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What is Visual Search?

Visual search enables shoppers to find products by using images rather than text queries. This technology allows customers to search your catalog by either uploading an image or finding similar products to those they’re already viewing.

With visual search, your customers can:

  • Find products they can see but can’t easily describe in words
  • Discover similar items to products they’re already interested in
  • Browse through visually related merchandise without complex text queries

Key Benefits

  • Intuitive Discovery: Customers can find exactly what they’re looking for without needing to craft the perfect search query
  • Increased Engagement: Visual search offers a more interactive and engaging shopping experience
  • Higher Conversion: By showing visually similar products, you can help customers find alternatives that better match their preferences
  • Reduced Search Abandonment: Customers who can’t find the right words to describe what they want can now use images instead

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How Visual Search Works

Visual search uses advanced computer vision and machine learning algorithms to analyze images and find visually similar products in your catalog.

1

Image Analysis

When a customer uploads an image or selects a reference product, our system analyzes the visual features of that image

2

Feature Extraction

The system extracts key visual characteristics such as color, shape, pattern, and texture

3

Vector Representation

These visual features are converted into vector embeddings (numerical representations) that can be efficiently compared

4

Similarity Matching

The system compares the vector representation of the query image with the vectors of all products in your catalog

5

Result Ranking

Products are ranked based on their visual similarity to the query image

Layers offers two main types of visual search functionality:

Allows customers to upload an image and find similar products in your catalog.

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Shop Similar

Displays visually similar products to the one a customer is currently viewing.

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Implementation Options

You can implement visual search on your storefront in several ways:

  1. Visual Search Widgets: Easy-to-implement UI components that can be added to your storefront (learn more)
  2. Direct API Integration: Build your own UI by connecting directly to our Image Search API

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Best Practices