial state

Data Synchronization and Indexing

Indexing strategies for keeping Algolia in sync with your data.

Three main approaches:

1. Full Reindexing - Replace entire index (expensive)
2. Full Record Updates - Replace individual records
3. Partial Updates - Update specific attributes only

Best practices:

• Batch records (ideal: 10MB, 1K-10K records per batch)
• Use incremental updates when possible
• partialUpdateObjects for attribute-only changes
• Avoid deleteBy (computationally expensive)

⚠️ Sharp Edges

Issue	Severity	Solution
Issue	critical	See docs
Issue	high	See docs
Issue	medium	See docs
Issue	medium	See docs
Issue	medium	See docs
Issue	medium	See docs
Issue	medium	See docs
Issue	medium	See docs