diff --git a/public/js/learningHub.js b/public/js/learningHub.js
index 8fe7867..15e7f78 100644
--- a/public/js/learningHub.js
+++ b/public/js/learningHub.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
   // ── Load when tab activated ────────────────────────────────
   document.addEventListener('tabChanged', function(e) {
     if (e.detail && e.detail.tab === 'learning') {
-      if (!loaded) { loadFeed(); loadCategories(); loaded = true; }
+      if (!loaded) { loadFeed(); loadCategories(); loaded = true; wireSearch(); }
     }
     // Load CMS when Content Manager tab is opened
     if (e.detail && e.detail.tab === 'cms') {
@@ -134,15 +134,20 @@
     if (rmOpt) { var row = rmOpt.closest('.lh-option-row'); if (row) row.remove(); return; }
   });
 
-  // Search
-  var searchTimeout = null;
-  var searchEl = document.getElementById('lh-search');
-  if (searchEl) {
+  // wireSearch() called after component is in DOM
+  var _searchTimeout = null;
+  function wireSearch() {
+    var searchEl = document.getElementById('lh-search');
+    if (!searchEl || searchEl._wired) return;
+    searchEl._wired = true;
     searchEl.addEventListener('input', function() {
-      clearTimeout(searchTimeout);
+      clearTimeout(_searchTimeout);
       var q = searchEl.value.trim();
       if (!q) { loadFeed(); return; }
-      searchTimeout = setTimeout(function() { searchContent(q); }, 300);
+      _searchTimeout = setTimeout(function() { searchContent(q); }, 350);
+    });
+    searchEl.addEventListener('keydown', function(e) {
+      if (e.key === 'Escape') { searchEl.value = ''; loadFeed(); }
     });
   }
 
@@ -198,13 +203,46 @@
     var feedEl = document.getElementById('lh-feed');
     if (!feedEl) return;
     showFeed();
+    feedEl.innerHTML =
+      '<div style="padding:8px 0 12px;font-size:13px;color:var(--g500);">' +
+        '<i class="fas fa-search"></i> Searching for <strong>"' + esc(q) + '"</strong>…' +
+      '</div>';
 
     fetch('/api/learning/search?q=' + encodeURIComponent(q), { headers: getAuthHeaders() })
       .then(function(r) { return r.json(); })
       .then(function(data) {
-        if (!data.success) return;
-        renderFeed(data.content, feedEl);
-      });
+        if (!data.success) { feedEl.innerHTML = '<p style="color:var(--red);padding:12px;">Search failed</p>'; return; }
+        var header = '<div style="padding:8px 0 12px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;">' +
+          '<span style="font-size:13px;color:var(--g600);">' +
+            (data.content.length > 0
+              ? '<strong>' + data.content.length + '</strong> result' + (data.content.length !== 1 ? 's' : '') + ' for <strong>"' + esc(q) + '"</strong>'
+              : 'No results for <strong>"' + esc(q) + '"</strong>') +
+          '</span>' +
+          '<button id="lh-search-clear" style="background:none;border:none;font-size:12px;color:var(--blue);cursor:pointer;padding:0;">Clear search</button>' +
+        '</div>';
+
+        if (data.content.length === 0) {
+          feedEl.innerHTML = header +
+            '<div style="text-align:center;padding:40px;color:var(--g400);">' +
+              '<i class="fas fa-search" style="font-size:32px;margin-bottom:12px;display:block;opacity:0.4;"></i>' +
+              'Try different keywords or browse by category' +
+            '</div>';
+        } else {
+          var tempEl = document.createElement('div');
+          renderFeed(data.content, tempEl);
+          feedEl.innerHTML = header + tempEl.innerHTML;
+        }
+
+        var clearBtn = document.getElementById('lh-search-clear');
+        if (clearBtn) {
+          clearBtn.addEventListener('click', function() {
+            var s = document.getElementById('lh-search');
+            if (s) s.value = '';
+            loadFeed();
+          });
+        }
+      })
+      .catch(function() { feedEl.innerHTML = '<p style="color:var(--red);padding:12px;">Search error</p>'; });
   }
 
   function renderFeed(items, feedEl) {
@@ -250,26 +288,28 @@
 
   function showFeed() {
     currentView = 'feed';
-    var feedEl = document.getElementById('lh-feed');
-    var viewerEl = document.getElementById('lh-viewer');
-    var catsEl = document.getElementById('lh-categories');
-    var searchWrap = document.getElementById('lh-search');
-    if (feedEl) feedEl.classList.remove('hidden');
-    if (viewerEl) viewerEl.classList.add('hidden');
-    if (catsEl) catsEl.classList.remove('hidden');
-    if (searchWrap) searchWrap.closest('.card').classList.remove('hidden');
+    var feedEl    = document.getElementById('lh-feed');
+    var viewerEl  = document.getElementById('lh-viewer');
+    var catsEl    = document.getElementById('lh-categories');
+    var searchEl  = document.getElementById('lh-search');
+    // Use style.display — classList.add('hidden') is overridden by .lh-feed{display:flex}
+    // and .lh-category-bar{display:flex} which are defined later in CSS
+    if (feedEl)   feedEl.style.display  = 'flex';
+    if (viewerEl) viewerEl.style.display = 'none';
+    if (catsEl)   catsEl.style.display  = 'flex';
+    if (searchEl) { var sc = searchEl.closest('.card'); if (sc) sc.style.display = ''; }
   }
 
   function showViewer(item) {
     currentView = 'viewer';
-    var feedEl = document.getElementById('lh-feed');
-    var viewerEl = document.getElementById('lh-viewer');
-    var catsEl = document.getElementById('lh-categories');
-    var searchWrap = document.getElementById('lh-search');
-    if (feedEl) feedEl.classList.add('hidden');
-    if (viewerEl) viewerEl.classList.remove('hidden');
-    if (catsEl) catsEl.classList.add('hidden');
-    if (searchWrap) searchWrap.closest('.card').classList.add('hidden');
+    var feedEl    = document.getElementById('lh-feed');
+    var viewerEl  = document.getElementById('lh-viewer');
+    var catsEl    = document.getElementById('lh-categories');
+    var searchEl  = document.getElementById('lh-search');
+    if (feedEl)   feedEl.style.display  = 'none';
+    if (viewerEl) viewerEl.style.display = 'block';
+    if (catsEl)   catsEl.style.display  = 'none';
+    if (searchEl) { var sc = searchEl.closest('.card'); if (sc) sc.style.display = 'none'; }
 
     var titleEl = document.getElementById('lh-viewer-title');
     var metaEl = document.getElementById('lh-viewer-meta');