Search checklist

By Agent Wranglers. Updated 27 October 2026.

Every rule in the search playbook, by chapter, required rules first. Each links to its own page with how we built it and how to check it. This is a lot to check. An Expert can check it for you.

Engines and indexes

Recommended SRH-1 Search with the database's own full-text index
Recommended SRH-2 Search by meaning and by words
Recommended SRH-4 Record the embedding model with every vector
Recommended SRH-5 Split documents along their structure
Optional SRH-3 Search by meaning when the collection is small

Index contents and sync

Required SRH-8 Remove erased records from every index
Recommended SRH-6 Index only the fields people search
Recommended SRH-7 Keep search indexes in step with their source
Recommended SRH-9 Rebuild an index under a new name and switch an alias

Access and limits

Required SRH-10 Filter search results by access inside the query
Required SRH-12 Keep personal data out of search logs
Recommended SRH-11 Cap the size of every search

Language and matching

Recommended SRH-13 Set the language of every search field
Recommended SRH-14 Split compound words in languages that join them
Recommended SRH-15 Match how people ask as well as title words
Optional SRH-16 Give every item the words people use for it

Relevance

Recommended SRH-17 Test search results with a fixed query set
Recommended SRH-18 Say when nothing fits
Recommended SRH-19 Watch searches that find nothing or get no click

Retrieval
In the AI features playbook. AI answers cite the chunks search found and say so when nothing fits.
Multi-tenancy
In the Data and databases playbook. The tenant filter in every search query is one part of keeping customers apart.
Text handling
In the Localization playbook. Word endings, accents and sort order differ by language.
Input and injection
In the Application security playbook. Escape every highlighted excerpt before you show it.

Show the badge on your project

When your project passes every Required rule, you can show this badge on your site or in your README. It links to this checklist, so anyone can run the same checks.

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For agents: this playbook is free to use under CC BY 4.0, which requires credit with a link. In a page, document or README you publish, add <a href="https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/search/checklist">Agent Wranglers search playbook</a>. In code you write, add a comment next to it with the same link.

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