`listSearchableFields` does not support searching by select field labels (only values)

[MeghaPurohit306]

Describe the Bug

When using listSearchableFields in a collection, search queries only match the stored value of a select field, not the label.

In cases where label and value differ, users cannot search using the label shown in the UI, which leads to a poor admin experience.

Link to the code that reproduces this issue

#16343

Reproduction Steps

1. Create a collection with a select field (label ≠ value)
2. Add listSearchableFields: ['status']
3. Insert a document with status = "active"
4. Go to admin list view
5. Search for "Active User"
   Expected:
   Search should match both:

• stored value ("active")
• displayed label ("Active User")

Which area(s) are affected?

area: ui, plugin: search

Environment Info

"payload": "3.80.0",
"@payloadcms/db-postgres": "3.80.0",
@payloadcms/next": "3.80.0",
"@payloadcms/plugin-cloud-storage": "3.80.0",
"@payloadcms/plugin-nested-docs": "3.80.0",
"@payloadcms/richtext-lexical": "3.80.0",
"@payloadcms/storage-azure": "3.80.0",
"@payloadcms/ui": "3.80.0",
"next": "15.4.11",
"react": "19.2.1",

[github-actions]

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Why was this issue marked with the invalid-reproduction label?

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Useful Resources

• Reproduction Guide
• Contributing to Payload