Learn more about search results and ranking

The Search tab on the App Store allows you to find apps, games, stories, categories, in-app purchases and developers. Before you enter a search, the Search tab shows popular or trending queries in the Discover section, as well as a list of apps that you may want to search for in the Suggested section. These apps are selected based on aggregate search behaviour from a pool curated by App Store editors. In some cases, suggested queries may be personalised for you in the Discover section and apps may be personalised for you in the Suggested section based on your prior engagement on the App Store. Overall, apps on the Search tab are selected based on algorithmic relevance, App Store editorial curation and top charts.

Searches use metadata from developer product pages to deliver the most relevant results. The parameters used for app ranking and discoverability are customer engagement on the App Store, such as the number and quality of ratings and reviews, application downloads and date of launch on the App Store, the relevance of text and titles, keywords and descriptive categories provided in the app metadata.

Apple offers developers the opportunity to promote their apps on the App Store through Apple Search Ads. Through Search Ads, apps may be displayed on the Today tab, the Search tab and Search Results, and on product pages while browsing. Search Ads placements are clearly distinguished from organic App Store placements and search results with a prominent “Ad” mark (language localised), and typically have a border and unique background shading.