When search fails, people often blame the index. The real issue may be taxonomy, naming, content quality, or an interface that gives no clue what is available.
Show the shape of the answer
Useful results carry context: a clear title, a helpful excerpt, a date, and the reason the result matched. Filters should reflect the way people think about the collection.
Learn from the empty state
Zero results are product feedback. Offer nearby terms, explain what was searched, and help the user narrow or broaden the request. Search logs can reveal missing content as clearly as they reveal missing features.
The best search experiences make a large product feel legible. That is a form of hospitality.