In addition to record search, the MDEX Engine supports a second type of keyword search called dimension search.

Dimension search queries return dimension values that have names that contain search term(s) the end user has specified. Unlike record search, dimension search does not require a search key. Dimension search always searches any dimension values that have been identified as searchable for the terms provided. You identify a dimension as searchable in Developer Studio.

The dimension values that are returned for a dimension search are, by definition, navigable. This means that you can use the information in the dimension search results to build navigation queries, providing your users a seamless transition from a dimension search paradigm to a navigation paradigm.