Dana Ross

Dave’s WordPress Live Search adds “live search” functionality to your WordPress site. As visitors type words into your WordPress site’s search box, the plugin continually queries WordPress, looking for search results that match what the user has typed so far.
The <a href="http://ajaxpatterns.org/Live_Search" rel="nofollow ugc">live search</a> technique means that most people will find the results they are looking for before they finish typing their query, and it saves them the step of having to click a submit button to get their search results.
This functionality requires Javascript, but the search box still works normally if Javascript is not available.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CGR2bJ1mLM 
<a href="https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/daves-wordpress-live-search/assets/intro_video_transcript.txt" rel="nofollow ugc">transcript</a>
This plugin is compatible with the <a href="https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/xlanguage/" rel="ugc">xLanguage</a> and <a href="http://wpml.org/" rel="nofollow ugc">WPML</a> plugins for internationalization (i18n) of search results.
<h3>Filters</h3>
See <a href="https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/daves-wordpress-live-search/trunk/filter_examples.php" rel="nofollow ugc">filter_examples.php</a> in 
the plugin files for examples of how to use these filters. Remember, these filters only affect the 
Dave’s WordPress Live Search display, not the normal WordPress search results or the posts themselves.
<ol>
<li>dwls_alter_results</li>
<li>dwls_attachment_thumbnail</li>
<li>dwls_post_title</li>
<li>dwls_the_excerpt</li>
<li>dwls_post_date</li>
<li>dwls_author_name</li>
<li>dwls_alter_result_template</li>
<li>dwls_post_custom</li>
<li>dwls_query_fields</li>
</ol>
<h3>Wish List</h3>
Features I want to implement in future releases:
<ol>
<li>“No results found” message (optional)</li>
</ol>

Dave's WordPress Live Search

At first, this seems like a good plugin and it is. I tried to report a bug a couple of months ago and, despite the fact the plugin says it's compatible with the latest version of WordPress, there seems to be bugs that are not addressed. At this point, I had to hack the plugin and edit source code to make it work.

Unmaintained plugin

You do a great job

Adds "live search" functionality to your WordPress site. Uses the built-in search and jQuery.

itthinx

Kento

Search Live supplies effective integrated live search facilities and advanced search features.
This plugins delivers a smooth interactive experience with immediate results for your site’s visitors, making it easier and more efficient to find the right results.
It provides instant live search results with thumbnails where matches are found for one or multiple search keywords in titles, excerpts or content, allows to enhance the standard search form with this functionality, provides a flexible shortcode <code>[search_live]</code> that can be placed anywhere to provide an interactive search form and a widget for use in sidebars.
The shortcode and widget can be fine-tuned with sensible options to improve the search experience for your visitors.
<ul>
<li>Instant search results replace the standard WordPress search form. This is enabled by default but you can turn it off.</li>
<li>You can use the shortcode <code>[search_live]</code> to place a search form anywhere.</li>
<li>You can use the Search Live widget in your sidebars.</li>
<li>Supports Custom Post Types.</li>
<li>Full multilanguage support and compatible with <a href="https://wpml.org/plugin/search-live/" rel="nofollow ugc">WPML</a>.</li>
</ul>
Search Live can show instant search results including thumbnails and short descriptions or manual excerpts.
Among other useful options, you can determine the number of results shown and whether to search in any combination of titles, excerpts or contents. These can be determined individually for each instance of Search Live’s shortcode or widget.
Search Live supplies results from posts, pages and other public post types.
Search Live fully supports multilanguage sites with <a href="https://wpml.org" rel="nofollow ugc">WPML</a>.
We are working on an extended version that will provide enhanced features. If you would support our work using a premium version, we would love to hear from you. Please share your enthusiasm by leaving a comment on the <a href="https://www.itthinx.com/plugins/search-live/" rel="nofollow ugc">Search Live</a> page, follow <a href="https://twitter.com/wpsearchlive" rel="nofollow ugc">@wpsearchlive</a> and browse our <a href="https://www.itthinx.com/shop/" rel="nofollow ugc">Shop</a>.
<h3>Feedback</h3>
Feedback is welcome!
If you need help, have problems, want to leave feedback or want to provide constructive criticism, please do so here at the <a href="https://www.itthinx.com/plugins/search-live/" rel="nofollow ugc">Search Live</a> plugin page.
Please try to solve problems there before you rate this plugin or say it doesn’t work. There goes a lot of work into providing you with quality plugins!
Please help with your feedback and we’re also grateful if you help spread the word about this plugin.
Thanks!
<h4>Twitter</h4>
Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/wpsearchlive" rel="nofollow ugc">@wpsearchlive</a> for updates on this plugin. 
Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/itthinx" rel="nofollow ugc">@itthinx</a> on Twitter for updates on this and other plugins.
<h3>Translations</h3>
Brazilian Portuguese translation by <a href="http://henriquevianna.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">Henrique Avila Vianna</a>.
Many thanks for your help!
If you would like to have your translation added, please <a href="https://www.itthinx.com/contact/" rel="nofollow ugc">contact</a> us.

Search Live

Search Live supplies integrated live search facilities and advanced search features.

Dave's WordPress Live Search vs Search Live