creating an XML file with the definition of the engine
The easiest way to get started with Programmable Search Engine is to create a basic search engine using the Control Panel. You can then download the engine's XML files and modify them to add further customizations.
Since you're experimenting and figuring out some basic concepts, spend only a couple of minutes making your first search engine. Keep it simple so that you can follow what's happening when you start testing it. You can always change it later.
Defining a Programmable Search Engine in Control Panel
In the Name your search engine section, specify your search engine's
name. You can change this name at any time.
In the What to search? section, add the pages you want to include in
your search engine. You can include any sites you want, not just the sites you
own. You can include whole site URLs or individual pages URLs. You can also use
URL patterns.
Click Create.
Your basic search engine is ready to use! To see more configuration options, go to the Control Panel.
To learn more about options available in Control Panel, visit the Programmable Search Engine Help Center. To add advanced options (e.g. filtering or results order) and further customize your search engine via XML configuration files, see the Developer Guide.
Using the engine
Once you have defined your search engine, it can be accessed in two ways:
Google-hosted Programmable Search Engine homepage - you can find the
Public URL for your engine homepage in the Overview page's Basic
section and share it with your users.
A search box in your website - If you embed a search box in your webpage, your
users can make searches from your website.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2024-08-21 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eProgrammable Search Engines can be created through a user-friendly Control Panel or by defining them within an XML file.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eThe Control Panel offers a simple way to build a basic search engine, allowing you to specify the name, website scope, and included pages.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eAfter creation, your search engine is accessible via a public URL or by embedding a search box directly into your website.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eFurther customization, such as filtering and result ordering, can be achieved by modifying the engine's XML configuration files.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["# Creating a Programmable Search Engine\n\nThere are two ways of creating a Programmable Search Engine:\n\n- using the [Control Panel](https://programmablesearchengine.google.com/controlpanel/create)\n- creating an [XML file](/custom-search/docs/basics) with the definition of the engine\n\nThe easiest way to get started with Programmable Search Engine is to create a basic search engine using the [Control Panel](https://programmablesearchengine.google.com/controlpanel/create). You can then download the engine's XML files and modify them to add further customizations.\nSince you're experimenting and figuring out some basic concepts, spend only a couple of minutes making your first search engine. Keep it simple so that you can follow what's happening when you start testing it. You can always change it later.\n\nDefining a Programmable Search Engine in Control Panel\n------------------------------------------------------\n\nTo create a Programmable Search Engine:\n\n1. Sign into [Control Panel](https://programmablesearchengine.google.com/controlpanel/create) using your Google Account ([get an account](https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount) if you don't have one).\n2. In the **Name your search engine** section, specify your search engine's name. You can change this name at any time.\n3. In the **What to search?** section, add the pages you want to include in your search engine. You can include any sites you want, not just the sites you own. You can include whole site URLs or individual pages URLs. You can also use [URL patterns](https://support.google.com/programmable-search/answer/12397162).\n4. Click **Create**.\n\nYour basic search engine is ready to use! To see more configuration options, go to the [Control Panel](https://programmablesearchengine.google.com/controlpanel/all).\n\nTo learn more about options available in Control Panel, visit the [Programmable Search Engine Help Center](http://support.google.com/programmable-search/). To add advanced options (e.g. filtering or results order) and further customize your search engine via XML configuration files, see the [Developer Guide](/custom-search/docs/basics#steps).\n\nUsing the engine\n----------------\n\nOnce you have defined your search engine, it can be accessed in two ways:\n\n- Google-hosted Programmable Search Engine homepage - you can find the **Public URL** for your engine homepage in the **Overview** page's **Basic** section and share it with your users.\n- A search box in your website - If you embed a search box in your webpage, your users can make searches from your website.\n\nNext...\n-------\n\nContinue to [Implementing search box](/custom-search/docs/tutorial/implementingsearchbox)."]]