Cover: original AI-generated concept illustration of a magnifying glass, previous-result cards and an hourglass. It is not a working product screenshot.
You change a search query, but the previous results stay on screen while the next request runs. That avoids an abrupt blank panel. It also creates a moment where the query and the visible results disagree.
For a reading-focused search, I would consider keeping the old results with a clear “Updating” label. For a screen where someone might select records or trigger an action, I would be more cautious: the interface should make it obvious which query those records belong to.
A loading spinner alone may not explain the mismatch. Clearing everything immediately can be frustrating too, especially on a slow connection.
When would you keep the previous results, and would you leave them interactive until the new search finishes?