Nothing to do with uk or europe

Read https://uxmag.com/articles/usability-tip-dont-make-me-search-for-search

Or the book don't make me think

@brianteeman In a site header, I agree that search is usually found on the right side but searchtools search box is a toolbar (not a page header). Based on the URL you provided above:

Notice the toolbar in the middle with a gray background, the placement of search box is on the left side and buttons on the right. It creates a balance in UI. Take a look at the current layout of searchtools where the searchbox is in the right.

I don't know, it just feels like something is missing in the UI.

I am not a designer. I just took the time to reply to you.

Having used J4 for some time, I did find myself missing the filters/search at the top left of the table. I think it was a mistake moving them to the top right and hiding them behind a dropdown (my own doing).

I've been using it for a long time now as well. The filters were always behind a dropdown so I dont mind it here and I never use the sort dropdowns I just click on the column headers (which will be more obvious when my pr is merged)

As for the position of the search box - I really dont mind it - I think its just a case of muscle memory and I am far more used to looking for a search box on the right hand side as thats a far more common design

I do note however that the design proposed by @coolcat-creations calls for the dropdown to be split into two again and for the action buttons to be on the same row

hiding them behind a dropdown

What I meant really is away from the J3 searchtools, which I believe was fashioned on Google (search for something -> click 'Tools') and changing them to the more traditional dropdown. But as you say, this is maybe just muscle memory on my part (I use searchtools a lot).

yes it was modelled on google

If the toolbar should be moved into one bar (like in the screenshot above) then I guess it would make more sense for the search box to be aligned right. @ciar4n is right, I guess I use searchtools a lot also in J3 and it is a muscle memory for me to look for searchbox on the left side but J4 placement is on the right and blank space on the left of the bar... in most views.

Also in smaller screens can the text of buttons

'Filtering options'
'List options'

be auto-hidden ? leaving only the icons ?

I do note however that the design proposed by @coolcat-creations calls for the dropdown to be split into two again and for the action buttons to be on the same row

It's not intended to be split, I described it in the JCM Article that it's intended to have options to display certain columns or not. It does not have to have such a big button but every user has different data which is important for them, so the backend gets more overview if the user is able to customize the table columns. For example rating is maybe not important to some editors but rather the language. For some others the autor and the title is very important but the creation date does not matter at all. It's about decluttering the backend for everyones own needs. See screen: https://coolcat-creations.com/joomla/#/screens/266934595 The most reasonable position for this settings would be probably a cog icon next to the table colums instead of the seperate button I proposed, since the settings are not changed regulary and don't need that much attention.

Please add Label "J4 Backend Template".

related to the old template, open a new issue if needed

Set to "closed" on behalf of @alikon by The JTracker Application at issues.joomla.org/joomla-cms/22314