diff --git a/src/database/database.js b/src/database/database.js
index 7b81b71..292bef6 100644
--- a/src/database/database.js
+++ b/src/database/database.js
@@ -416,6 +416,34 @@ export const listObjects = async ({
   }
 };
 
+export const searchObjects = async ({ model, search, populate = [] }) => {
+  try {
+    const isRefOrIdSearch = search.match(/^.{3}:/);
+    let query = null;
+    if (isRefOrIdSearch) {
+      const lookupValue = search.split(':')[1];
+      if (lookupValue.length <= 12) {
+        query = model.find({ _reference: lookupValue });
+      } else {
+        query = model.find({ _id: lookupValue });
+      }
+    } else {
+      query = model.find({ $text: { $search: search } });
+    }
+    if (populate) {
+      for (const pop of populate) {
+        query = query.populate(pop);
+      }
+    }
+    const queryResult = await query.lean();
+    const result = queryResult.map((item) => expandObjectIds(item));
+    return result;
+  } catch (error) {
+    logger.error('Object search error:', error);
+    return { error: error, code: 500 };
+  }
+};
+
 // New function to list unique property values
 export const listPropertyValues = async ({ model, property, filter = {}, search = '' }) => {
   let aggregateCommand = [];