Disable Search

Description

This plugin prevents WordPress from allowing and handling any search requests from the front-end of the site. Specifically, this plugin:

• Prevents the search form from appearing if the theme uses the standard get_search_form() function to display the search form.
• Prevents the search form from appearing if the theme uses a searchform.php template
• Prevents the search item from appearing in the admin tool bar when shown on the front-end.
• Disables the search widget.
  • Removes the Search widget from the list of available widgets
  • Deactivates any search widgets currently in use in any sidebars (they are hidden, not deleted; they’ll reappear in their original locations if this plugin gets deactivated)
• Disables the search block.
  • Removes the Search block from the list of available blocks
  • Deactivates any search blocks currently in use, such as in posts or as a widget (they are disabled, not deleted; they’ll reappear if this plugin gets deactivated and the associated placeholder block doesn’t get deleted)
• With or without a search form, the plugin prevents any direct or manual requests by visitors, via either GET or POST requests, from actually returning any search results.
• Submitted attempts at a search will be given a 404 File Not Found response, rendered by your site’s 404.php template, if present.
• Disables output of SearchAction in SEO schema by the Yoast SEO plugin.

The plugin only affects search on the front-end of the site. It does not disable searching in the admin section of the site.

Links: Plugin Homepage | Plugin Directory Page | GitHub | Author Homepage

Technical details