Optimize Search Results

// 1. Exclude pages from search results

function exclude_pages_from_search($query) {

    if (!is_admin() && $query->is_search && $query->is_main_query()) {

        $query->set('post_type', 'post');

    }

    return $query;

}

add_action('pre_get_posts', 'exclude_pages_from_search');

// 2. Search only titles and excerpts (exclude post content)

function search_title_excerpt_only($search, $wp_query) {

    global $wpdb;

    if (empty($search)) {

        return $search;

    }

    // Get the search terms

    $terms = esc_sql($wp_query->query_vars['s']);

    // Build a new search clause that only checks title and excerpt

    // This replaces the default search which includes post_content

    $search = " AND ((" . $wpdb->posts . ".post_title LIKE '%{$terms}%') 

    OR (" . $wpdb->posts . ".post_excerpt LIKE '%{$terms}%'))";

    return $search;

}

add_filter('posts_search', 'search_title_excerpt_only', 10, 2);