A Search UI That Feels Native: Pagefind + Custom JSON Rendering

Learn how to build a custom search experience using Pagefind's API instead of its default UI. This technical deep-dive covers loading Pagefind as a JavaScript module, querying for JSON results, and rendering search results with custom HTML that matches your site's design system. Discover how to maintain visual consistency across post lists and search results, including proper date formatting, taxonomy chips, and seamless Hugo integration. Perfect for developers who want full control over their static site search UI while leveraging Pagefind's powerful indexing capabilities.