A practical example of top-down processing is searching for misplaced keys. If the keys have a distinct feature, like a yellow fob, the search is guided by the specific goal of finding a yellow object of a certain size. This search is further directed by prior experience and knowledge, such as knowing that keys are more likely to be on a coffee table than on a ceiling fan. This makes the search a controlled and deliberate act, rather than a random scan of the environment.