A portable electronic device , comprising: data processing means ; data repository containing data records representative of locations relevant to or within a digital map; display means ; and computer readable medium comprising instructions for facilitating a user in searching the data records which when executed by the data processing means cause the electronic device to: monitor a free text search string as it is input by a user of the device; based on the search string as it is input: query the data repository for matching records; and generate place of interest (POI) suggestions selectable by a user to adjust the search, wherein the POI suggestions are generated based on the names, categories and synonyms of categories of data records representing places of interest matched with the search string; display at least some of any matching records and POI suggestions on the display ; and, in response to receipt of user input indicating a selection of a matching POI suggestion, filtering the data records returned by the query to include only those having a POI name, POI category or synonymous POI category matching that of the selected POI suggestion. data processing means ; data repository containing data records representative of locations relevant to or within a digital map; display means ; and computer readable medium comprising instructions for facilitating a user in searching the data records which when executed by the data processing means cause the electronic device to: monitor a free text search string as it is input by a user of the device; based on the search string as it is input: query the data repository for matching records; and generate place of interest (POI) suggestions selectable by a user to adjust the search, wherein the POI suggestions are generated based on the names, categories and synonyms of categories of data records representing places of interest matched with the search string; display at least some of any matching records and POI suggestions on the display ; and, in response to receipt of user input indicating a selection of a matching POI suggestion, filtering the data records returned by the query to include only those having a POI name, POI category or synonymous POI category matching that of the selected POI suggestion. monitor a free text search string as it is input by a user of the device; based on the search string as it is input: query the data repository for matching records; and generate place of interest (POI) suggestions selectable by a user to adjust the search, wherein the POI suggestions are generated based on the names, categories and synonyms of categories of data records representing places of interest matched with the search string; query the data repository for matching records; and generate place of interest (POI) suggestions selectable by a user to adjust the search, wherein the POI suggestions are generated based on the names, categories and synonyms of categories of data records representing places of interest matched with the search string; display at least some of any matching records and POI suggestions on the display ; and, in response to receipt of user input indicating a selection of a matching POI suggestion, filtering the data records returned by the query to include only those having a POI name, POI category or synonymous POI category matching that of the selected POI suggestion. <EOS>