diff --git a/src/components/ToolFilters.astro b/src/components/ToolFilters.astro
index 90f9a0e..15ec517 100644
--- a/src/components/ToolFilters.astro
+++ b/src/components/ToolFilters.astro
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ const sortedTags = Object.entries(tagFrequency)
     }
     
     function filterTools() {
-      const searchTerm = elements.searchInput.value.toLowerCase();
+      const searchTerm = elements.searchInput.value.trim();
       const selectedDomain = elements.domainSelect.value;
       const includeProprietary = elements.proprietaryCheckbox.checked;
       
@@ -270,26 +270,31 @@ const sortedTags = Object.entries(tagFrequency)
         const phases = tool.phases || [];
         const tags = tool.tags || [];
         
+        // Search filter (keep existing logic)
         if (searchTerm && !(
-          tool.name.toLowerCase().includes(searchTerm) ||
-          tool.description.toLowerCase().includes(searchTerm) ||
-          tags.some(tag => tag.toLowerCase().includes(searchTerm))
+          tool.name.toLowerCase().includes(searchTerm.toLowerCase()) ||
+          tool.description.toLowerCase().includes(searchTerm.toLowerCase()) ||
+          tags.some(tag => tag.toLowerCase().includes(searchTerm.toLowerCase()))
         )) {
           return false;
         }
         
+        // Domain filter
         if (selectedDomain && !domains.includes(selectedDomain)) {
           return false;
         }
         
+        // Phase filter
         if (selectedPhase && !phases.includes(selectedPhase)) {
           return false;
         }
         
+        // Proprietary filter
         if (!includeProprietary && !isMethod(tool) && tool.type !== 'concept' && tool.license === 'Proprietary') {
           return false;
         }
         
+        // Tag filter
         if (selectedTags.size > 0 && !Array.from(selectedTags).every(tag => tags.includes(tag))) {
           return false;
         }
@@ -297,9 +302,14 @@ const sortedTags = Object.entries(tagFrequency)
         return true;
       });
       
+      // Apply search prioritization if there's a search term
+      const finalResults = searchTerm && window.prioritizeSearchResults 
+        ? window.prioritizeSearchResults(filtered, searchTerm)
+        : filtered;
+      
       updateMatrixHighlighting();
       
-      window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('toolsFiltered', { detail: filtered }));
+      window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('toolsFiltered', { detail: finalResults }));
     }
     
     function handleTagClick(tagItem) {
diff --git a/src/layouts/BaseLayout.astro b/src/layouts/BaseLayout.astro
index e050f65..4698385 100644
--- a/src/layouts/BaseLayout.astro
+++ b/src/layouts/BaseLayout.astro
@@ -80,6 +80,30 @@ const { title, description = 'ForensicPathways - A comprehensive directory of di
     scrollToElement(element, options);
   }
 
+  // Simple search prioritization - exact tag matches first
+  function prioritizeSearchResults(tools, searchTerm) {
+    if (!searchTerm || !searchTerm.trim()) {
+      return tools;
+    }
+    
+    const lowerSearchTerm = searchTerm.toLowerCase().trim();
+    
+    return tools.sort((a, b) => {
+      const aTagsLower = (a.tags || []).map(tag => tag.toLowerCase());
+      const bTagsLower = (b.tags || []).map(tag => tag.toLowerCase());
+      
+      const aExactTag = aTagsLower.includes(lowerSearchTerm);
+      const bExactTag = bTagsLower.includes(lowerSearchTerm);
+      
+      // If one has exact tag match and other doesn't, prioritize the exact match
+      if (aExactTag && !bExactTag) return -1;
+      if (!aExactTag && bExactTag) return 1;
+      
+      // Otherwise maintain original order (or sort by name as secondary)
+      return a.name.localeCompare(b.name);
+    });
+  }
+
   // Attach to window immediately - BEFORE DOMContentLoaded
   (window as any).createToolSlug = createToolSlug;
   (window as any).findToolByIdentifier = findToolByIdentifier;
@@ -87,6 +111,7 @@ const { title, description = 'ForensicPathways - A comprehensive directory of di
   (window as any).scrollToElement = scrollToElement;
   (window as any).scrollToElementById = scrollToElementById;
   (window as any).scrollToElementBySelector = scrollToElementBySelector;
+  (window as any).prioritizeSearchResults = prioritizeSearchResults;
 
   document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {
     const THEME_KEY = 'dfir-theme';