Trending & Popular
See what people are searching for right now, what's been popular lately, and which content learners click most.
Search quietly keeps a pulse on what people are looking for. This helps learners discover what's hot, and it gives you a window into what your audience wants. There are a few different views, and they each answer a slightly different question.
The different views
| View | What it answers |
|---|---|
| Trending searches | Which search terms are gaining momentum recently — the topics on the rise. |
| Most popular searches | Which terms people have searched most over a recent period. |
| Trending content | Which courses, pages, and other items learners are clicking most lately. |
The difference between trending and popular: popular means "searched the most", while trending means "growing the fastest" — a brand-new topic can trend even before it becomes one of the all-time most popular.
How learners benefit
- When the search box is empty, learners can see trending searches as a starting point — a gentle nudge toward what others are exploring.
- If a search comes up empty, learners can be shown trending content instead, so they always have something to discover rather than a blank page.
How this helps you
- See demand in real words. The terms people type are the clearest signal of what your audience wants — including things you don't offer yet.
- Spot rising interest early. Trending searches highlight topics picking up steam, so you can create content while interest is fresh.
- Know what's working. Trending content shows which items actually pull learners in after they search.
On a brand-new site, these lists start out empty. They fill in naturally as people search and click around, so give them a little time after launch.
Admin settings
A few simple settings shape how these views behave. You'll find them in your search settings.
| Setting | What it controls |
|---|---|
| Trending window | How recent a period counts as "trending" — for example, the last 7 days. A shorter window reacts faster; a longer one is steadier. |
| Number of suggestions | How many items appear in suggestion and trending lists at once. |
| How long history is kept | How far back search activity is stored before it's cleared out. This is covered in Search history. |
Related pages
- Search history — the recent searches behind these patterns.
- Courses & Content — create content for the topics people are searching.