---
schema_version: "1"
id: ca2a67674995b47ab583233e31b0a99e290bb85538b230a06cdb6c0c2fd91f29
title: Search Index
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/ai/264-0-0/search_index.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=ai.search_index.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 1ceeab40179161498a5e9260906ae74be20f5d7c6c52f367dd64e12ffb48b8bb
description: The search index makes it quicker and more efficient for the search engine to retrieve relevant information for a user’s query. Without a search index, the search engine scans all content in every document or record in your organization each time a user performs a search, which is time-consuming and resource-intensive. Explore how the search index can improve your search engine.
products:
  - Cross Cloud
release: "264"
---
# Search Index

The search index makes it quicker and more efficient for the search engine to retrieve relevant information for a user’s query. Without a search index, the search engine scans all content in every document or record in your organization each time a user performs a search, which is time-consuming and resource-intensive. Explore how the search index can improve your search engine.

A phone book and a search index are similar in that they both function as reference tools for locating information. A phone book organizes contact information for people or businesses alphabetically, allowing quick access to specific details. Similarly, the search engine uses the search index to review keywords for efficient data searching and retrieval.

The search index stores and organizes keywords in records and documents to facilitate search performance and relevancy. Documents can boost relevant fields and add additional words to the search index to help create more relevant results. The index is updated with each new modification or addition to a document.

The search index also stores information about each user’s search behavior. Each time a user creates a field or enters a search query, those actions are added to the structured search index. The more a user interacts with the search engine, the better the search index can personalize search results.

#### See Also

- [Explore the Search Index with Search Manager](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=ai.search_explore_index.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "See default searchable objects and fields in your Salesforce org. As you add custom objects and fields to your Salesforce org, your index changes to reflect which objects and fields are searchable. Your index is the single source of truth for what’s searchable in your org. You can manage the search index and apply field-level security to custom fields.")