# Customizing the number of search results displayed in WordPress

> Change how many results the WordPress search page shows, instead of the default 10, with a short PHP function in your theme.

Source: https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/wordpress/guides/customizing-the-number-of-search-results-displayed-in-wordpress/

By default, WordPress shows **10 search results per page**. Depending on your site’s content, you may want to increase or decrease this number. On **ruachost.com**, you can customize search results using a simple PHP function.

## Why Customize Search Results?

- Improve user experience by limiting or expanding results.
- Reduce clutter if your site has many posts.
- Display more results for content‑heavy sites.
- Control pagination and layout consistency.

## Steps to Customize Search Results

1. **Log in to WordPress** with an administrator account.
2. In the dashboard, go to **Appearance → Theme Editor**.
3. Select your active theme and open the **functions.php** file.
4. Add the following code snippet:

   ```
   // Control the number of search results per page
   function ruachost_control_search_results($query) {
       if ($query->is_search() && $query->is_main_query()) {
           $query->set('posts_per_page', 10); // Change 10 to your desired number
       }
   }
   add_action('pre_get_posts', 'ruachost_control_search_results');
   ```

   - Replace `10` with the number of search results you want to display per page.
5. Save the file.
6. Test by performing a search → The new number of results will appear per page.

## Important Notes

- Always back up your theme before editing `functions.php`.
- Use a **child theme** to preserve changes during updates.
- Test thoroughly to ensure pagination works correctly.