How Radius Search Works in Listdom: Practical Setup Guide

Find listings by distance instead of only by area

Visitors do not always think in terms of directory categories or city names. Sometimes they want the closest useful option:

a restaurant within 5 kilometers
a clinic near their current position
a hotel close to a landmark
a service provider within a practical travel distance

That is the purpose of radius search in Listdom. It lets a visitor provide a location and limit the results to listings within a chosen distance from that point.

Radius search is more precise than simply selecting a city, but it depends on the quality of the address and coordinate data stored with your listings. It also depends on configuring the correct Address field method in the Listdom Search and Filter Builder.

Listdom search form showing the Address and Radius Search controls

What is radius search in Listdom?

Radius search filters listings by distance from a geographic point. The visitor enters an address, and Listdom uses the selected radius to determine which listings should appear in the results.

For example:

Location filtering: show restaurants assigned to Barcelona.
Address text search: find listings whose address contains a matching phrase.
Radius search: show restaurants within 5 km of a specific address.

The difference is important. A Location is a structured taxonomy term. An address identifies a physical point. Radius search uses that point as the center of a distance-based result set.

For the broader data model, read Locations vs Addresses in Listdom.

Radius Search vs Location and Address search

Radius Search vs Location filtering

Location filtering is useful when visitors already think in terms of known areas such as a city, state, district, or neighborhood. A visitor may choose “Barcelona” and browse all matching listings assigned to that Location term.

Radius search answers a different question: “Which listings are close to this point?” The results may cross neighborhood or administrative boundaries if those listings are inside the selected distance.

Use Location filtering when geographic organization matters. Use radius search when distance from a particular place matters more than the directory’s taxonomy structure. Many local directories benefit from offering both.

Radius Search vs Address text input

The standard Address text input is useful for matching address text. A visitor can type an address, city, or other location phrase, depending on how the form is configured.

Radius Search adds distance behavior to the Address field. Instead of only looking for matching address text, it uses a full address as the search point and limits results by distance.

The documented radius behavior requires a full address. Entering only a city, state, or ZIP code is not the same as supplying a precise address for radius filtering.

Radius Search vs Locate Control

Locate Control, sometimes shown as a My Location control, helps the visitor provide their current position. It does not replace the radius setting or independently calculate a radius.

When it is enabled on the Address field, the visitor may allow the browser to provide their current location. Radius Search can then use that location as the center of the search, subject to browser permission and the available geographic data.

Browser location permission prompt for a Listdom search form

What Radius Search requires

Before configuring the form, check these dependencies:

Listdom Pro: Radius Search and Radius Search (Dropdown) are Pro methods for the Address field.
A full search address: The visitor needs a usable address or current geographic point, not only a broad taxonomy term.
Reliable listing data: Listings should have accurate addresses and usable coordinates.
A configured search form: The Address field and its method must be added through Search and Filter Builder.
A results destination: The form must filter a compatible Listdom listing output on the current page or on a configured Results Page.

Advanced Portal Search is relevant when you want connected shortcodes or AJAX/live search behavior. It is not the basic requirement for every Radius Search form.

How to configure Radius Search in Listdom

1. Open Search and Filter Builder

In the WordPress dashboard, go to:

Listdom → Search and Filter Builder

Create a new form or open an existing form that should support nearby discovery.

2. Add the Address field

In the Fields builder, add the Address field to a row. The Address field is where Listdom provides the normal text-input method and the Pro radius methods.

3. Select Radius Search

Choose Radius Search as the Address field method. This creates an address input paired with a radius setting.

The available controls include:

Placeholder for the address input.
Default Address, if the form should start with a pre-filled location.
Radius in meters, which sets the default distance.
Display Radius Field, which lets visitors change the distance.
Display Locate Control, which shows or hides the current-location control.
Enable Autocomplete, which helps visitors choose address suggestions while typing.

Address autocomplete suggestions in a Listdom search form

If you want to keep the search experience simple, use a sensible default radius and hide the radius field. If visitors have different travel needs, display the field so they can adjust the distance themselves.

4. Configure the results behavior

Search Results settings in the Listdom Search and Filter Builder

The Search Results section determines where the filtered listings appear. You can configure the form to work on the current page or redirect visitors to a Results Page that contains a Listdom listing shortcode.

If the Results Page contains multiple listing outputs, use the Target Shortcode setting where available so the form filters the intended listing section.

The results page must actually contain a compatible Listdom listing output. A search form by itself does not create the listing results; it supplies the visitor’s filters to the configured listing output.

5. Publish and test the form

Publish the form, place its shortcode on a page, or attach it to a Listdom listing shortcode. Then test it on the front end with a full address and a small radius first.

Check that:

the form accepts the address correctly
the radius control appears as expected
results change after submission
listings with accurate nearby coordinates are included
distant listings are excluded
the form behaves correctly on mobile devices

A Listdom search form with filtered listing results on the front end

For the broader form-building process, see How to Create Search Forms in Listdom.

The Radius Search (Dropdown) method gives visitors predefined distance choices instead of a free-form radius field. For example, you might provide 5 km, 10 km, and 25 km options.

Its controls include:

Default Address.
Radius Values, entered as comma-separated values such as 5000,10000,25000.
Radius Display Unit, such as meters, kilometers, or miles.
Display Locate Control.
Enable Autocomplete.

Use the dropdown when you want a predictable experience and a controlled set of distances. It is often easier for general visitors than asking them to understand an arbitrary numeric value.

Use the standard Radius Search method when different visitors may need to enter their own distance or when the directory has a more specialized search audience.

Connecting Radius Search to shortcodes and maps

Search forms provide the input. Listdom shortcodes provide the listing output.

You can add a search form separately to a page, or select it in the Search settings of a Listdom listing shortcode. In the shortcode settings, enable search, choose the saved form, and select where the form should appear relative to the listings.

If the listing output is map-capable, the filtered result set can also support a map-led experience. The search form narrows the results; the map helps visitors understand where those matching listings are located.

For a deeper explanation of this page structure, read How Listdom Shortcodes, Search Forms, Archives, and Pages Work Together. For map output itself, see How to Show Listings on a Map in Listdom.

Advanced Portal Search adds connected-shortcode and AJAX options. With those features active, a search form can update selected listing shortcodes on the same page, including a list and map combination, according to the configured search behavior.

Near-me use cases

Radius search is useful when physical distance affects the visitor’s decision.

Restaurants and stores

Visitors may want the closest restaurant, shop, or service outlet rather than every listing in a large city.

Healthcare directories

Patients may search for clinics, pharmacies, or specialists near a chosen address. The directory should still provide enough category or specialty filtering to keep the results useful.

Service providers

Plumbers, repair companies, tutors, and other local providers may receive more relevant enquiries when visitors can search around a practical location.

Real estate and hotels

Distance from a landmark, district, transport point, or other address can be more useful than a broad city filter. Privacy rules may still require approximate rather than exact location display for some listings.

Common Radius Search mistakes

Using only a city name

A city is useful for Location filtering, but the documented Pro radius method requires a full address in the Address field. Test the form with a complete address before diagnosing the radius logic.

Treating a Location as an exact point

Location taxonomy terms organize listings. They do not automatically provide the precise point needed for distance-based results.

Publishing incomplete listing addresses

Missing addresses or inaccurate coordinates can make nearby results unreliable. Review the listing-level Location data and map position before changing the search form.

Forgetting the Pro requirement

If the Radius Search method is not available, confirm that Listdom Pro is installed and active. Do not describe the radius method as a core-only feature.

Connecting the form to the wrong output

A form may be working correctly while filtering the wrong shortcode or results page. Confirm the selected Results Page, Target Shortcode, or connected shortcode configuration.

Expecting Locate Control to do everything

Locate Control helps provide the visitor’s current location. It does not choose the radius, fix inaccurate listing coordinates, or replace the Address field configuration.

Adding too many filters

Radius search is already a focused interaction. Combine it with only the category, keyword, or custom-field filters that help visitors make the next decision.

Performance and result-quality considerations

Start with a radius that matches the directory’s actual service area. A restaurant directory may need a small default radius, while a rural service directory may need a larger one.

Keep address and coordinate data consistent across listings, and test with realistic listing volumes. Review the result page and map together if both are part of the visitor journey.

Also consider privacy. A public directory does not always need to expose an exact address for every listing, especially for private sellers or home-based services. Decide what should be searchable, what should be displayed, and what should remain approximate.

FAQ

What is Radius Search in Listdom?

Radius Search finds listings within a selected distance from a full address or geographic point entered in the Address field.

Which Listdom add-on is required?

Radius Search and Radius Search (Dropdown) are Pro methods for the Address field, so Listdom Pro is required for those methods.

Does Radius Search work with a city or ZIP code?

The documented Pro radius behavior applies when the visitor enters a full address. A city, state, or ZIP-only value should not be treated as equivalent to a full address.

Radius Search can use a default or user-adjustable radius. Radius Search (Dropdown) gives visitors a predefined list of distance choices with a selected display unit.

Can visitors search from their current location?

Yes, when the relevant Locate Control or related current-location behavior is enabled and the visitor grants browser location permission. The radius still needs to be configured separately.

Do I need a map to use Radius Search?

Not necessarily. Radius Search filters listings by distance, while a map provides a visual way to understand the matching locations. They can be used together when geographic context improves the decision.

Why are nearby listings missing?

Check that the visitor entered a full address, the listing addresses and coordinates are accurate, the correct Radius Search method is selected, and the form is connected to the intended results output.

Does Radius Search require Advanced Portal Search?

Basic Radius Search uses the Pro Address field methods. Advanced Portal Search is relevant when you need connected shortcodes or AJAX/live search behavior.

Conclusion

Radius Search in Listdom is designed for directories where distance matters. It is different from browsing a Location taxonomy and different from matching address text. The key is to use the Pro radius method on the Address field, provide accurate listing address and coordinate data, and connect the form to the correct Listdom results output.

Start with a small, realistic search form, test it with full addresses, and expand the experience with Locate Control, Radius Search Dropdown, maps, or Advanced Portal Search only when those features support the visitor’s actual journey.

What to learn next

FAQ

Common questions

What is Radius Search in Listdom?+