453027 - hide the magnifying glass until you start typing

Status: VERIFIED WONTFIX

(Firefox :: Search, enhancement)

Description

[Jo Hermans]

When reading bug 453026, it hit me : why don't we hide the magnifying glass icon by default, and start to show it when someone starts to type. Just like what happens in the location field (the green go button).

I keep this separate from bug 453026, because it's partially the opposite : if you have content in the search field, the field will become smaller. That's the opposite from what Toralf wants, although it uses less icons when you first start up. It's also a prompt to clear your search field after the search is done (which is a tick of me), if you don't want to show that info to everyone who looks over your shoulder.

Note: I don't care for the magnifying glass or the go button myself, but I think that the behavior should be consistent : either show the button at all times, or don't show it all all, or show it only when you start typing.

Comment 1

[Mike Connor [:mconnor]]

I care less about the consistency and more about the obviousness that it's a search field.  Think this is WONTFIX.

Comment 2

[Henrik Skupin [:whimboo][⌚️UTC+1]]

Further have a look at most platforms. For example the search field of the Windows start menu. It shows the search icon to make it more visible that it is a search field. Same happens on OS X. All search fields show the magnifying glass initially. I have to second Mike's comment.