ElasticSuite Search Optimization: Making Magento 2 Fast and SEO-Friendly

ElasticSuite is one of the most popular search and layered navigation solutions for Magento 2. It powers advanced product filtering, merchandising, and faceted search but with large catalogs, poor configuration can slow performance and harm SEO. In this article, we explore practical steps developers can take to optimize ElasticSuite for speed and search visibility, especially when combined with Hyvä and qoliber extensions.

1. Control Layered Navigation Complexity

The more attributes you expose in layered navigation, the heavier ElasticSuite queries become. Limit filters to meaningful attributes only, and avoid enabling “Use in Layered Navigation” for rarely used fields. This reduces query size, improves Time To First Byte (TTFB), and prevents overloading Elasticsearch with unnecessary aggregations.

For SEO, cleaner layered navigation also reduces parameter sprawl. With qoliber’s SEO: Pretty Filter URLs, you can rewrite faceted URLs into shorter, crawlable versions that remain Hyvä- and ElasticSuite-compatible.

2. Optimize Elasticsearch Indexing

ElasticSuite builds on Elasticsearch/OpenSearch, and indexing efficiency directly impacts storefront speed. To optimize:

• Run indexers in scheduled mode to avoid runtime indexing spikes
• Use partial reindexing where possible instead of full catalog rebuilds
• Monitor heap usage on large catalogs and rotate indices before they grow too large
• Limit replicas to what’s necessary for HA - excess replicas increase memory cost

Keeping indices lean improves both backend responsiveness and frontend search query performance.

3. SEO-Safe Faceted URLs

ElasticSuite generates filter-based URLs, which can quickly multiply into thousands of combinations. Without control, this creates duplicate content and crawl budget waste. Developers should:

• Apply canonical tags on filtered pages pointing to the base category
• Use robots meta (noindex, follow) on deep combinations
• Generate clean filter URLs using SEO: Pretty Filter URLs
• Exclude low-value faceted pages from XML sitemaps with SEO: Advanced Sitemaps

These measures ensure layered navigation enhances UX without damaging SEO visibility.

4. Improve Search Relevance and Speed

ElasticSuite offers powerful relevance tuning, but improper settings can slow response times. Best practices:

• Keep searchable attributes focused and avoid indexing every product field
• Use weight boosting carefully - too many factors can degrade performance
• Monitor slow queries in Elasticsearch logs and adjust analyzers/mappings accordingly
• Leverage caching of common queries where applicable

Developers should always validate search performance on large catalogs, not just demo datasets.

5. Keep Hyvä Integration Performance-Safe

Hyvä reduces frontend cost by removing legacy JS frameworks. Ensure your ElasticSuite integration doesn’t reintroduce them:

• Use Alpine.js for dynamic behavior instead of Knockout or RequireJS
• Render filters and search blocks with Hyvä UI templates
• Lazy-load secondary UI elements like result counts or product badges
• Profile both cached and uncached states - FPC can mask backend delays

qoliber extensions are built Hyvä-first, ensuring no frontend bloat when extending ElasticSuite search features.

6. Monitor and Iterate

Search performance isn’t static - it changes with catalog growth and user behavior. Developers should:

• Audit query performance regularly with Elasticsearch monitoring tools
• Track Core Web Vitals on search result and category pages
• Run mage-scan.com audits to detect extension conflicts or unexpected payloads
• Update to the latest ElasticSuite release for Magento 2.4.6+ and 2.4.7 support

Conclusion

ElasticSuite is a powerful asset for Magento 2 stores but only if configured for performance and SEO discipline. Limit filter complexity, tune indexing, and enforce clean URL/metadata strategies. With Hyvä on the frontend and qoliber modules ensuring SEO and performance safety, developers can deliver fast, search-friendly Magento stores that scale with large catalogs and European market demands.