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How to Search and Filter the Directory

James, a veteran collector with 512 lighthouses visited across 12 countries, uses search and filters constantly — with over 500 lighthouses in the directory, he needs efficient tools to find the ones he hasn't visited yet. This guide shows how to use search, filters, and sort options.

Steps​

Searching by Name​

  1. Open the Explore tab and tap the search bar at the top.
  2. Type a lighthouse name or partial name — for example, "Portland."
  3. Auto-suggestions appear as you type (within 300ms). Tap a suggestion to navigate directly to that lighthouse's detail page.
  4. Or let the search complete — the directory filters to show only matching lighthouses.

Applying Filters​

  1. With or without a search query, tap the filter icon (or "Filters" button) to open the filter panel.

  2. Country/Region filter — select one or more countries or regions. The directory narrows to lighthouses in those locations.

  3. Visit status filter — choose from:

    • Visited — only lighthouses you have logged
    • Unvisited — only lighthouses you haven't been to
    • Bucket-listed — only lighthouses on your bucket list

  4. Lighthouse status filter — choose:

    • Active — lighthouses still in operation
    • Decommissioned — historic lighthouses no longer in operation

  5. Tap Apply or close the panel. Active filters appear as chips below the search bar.

Sorting Results​

In the filter panel or directory header, choose a sort order:

  • Distance (nearest first) — requires location permission
  • Rating (highest first) — shows most-loved lighthouses at the top
  • Name (A–Z) — alphabetical order

Clearing Filters​

Tap Clear All on any active filter chip or in the filter panel to reset all filters and return to the full directory.

Expected Outcome​

The directory and map both update to reflect your search and filter criteria simultaneously. Combined filters work with AND logic — a lighthouse must match all active filters to appear. Search works offline (queries your local database).

Tips​

  • The "Unvisited + United States + Sort by Rating" combination is useful for finding the next highly-rated lighthouse to add to your bucket list in a specific country.
  • Filters persist during your session but are cleared when you close the app.

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