# Demand signal (autocomplete)

URL: https://storelift.net/glossary/autocomplete-demand-signal/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-09-02

Neither Apple nor Google publishes a search-volume number for a keyword. A demand signal is a proxy: does the store's own autocomplete suggest the term, and how many related variants does it surface when you type the first few letters.

## Presence and breadth, not a number

Autocomplete gives two things: presence (does the exact term get suggested at all) and breadth (how many longer variants branch off it). Neither converts to "searches per month" — a tool that shows that number is producing an estimate, not reading one from the store.

This replaced Apple's Search Popularity score as the more general signal after that score's coverage narrowed in late 2025; the full history is on its own page.

## FAQ

Q: Is a demand signal the same on iOS and Android?
A: No — the two autocomplete engines are separate systems with separate suggestion lists, so presence and breadth are measured per store, not once for an app.