The Life of a Search Query in OpenSearch

OpenSearch is an open‑source search and analytics engine built on Apache Lucene. When you send a search request, a complex dance of components runs behind the scenes to turn a simple HTTP call into a ranked list of results. In this article we follow a query from the moment it hits the REST endpoint all the way to the final merged response, explaining each step in plain language while preserving the technical depth that engineers expect. 1. The Entry Point – REST Request Everything starts with an