TL;DR:

Requesting a unified search/filter bar in the OpenShift Web Console to quickly locate menu and sub-menu options, even after renames or UI restructures. The search should also support contextual keywords/tags to find relevant settings. This feature could later be standardized across other Red Hat products (e.g., AAP) for a consistent user experience.

Description:

Navigating the OpenShift Web Console can be cumbersome due to deeply nested and long menus/menu lists, especially after menu renames or UI restructuring, where familiar options may have moved or been renamed. Adding a unified search/filter bar would allow users to quickly locate any menu item or sub-menu, improving navigation speed and overall convenience. This help new users to find the options they need.

Feature Request:

Implement a search bar in the OpenShift Console that filters all menu and sub-menu options as the user types.

Support contextual search, where results can be found not only by menu names but also by keywords or tags (e.g., typing “permissions” could show “Role Bindings” even if “permissions” isn’t part of the menu name).

This approach could later be standardized across other Red Hat product UIs (e.g., Ansible Automation Platform, Satellite) to ensure a consistent experience.

Problem Statement:

Currently, users must manually click through menus and sub-menus to find settings, which is slow and confusing—especially for new users or when menu structures are updated. A search bar would flatten this navigation, allowing direct access to settings or pages by keyword, saving time and reducing frustration.

Benefits:

Faster navigation and better UX for both new and advanced users.

Resilient against menu restructuring—users can still find options after renames or hierarchy changes.

Context-based searching: Keywords and tags can provide smarter results beyond menu labels.

Consistency: This feature could later benefit AAP, Satellite and other Red Hat products for a unified experience.

Use Case Example:

A user typing “permissions” or “RBAC” in the search bar would immediately see the “Role Bindings” page, even if the menu name changed in a future version.

Describe the impact to you or the business

The lack of a unified search/filter in the OpenShift Web Console slows down daily operations, particularly for new or less experienced administrators (like myself) who spend significant time navigating deeply nested and long menus. This inefficiency increases onboarding time, reduces overall productivity. A contextual search with keyword and tag support would minimize navigation effort, streamline workflows, and improve operational efficiency across teams. Rolling this out to other products like Satellite would further standardize and simplify the Red Hat ecosystem, reducing training costs and increasing user satisfaction.

Internal Discussion

https://redhat-internal.slack.com/archives/C6A3NV5J9/p1753197852464439