PHP AJAX Live Search – Complete Beginner Tutorial

A live search allows users to see search results while typing, without clicking a submit button or reloading the page. This feature is commonly used in search boxes, product filters, user lists, and admin panels.

This tutorial explains how to build a PHP AJAX live search using MySQL, with clear examples and outputs.

What Is Live Search in PHP AJAX?

Live search is a technique where:

JavaScript listens to user input
AJAX sends the typed text to PHP
PHP searches the database using MySQL
Results are returned instantly
The page updates without reload

Why Use AJAX Live Search?

Live search improves:

User experience
Search speed
Website interactivity
Data filtering efficiency

Examples include:

User search
Product search
Blog article search
Email or username lookup

Technologies Used in PHP AJAX Live Search

HTML for input field
JavaScript for AJAX request
PHP for server-side processing
MySQL for database search

Prerequisites for Live Search Tutorial

Before starting, ensure you know:

Basic HTML
Basic JavaScript
PHP fundamentals
MySQL SELECT and LIKE

Sample MySQL Table Used for Live Search

CREATE TABLE users (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    name VARCHAR(100),
    email VARCHAR(100)
);

PHP MySQL Database Connection File

<?php
$conn = mysqli_connect("localhost", "root", "", "testdb");

if (!$conn) {
    die("Database connection failed");
}
?>

Step 1: Create HTML Search Input

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>PHP AJAX Live Search</title>
    <script>
        function liveSearch(value) {
            if (value.length == 0) {
                document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = "";
                return;
            }

            var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
            xhr.open("GET", "search.php?query=" + value, true);

            xhr.onreadystatechange = function () {
                if (xhr.readyState == 4 && xhr.status == 200) {
                    document.getElementById("result").innerHTML = xhr.responseText;
                }
            };

            xhr.send();
        }
    </script>
</head>
<body>

<input type="text" onkeyup="liveSearch(this.value)" placeholder="Search user...">
<div id="result"></div>

</body>
</html>

Step 2: Create PHP Search Script (search.php)

<?php
include "db.php";

$query = $_GET['query'];

$sql = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE name LIKE '%$query%'";
$result = mysqli_query($conn, $sql);

if (mysqli_num_rows($result) > 0) {
    while ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
        echo $row['name'] . " (" . $row['email'] . ")<br>";
    }
} else {
    echo "No results found";
}
?>

Output While Typing “ra”

Rahul (rahul@gmail.com)
Ravi (ravi@gmail.com)

Results update instantly without page refresh.

Live Search with Prepared Statement (Secure Version)

<?php
include "db.php";

$stmt = mysqli_prepare($conn,
    "SELECT * FROM users WHERE name LIKE ?");
$search = "%" . $_GET['query'] . "%";
mysqli_stmt_bind_param($stmt, "s", $search);

mysqli_stmt_execute($stmt);
$result = mysqli_stmt_get_result($stmt);

while ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
    echo $row['name'] . "<br>";
}
?>

Improve Live Search with LIMIT

SELECT * FROM users WHERE name LIKE '%keyword%' LIMIT 5;

This improves performance for large datasets.

Common Mistakes in AJAX Live Search

Not validating input
Missing debounce for fast typing
Searching without LIMIT
Not handling empty input

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Best Practices for PHP AJAX Live Search

Use prepared statements
Limit search results
Add indexes on search columns
Use debounce for better performance
Sanitize user input

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is live search in PHP?

It displays search results while the user types.

2. Does live search require page reload?

No, it works without reloading.

3. Is live search secure?

Yes, when using prepared statements.

4. Can live search work with large databases?

Yes, with LIMIT and indexing.

5. Is AJAX required for live search?

Yes, for real-time updates.

PHP AJAX Live Search Tutorial