Mobile search is search conducted using a mobile device, for instance, an Apple iPhone or iPad, or an Android phone.

An estimated 48% of U.S. web traffic is generated by people using mobile devices (e.g., an Apple iPhone or an Android phone), according to Statista (2021). Globally the percentage is higher—more than 50%.

More than when they're using a desktop computer or laptop, mobile users often do local searches: those related to their geographical area (for example, "near me" searches). In addition, someone entering a search query using a mobile device is likely to want relatively simple information (as opposed to needing to conduct an online search for data on an information-intensive web page), such as the distance to a nearby pizza restaurant or which neighborhood retailers carry a product they've decided to buy using Google search or Amazon.

There are various types of mobile apps. Some mobile search engines provide answers to questions (e.g., when someone asks for the local weather forecast). Some make personalized product recommendations based on entered search terms and collected shopper preferences. Some give directions, hail rides, or let people search for news articles. Some include the option of voice search, allowing users to speak their search queries.

Mobile search presents unique challenges to mobile-app designers, product marketers, and others because mobile device screens are obviously much smaller than those on desktop and laptop PCs.

The mobile search experience can be optimized to overlook typos caused while trying to tap keys on a tiny screen, as well as to offer mobile users shortcuts by suggesting queries based on the text they seem to be entering.

Mobile search is a dynamic field that is continually changing as new technology, such as the ability to make AI-related recommendations and personalize the shopping experience in an ecommerce app, become available. Voice search on a mobile device is another new option that's popular with people who get impatient with trying to tap letters on a tiny screen.

Many companies and organizations have yet to optimize their apps for mobile search, but as more do, and their mobile users are delighted, the practice of using mobile devices to search is sure to become an even more ingrained part of everyday American life.

According to Statista (2021) about 48% of U.S. web traffic is generated by people using mobile devices (e.g., an Apple iPhone or an Android phone). For the world as a whole, the percentage is higher—more than 50%.

An older report (2016), "Mobile Search: Topics and Themes" (Hitwise), concluded that almost 60% of all searches are done on mobile devices. This study also found that the most popular sector for a mobile search was the food and beverage category. This makes sense given that people often use their mobile phones while out in a town or a particular geographical area to do a local search for a restaurant near them.

According to Statista (2021), about 50% of the world's web traffic is generated by people using mobile devices, such as an Apple iPhone or an Android phone. This percentage has been consistent since early 2017.

Watching movies and videos (via mobile apps Netflix, Tencent, or Amazon Prime from the Apple app store), surfing social media sites, and emailing were found to be the most popular things for mobile users to do on their devices.

In a book called Mobile Design Pattern Gallery (2014), author Theresa Neil focuses on the value of autocompletion in enhancing basic searching on a mobile phone. Autocomplete functionality suggests search queries as a user enters search terms on their mobile device; when the search they want appears, they can simply tap it. The final touch in terms of usefulness: providing a mobile search engine progress indicator, such as a ticking clock or the word "Searching...".

Another popular mobile app pattern for maximizing small-screen real estate during a mobile search is faceted search, which lets the searcher narrow their results by applying filters, typically by selecting options provided in a "tray"-style overlay. Faceted search is often utilized by retailers in ecommerce (and the mobile equivalent, m-commerce) and by travel service providers, as well as in online search tools on media websites.

One relatively new application for searching on mobile devices is voice search. According to eMarketer, in 2019, 40% of all U.S. Internet users were using voice search, which has grown more popular, albeit slowly.

Key features include search-as-you-type, typo tolerance, voice input, and location-aware results. These help reduce friction and make it easier for users to find relevant results on mobile devices.

Mobile search often uses platform-specific components and design patterns for iOS, Android, and mobile web, but it can run on the same underlying search infrastructure.