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Report: App Store search updated to compensate for typos, improve discoverability

App-Store-spell-check-

According to a report from TechCrunch, Apple has recently implemented updates to the App Store’s search engine allowing it to compensate for “misspelled queries with small typos” and provide more useful results. The update also reportedly extends to app titles that have spaces in the title:

For example, those looking for the highly ranked “QuizUp” game wouldn’t have found it before if they had typed in “Quiz Up” with a space. Now it appears.

The result will ultimately be better discoverability for apps in the App Store, especially for developers targeting keywords that are commonly misspelled. As noted by TechCrunch, it’s also something that has helped Google provide better results on its Play store (as highlighted in the graphic from SEO firm SearchMan above):

App Store SEO firm SearchMan had looked into the differences between the two platforms, and found that a simple misspelling of the word “calendar” (i.e., spelling it “calender”) led to 100 times more results in Google Play. It seems the only iOS apps returned were those who thought to include the misspelling as one of their keywords.

The report claims the changes started rolling out on the App Store a few weeks ago.

There have been other reports in recent months that Apple is working to improve discoverability on the App Store. In August we noted Apple was testing changes to App Store algorithms to incorporate user ratings and other metrics.

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Comments

  1. Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 10 years ago

    Finally…

    now if only maps could find what I’m looking for.

  2. The search function has been dodgy since they introduced the new app store layout a couple of years back. I was searching for Google Play Music app recently and had to scroll through a load of cheap knock-offs before I stumbled across it, about 30odd places in the results. I hope these improvements will kick in soon and return the app store to its former glory

  3. Stuart Nolan - 10 years ago

    Can’t we leave it the way it was and allow Google to have all the illiterates???

    • Its not about illiteracy. Spelling mistakes doesnt happen only to illiterates. Because of the form factor of the phone we do get spelling mistakes and hence why we have auto correct.. This is a good step but a very very late one. Cant imagine why they didnt think of this for 6 yrs now.

  4. Wait, which of these two companies is mainly searching engine company? Google? Oh, it doesn’t look like that with that accuracy now :D :D

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.