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 suppor

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