A search server system having one or more processors and memory receives a first search query from a client and, in response, generates a first set of search results corresponding to the first search query by searching in a first set of one or more index portions and generates a query cursor indicating a location in the first set of index portions. The server sends the first set of search results and the query cursor to the client. Subsequently the server receives, from the client, a second search query including the query cursor. The first search query is different from the second search query and/or different index portions are used to perform the second search query. In response to the second search query the server generates a second set of search results identified using the query cursor and sends the second set of search results to the client.