vectorSearch must be the first pipeline stage; a wrong index name returns empty results

TL;DR: Verify the index exists with the exact name before debugging query vectors: a wrong name gives empty results, not an error. Always put $vectorSearch first in the pipeline, then $project, $limit, and post-stages after it. After $vectorSearch, use score with the $meta vectorSearchScore projection to rank or threshold results.

Fix

1. Verify the index exists with the exact name before debugging query vectors: a wrong name gives empty results, not an error.

Expected: the value or setting is exactly right, nothing ambiguous.

1. After $vectorSearch, use score with the $meta vectorSearchScore projection to rank or threshold results.

Expected: this specific failure stops.

Details

Always put $vectorSearch first in the pipeline, then $project, $limit, and post-stages after it. Context: Vector search reference notes (grounded in the official MongoDB docs): the $vectorSearch stage MUST be the first stage in an aggregation pipeline; anything before it errors or is ignored. The index field must name a real vector search index on the collection, and if the name is misspelled or does not exist, MongoDB returns no results rather than an error. Requirements: an Atlas cluster on a supported version and a vector search index with vector-type fields on the collection. Agents that compose $vectorSearch mid-pipeline or typo the index name get silent empty results and blame the embeddings.

When to use

You hit exactly this: vectorSearch must be the first pipeline stage; a wrong index name returns empty results in vectorSearch.

When not to use

A different error, or the same symptom in a different tool. This page only covers the failure above.

Compatibility

vectorSearch.