ER: Search Bar Not Persisting Results and Missing Filter Bar Integration

[dvernon5]

Emergent Requirement - Problem

The search bar on the project page has multiple UX issues that disrupt the user workflow:

1. Page Reset Issue: When a user searches for an item on the project page in mobile view, the page reloads instead of persisting at the current position, causing the user to have to scroll back down to see their results.

2. Filter Toolbar Interaction: When the filter toolbar is open in mobile view and a user performs a search, the page reloads and the toolbar closes instead of persisting.

3. Missing Search/Filter Bar Integration: The search bar does not sync with the filter bar functionality in mobile view:

   • The filter counter does not reflect applied search terms even though they appear under "Applied Filters"
   • The "Clear All" link does not appear when only a search term is applied
   • When a search term is applied, existing filters are cleared (if a search term is applied before filters are selected, the search term persists as it should)

Current Behavior:

• Search bar functions semi-independently from the filter system
• No visual feedback that search has been applied in mobile view (no counter, no Clear All button)
• Page resets position after search in mobile view
• Searching removes previously selected filters in mobile view

Expected Behavior:

• Search via "Search By Keywords" should:
  • Increment the filter counter (e.g., "Filters (1)" or "Filters (5)" if other filters exist)
  • Trigger the "Clear All" button visibility
  • Maintain page scroll position
  • Work seamlessly with other filter selections

Issue you discovered this emergent requirement in

• Projects and Home Pages: Pin Projects Filter to the Top of the Projects List - Mobile View #7525

Date discovered

11/13/25

Did you have to do something temporarily

• [ ] YES
• [x] NO

Who was involved

@dvernon5 @daras-cu

What happens if this is not addressed

• Users experience frustrating, repetitive workflows requiring excessive scrolling
• Confusion about whether search selections are actually applied
• Disconnected experience between search and filter features
• Potential abandonment of search functionality due to poor UX

Resources

Filter counter showing "Filter (4)" with proper integration:

Filter toolbar with "Search: Python" in Applied Filters section:

Filter bar after search showing no counter or integration:

Project page URL: Projects Page

Recommended Action Items

• [ ] Make a new issue
• [ ] Discuss with team
• [ ] Let a Team Lead know

Potential solutions [draft]

Write two issues which will each be "Complexity: Large".

Issue 1: Mobile View - Page Reset & Filter Bar Closing This issue will implement the following changes to the "Projects" page:

• Ensure page remains in same scroll position after a search is applied with the filter toolbar closed
• Prevent filter toolbar from closing after search is applied with the filter toolbar open

Issue 2: Search/Filter Integration This issue will implement the following changes to the "Projects" page:

• Increment "Filters" counter when a search term is applied and decrement if the term is cleared
• "Clear All" should appear when a search term is added and clear both search terms and filters
• Previously selected filters should remain when applying a search term in mobile view

[github-actions[bot]]

Hi @dvernon5.

Please don't forget to add the proper labels to this issue. Currently, the labels for the following are missing:

• Complexity, Role, Feature

NOTE: Please ignore this comment if you do not have 'write' access to this directory.

To add a label, take a look at Github's documentation here.

Also, don't forget to remove the "missing labels" afterwards. To remove a label, the process is similar to adding a label, but you select a currently added label to remove it.

After the proper labels are added, the merge team will review the issue and add a "Ready for Prioritization" label once it is ready for prioritization.

Additional Resources:

• Wiki: How to create issues
• Wiki: How to read and interpret labels

[daras-cu]

Hi @dvernon5, thanks for writing this ER. A couple questions:

• I believe the page reset issue is only occurring in mobile view, can you test it out as well to confirm? Whenever I search in desktop view, the project cards may change because of the search being applied but the page does not reload and it remains scrolled to the same point.
• Do you think this can be broken up into a couple different issues? I think the page reset and filter bar closing problems in mobile view are connected so maybe one issue can address those, and then another issue for the search/filter integration to update the counter and make the clear button work. Let me know what you think.

[dvernon5]

@daras-cu

You're absolutely right, I should have specified that all these issues are happening in mobile view only. Desktop works fine.

Regarding breaking it up: that makes sense to me. Here's how I'm thinking we could split it:

Issue 1: Mobile View - Page Reset & Filter Bar Closing

• Page scrolls to top after search
• Filter bar closes after search is applied (These seem connected to the same mobile view behavior)

Issue 2: Search/Filter Integration

• Search doesn't update filter counter (still shows "Filters" instead of "Filters (1)")
• Search terms only appear in "Applied Filters" after manually opening the filter bar
• Cannot add multiple search terms continuously, have to reopen filter bar each time (This affects the overall user experience since search and filters aren't working together seamlessly)

Does that breakdown work? I can create two separate issues if you'd like, or update the current ER to focus on just one of these.

[daras-cu]

Thanks @dvernon5, I think your issue breakdown looks good. You can copy that into the Potential Solutions section so this ER will require creating both issues. I think both would be large issues probably.

[dvernon5]

@daras-cu Sounds good! I'll update the Potential Solutions section now.

I agree, both of these will likely be large issues given the scope of changes needed.

[daras-cu]

@dvernon5 I finished the edits to this, I did one last test and noticed in mobile view if you try to search after selecting filters it clears the filters, so I added that to the problem and solutions. I also tried to simplify it a little so what needs to be fixed is more clear. Let me know what you think.

[dvernon5]

@daras-cu Looks good! I just wanted to let you know that I’ll also create the two issues related to the problem.

[HackforLABot]

Hi @dvernon5, thank you for taking up this issue! Hfla appreciates you :)

Do let fellow developers know about your:- i. Availability: (When are you available to work on the issue/answer questions other programmers might have about your issue?) ii. ETA: (When do you expect this issue to be completed?)

You're awesome!

P.S. - You may not take up another issue until this issue gets merged (or closed). Thanks again :)

[daras-cu]

@dvernon5 Great, I went ahead and assigned you.