---
title: "Exclude or bury results"
slug: "exclude-or-bury-results"
abstract: "Exclude or bury some results altogether in Sitecore Search."
---
# Exclude or bury results

Sitecore Search returns paginated results for a search keyphrase in its widgets. This topic describes how you can exclude or bury results using widget variation rules.

> [!tip]
> To additionally target results using the **Strategies** and **Settings** sections of a rule, you can configure the **Site** and **Visitor** tabs in the **Context** section.

> [!important]
> To save a widget variation rule, you need to populate at least one of the following configurations:
>
> -   Site or visitor context.
>
> -   Blacklist, boost, pin, or bury strategy.

The following procedures cover scenarios to exclude or bury some results altogether.

## Blacklist an item in the results

When you want to exclude an item that appears in search results, you can blacklist[^blacklist] it. The following procedure creates a widget variation with such a rule. When this variation is *Active*, the results do not contain the blacklisted item.

Before configuring a widget variation rule strategy:

1. [Create or edit a widget variation rule](https://doc.sitecore.com/search/en/users/search-user-guide/display-relevant-results/add-or-edit-widget-variations.html#UUID-106bcec2-8ef6-3dc7-4803-5d9817dd5a1a_section-idm4537295734779233697204820873 "Add a widget variation rule").
2. In the top banner, on the right, in the **Output entity** drop-down list, select an entity.

    > [!note]
    > Selection change in the **Output entity** drop-down list:
    >
    > -   Displays the number of entity items matching the rule.
    >
    > -   Populates the rule with selected entity items.
    >
    >
    > The items in the slots of a new rule do not necessarily reflect those at runtime.

To blacklist an item in a widget:

1. To define context for the widget variation rule, follow the steps in the [define site context in a widget variation rule](urn:resource:component:1185081/section-idm4567528109166433892529898309) or [define visitor context in a widget variation rule](urn:resource:component:1185081/section-idm1743389253186942) procedure.
2. On the menu bar, click **Strategy**.
3. Click the **Blacklist rules** tab.
4. In the right pane, on the **Content items** tab, to filter the list by name, in the search input field, enter text or to filter the list by other attributes, click ![Funnel](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/search/en/users/search-user-guide/images/Funnel.png).

    For details and a performance analytics summary of an item, click **Quick Look**.

5. Drag the item to a slot.
6. Click **Save**.
7. To deploy, click **Publish**.

## Bury an item in the results

When you want to make an item appears lower in search results, you can bury[^UUID-48c6b92f-d97a-3d5b-9006-85685f9183f0_N675ff1692a266] it. The following procedure creates a widget variation with a rule. When this variation is *Active*, the buried item is placed at the bottom of the results. In case of multiple buried items, they are ranked among themselves and then pushed to the bottom of the results.

Before configuring a widget variation rule strategy:

1. [Create or edit a widget variation rule](https://doc.sitecore.com/search/en/users/search-user-guide/display-relevant-results/add-or-edit-widget-variations.html#UUID-106bcec2-8ef6-3dc7-4803-5d9817dd5a1a_section-idm4537295734779233697204820873 "Add a widget variation rule").
2. In the top banner, on the right, in the **Output entity** drop-down list, select an entity.

    > [!note]
    > Selection change in the **Output entity** drop-down list:
    >
    > -   Displays the number of entity items matching the rule.
    >
    > -   Populates the rule with selected entity items.
    >
    >
    > The items in the slots of a new rule do not necessarily reflect those at runtime.

To bury an item in a widget:

1. To define context for the widget variation rule, follow the steps in the [define site context in a widget variation rule](urn:resource:component:1185081/section-idm4567528109166433892529898309) or [define visitor context in a widget variation rule](urn:resource:component:1185081/section-idm1743389253186942) procedure.
2. On the menu bar, click **Strategy**.
3. Click the **Bury rules** tab.
4. In the right pane, on the **Content items** tab, to filter the list by name, in the search input field, enter text or to filter the list by other attributes, click ![Funnel](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/search/en/users/search-user-guide/images/Funnel.png).

    For details and a performance analytics summary of an item, click **Quick Look**.

5. Drag the item to a slot.
6. Click **Save**.
7. To deploy, click **Publish**.

[^blacklist]: A way to exclude an item or a group of items from the search results, also called a *blocklist*. This is useful when you do not want to show certain items on a certain website or for specific visitors.

[^UUID-48c6b92f-d97a-3d5b-9006-85685f9183f0_N675ff1692a266]: A way to decrease the relevance of the item or the group of items by making them appear lower in the search results. You can use this to reduce the visibility of certain content.