How to Customize Search and 404 Error Templates in Thrive Theme Builder

In this article, you’ll learn how to customize the search results page template and the 404 error page template in Thrive Theme Builder.

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Customizing the Search Page Template

The search page template controls how your site’s search results page looks when visitors use the site search. Thrive Theme Builder includes a default search template, but you can customize it or create a new one.

What the Search Template Controls

When a visitor searches your site, the search template determines:

• How search results are displayed (layout, formatting, post excerpts).
• What information appears for each result (title, excerpt, featured image, date, categories).
• The overall page structure (header, footer, sidebar, content width).
• What visitors see when no results are found (the “no search results” message).

Editing the Default Search Template

1. In the Thrive Theme Builder dashboard, click Templates in the left sidebar.
2. The search template appears under the Core Templates group by default. You can also use the dropdown at the top and select All Templates to see it.
3. Locate the search template.
4. Hover over it and click Edit.
5. The template opens in the Thrive Theme Builder editor.

Creating a New Search Template

1. Click the Add New button in the top-right corner of the Templates section.
2. Enter a name (e.g., “Search Results — Custom”).
3. Click List in the Single or List? toggle.
4. Select Search as the list type.
5. Choose Start from Scratch or Choose Template from the library.

Customization Options

• Result Layout — Configure how search results are arranged (list, grid, etc.).
• Result Content — Control what appears for each result—title, excerpt, featured image, post meta (author, date, categories).
• No Results Message — Customize the message displayed when a search query returns no results.
• Sidebar — Add or remove a sidebar to help visitors refine their search.
• Header and Footer — The template inherits the theme’s header and footer by default, but you can customize them.

Customizing the 404 Error Page Template

The 404 error template controls what visitors see when they access a page that doesn’t exist—for example, when they follow a broken link, type an incorrect URL, or access a page that has been deleted.

Why Customize the 404 Page?

A well-designed 404 page:

• Keeps visitors on your site instead of losing them.
• Provides helpful navigation to guide them to relevant content.
• Maintains your brand’s look and feel.
• Can include a search bar, popular posts, or links to key pages.

Editing the Default 404 Template

1. In the Thrive Theme Builder dashboard, click Templates in the left sidebar.
2. Locate the 404 Error template in the template list. You can use the dropdown to select Core Templates or All Templates to find it.
3. Hover over it and click Edit.
4. The template opens in the Thrive Theme Builder editor.

Customization Options

• Error Message — Customize the headline and description text that visitors see.
• Search Bar — Add a search element so visitors can search for what they were looking for.
• Navigation Links — Add links to your homepage, popular pages, or key sections.
• Related Content — Display recent posts or popular content to keep visitors engaged.
• Header and Footer — The template inherits the theme’s header and footer by default.
• Layout and Styling — Adjust the content width, background, colors, and typography.

Best Practices

• Keep the 404 page helpful — Don’t just show an error message. Include a search bar and links to help visitors find what they need.
• Match your brand — The 404 page should use the same design language as the rest of your site.
• Test the search template with real queries — Preview the search template using different search terms to make sure results display correctly.
• Customize the “no results” message — Provide a helpful message with suggestions when searches return no results, rather than leaving a generic empty state.

Related Resources

• Understanding Templates: Learn about template types and how they work.
• Creating List & Archive Templates: Learn how to create list and archive templates.
• Navigating the Templates Section: Learn how to browse, filter, and search templates.