A computer system and method for processing a search query directed to a database first inquires of multiple searchlet applications as to whether each respective searchlet is capable of performing the search query and then, if an affirmative response is received, passes the search query to the affirmatively responding searchlets, such that each searchlet returns a response comprising a single page, or no page at all if the search fails. Communication of the search query to the searchlets is managed by a content broker process. Each searchlet includes methods for searching a particular category of content, generating an index of the content, performing a search on the index, and returning search results.