Table of Contents
Search (Public area)
General description
The *Search* section represents the core of the PLORABUNT platform and allows users to explore the database of episodes of attacks that occurred in religious contexts through an intuitive and dynamic interface.
The search functionality is freely accessible to all users, including unauthenticated visitors.
The main objective of this feature is to enable both quick and in-depth consultation of the available data, which can be filtered according to multiple thematic, geographic, and temporal criteria.
Page structure
The main search page is divided into two primary areas:
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| Left column (filters) | Contains all search fields and advanced filters (e.g. date, country, type of place of worship, religion of victims and killers, etc.). |
| Central area | Displays the search results either as an interactive map or as a list, depending on the selected view mode. |
The top menu includes the following elements:
- Free-text search field (*“Search for an attack in a religious place”*)
- Map/List toggle (two-column icon)
- Result sorting via *Sort by* (e.g. Date, Country, etc.)
Basic search
Users can freely enter keywords into the main search field (*“Search for an attack in a religious place”*).
If no input is provided, the interface displays an informational message:
*Start typing to search*
Once a search is initiated, results are dynamically displayed in the central area, together with the total number of matching records found (e.g. *1673 results*).
Advanced filters
The platform supports highly granular searches through the filter panel located on the left side of the interface. Filters can be freely combined to refine the results.
Main filters
| Category | Available fields |
|---|---|
| Date | Time range (From 01/01/1970 to Today) |
| Country | Country where the attack occurred |
| Place-Based Worship | Type of religious place involved |
| Victims | Religion, Confession, Denomination |
| Killers | Militant Group, Religion, Confession, Denomination |
At the bottom of the filter panel, two action buttons are available:
- Reset → restores all filters to their default values
- Search → updates the results according to the selected filters
All filter sections can be expanded or collapsed using the arrow on the right side of each title, helping to keep the interface clean even when multiple filters are available.
Results visualization
Search results can be displayed using two different visualization modes:
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Map (default) | Displays episodes on an interactive geographic map, with colored markers representing areas of interest. Zoom in and zoom out can be performed using the + and – buttons. |
| List | Displays results in a tabular format, showing concise information such as date, country, and event type. |
The total number of results is always shown at the top of the central area (e.g. *1673 results*).
Export function
Authenticated users can export search results in the following formats:
- CSV
- JSON
Export procedure
- Click on the *Export* button located in the top-right area of the toolbar.
- In the dialog window, select the fields to be included in the file (e.g. Country, Date, Victims’ Religion, Weapons, Sources, etc.).
- Choose the desired output format (CSV or JSON).
- Confirm by clicking the *Export* button.
The operation generates a downloadable file containing the data filtered according to the current search criteria.
Accessibility and responsive behavior
The *Search* section is fully responsive and optimized for different devices.
On smaller screens (mobile and tablet):
- The filter panel is collapsed into a slide-out menu.
- The map or list view occupies the full available width of the screen.
This ensures a consistent and accessible user experience across desktop and mobile environments.