diff --git a/lang/en.yml b/lang/en.yml
index 8b35ea48f..6a44c5e96 100644
--- a/lang/en.yml
+++ b/lang/en.yml
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ en:
       one: 'A Data Object'
       other: '{count} Data Objects'
     SINGULARNAME: 'Data Object'
+    GENERALSEARCH: 'General Search'
   SilverStripe\ORM\FieldType\DBBoolean:
     ANY: Any
     NOANSWER: 'No'
diff --git a/src/ORM/DataObject.php b/src/ORM/DataObject.php
index 11e1af6db..b236b253c 100644
--- a/src/ORM/DataObject.php
+++ b/src/ORM/DataObject.php
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ use SilverStripe\Forms\FieldList;
 use SilverStripe\Forms\FormField;
 use SilverStripe\Forms\FormScaffolder;
 use SilverStripe\Forms\CompositeValidator;
+use SilverStripe\Forms\HiddenField;
 use SilverStripe\i18n\i18n;
 use SilverStripe\i18n\i18nEntityProvider;
 use SilverStripe\ORM\Connect\MySQLSchemaManager;
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ use SilverStripe\ORM\FieldType\DBComposite;
 use SilverStripe\ORM\FieldType\DBDatetime;
 use SilverStripe\ORM\FieldType\DBEnum;
 use SilverStripe\ORM\FieldType\DBField;
+use SilverStripe\ORM\Filters\PartialMatchFilter;
 use SilverStripe\ORM\Filters\SearchFilter;
 use SilverStripe\ORM\Queries\SQLDelete;
 use SilverStripe\ORM\Search\SearchContext;
@@ -2374,6 +2376,18 @@ class DataObject extends ViewableData implements DataObjectInterface, i18nEntity
         );
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Name of the field which is used as a stand-in for searching across all searchable fields.
+     *
+     * If this is a blank string, general search functionality is disabled
+     * and the general search field falls back to using the first field in
+     * the searchable fields array.
+     */
+    public function getGeneralSearchFieldName(): string
+    {
+        return $this->config()->get('general_search_field_name');
+    }
+
     /**
      * Determine which properties on the DataObject are
      * searchable, and map them to their default {@link FormField}
@@ -2399,6 +2413,7 @@ class DataObject extends ViewableData implements DataObjectInterface, i18nEntity
             (array)$_params
         );
         $fields = new FieldList();
+
         foreach ($this->searchableFields() as $fieldName => $spec) {
             if ($params['restrictFields'] && !in_array($fieldName, $params['restrictFields'] ?? [])) {
                 continue;
@@ -2451,6 +2466,16 @@ class DataObject extends ViewableData implements DataObjectInterface, i18nEntity
 
             $fields->push($field);
         }
+
+        // Only include general search if there are fields it can search on
+        $generalSearch = $this->getGeneralSearchFieldName();
+        if ($generalSearch !== '' && $fields->count() > 0) {
+            if ($fields->fieldByName($generalSearch) || $fields->dataFieldByName($generalSearch)) {
+                throw new LogicException('General search field name must be unique.');
+            }
+            $fields->unshift(HiddenField::create($generalSearch, _t(self::class . 'GENERALSEARCH', 'General Search')));
+        }
+
         return $fields;
     }
 
@@ -4198,6 +4223,29 @@ class DataObject extends ViewableData implements DataObjectInterface, i18nEntity
      */
     private static $searchable_fields = null;
 
+    /**
+     * Name of the field which is used as a stand-in for searching across all searchable fields.
+     *
+     * If this is a blank string, general search functionality is disabled
+     * and the general search field falls back to using the first field in
+     * the searchable_fields array.
+     */
+    private static string $general_search_field_name = 'q';
+
+    /**
+     * The search filter to use when searching with the general search field.
+     * If this is an empty string, the search filters configured for each field are used instead.
+     */
+    private static string $general_search_field_filter = PartialMatchFilter::class;
+
+    /**
+     * If true, the search phrase is split into individual terms, and checks all searchable fields for each search term.
+     * If false, all fields are checked for the entire search phrase as a whole.
+     *
+     * Note that splitting terms may cause unexpected resuls if using an ExactMatchFilter.
+     */
+    private static bool $general_search_split_terms = true;
+
     /**
      * User defined labels for searchable_fields, used to override
      * default display in the search form.
diff --git a/src/ORM/Filters/PartialMatchFilter.php b/src/ORM/Filters/PartialMatchFilter.php
index 24d85ab34..a93f45776 100644
--- a/src/ORM/Filters/PartialMatchFilter.php
+++ b/src/ORM/Filters/PartialMatchFilter.php
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class PartialMatchFilter extends SearchFilter
         );
 
         $clause = [$comparisonClause => $this->getMatchPattern($this->getValue())];
-        
+
         return $this->aggregate ?
             $this->applyAggregate($query, $clause) :
             $query->where($clause);
diff --git a/src/ORM/Search/SearchContext.php b/src/ORM/Search/SearchContext.php
index ed74faa1f..1b751de00 100644
--- a/src/ORM/Search/SearchContext.php
+++ b/src/ORM/Search/SearchContext.php
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ use SilverStripe\Forms\SelectField;
 use SilverStripe\Forms\CheckboxField;
 use InvalidArgumentException;
 use Exception;
+use SilverStripe\Core\Config\Config;
 use SilverStripe\ORM\DataQuery;
 
 /**
@@ -110,8 +111,6 @@ class SearchContext
     public function getSearchFields()
     {
         return ($this->fields) ? $this->fields : singleton($this->modelClass)->scaffoldSearchFields();
-        // $this->fields is causing weirdness, so we ignore for now, using the default scaffolding
-        //return singleton($this->modelClass)->scaffoldSearchFields();
     }
 
     /**
@@ -151,8 +150,38 @@ class SearchContext
         if ($this->connective != "AND") {
             throw new Exception("SearchContext connective '$this->connective' not supported after ORM-rewrite.");
         }
+        $this->setSearchParams($searchParams);
+        $query = $this->prepareQuery($sort, $limit, $existingQuery);
+        return $this->search($query);
+    }
 
-        /** DataList $query */
+    /**
+     * Perform a search on the passed DataList based on $this->searchParams.
+     */
+    private function search(DataList $query): DataList
+    {
+        /** @var DataObject $modelObj */
+        $modelObj = Injector::inst()->create($this->modelClass);
+        $searchableFields = $modelObj->searchableFields();
+        foreach ($this->searchParams as $searchField => $searchPhrase) {
+            $searchField = str_replace('__', '.', $searchField ?? '');
+            if ($searchField !== '' && $searchField === $modelObj->getGeneralSearchFieldName()) {
+                $query = $this->generalFieldSearch($query, $searchableFields, $searchPhrase);
+            } else {
+                $query = $this->individualFieldSearch($query, $searchableFields, $searchField, $searchPhrase);
+            }
+        }
+        return $query;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Prepare the query to begin searching
+     *
+     * @param array|bool|string $sort Database column to sort on.
+     * @param array|bool|string $limit
+     */
+    private function prepareQuery($sort, $limit, ?DataList $existingQuery): DataList
+    {
         $query = null;
         if ($existingQuery) {
             if (!($existingQuery instanceof DataList)) {
@@ -176,38 +205,120 @@ class SearchContext
             $query = $query->limit($limit);
         }
 
-        /** @var DataList $query */
-        $query = $query->sort($sort);
-        $this->setSearchParams($searchParams);
+        return $query->sort($sort);
+    }
 
-        $modelObj = Injector::inst()->create($this->modelClass);
-        $searchableFields = $modelObj->searchableFields();
-        foreach ($this->searchParams as $key => $value) {
-            $key = str_replace('__', '.', $key ?? '');
-            if ($filter = $this->getFilter($key)) {
+    /**
+     * Takes a search phrase or search term and searches for it across all searchable fields.
+     *
+     * @param string|array $searchPhrase
+     */
+    private function generalSearchAcrossFields($searchPhrase, DataQuery $subGroup, array $searchableFields): void
+    {
+        $formFields = $this->getSearchFields();
+        foreach ($searchableFields as $field => $spec) {
+            $formFieldName = str_replace('.', '__', $field);
+            $filter = $this->getGeneralSearchFilter($this->modelClass, $field);
+            // Only apply filter if the field is allowed to be general and is backed by a form field.
+            // Otherwise we could be dealing with, for example, a DataObject which implements scaffoldSearchField
+            // to provide some unexpected field name, where the below would result in a DatabaseException.
+            if ((!isset($spec['general']) || $spec['general'])
+                && ($formFields->fieldByName($formFieldName) || $formFields->dataFieldByName($formFieldName))
+                && $filter !== null
+            ) {
                 $filter->setModel($this->modelClass);
-                $filter->setValue($value);
-                if (!$filter->isEmpty()) {
-                    if (isset($searchableFields[$key]['match_any'])) {
-                        $searchFields = $searchableFields[$key]['match_any'];
-                        $filterClass = get_class($filter);
-                        $modifiers = $filter->getModifiers();
-                        $query = $query->alterDataQuery(function (DataQuery $dataQuery) use ($searchFields, $filterClass, $modifiers, $value) {
-                            $subGroup = $dataQuery->disjunctiveGroup();
-                            foreach ($searchFields as $matchField) {
-                                /** @var SearchFilter $filterClass */
-                                $filter = new $filterClass($matchField, $value, $modifiers);
-                                $filter->apply($subGroup);
-                            }
-                        });
-                    } else {
-                        $query = $query->alterDataQuery([$filter, 'apply']);
-                    }
-                }
+                $filter->setValue($searchPhrase);
+                $this->applyFilter($filter, $subGroup, $spec);
             }
         }
+    }
 
-        return $query;
+    /**
+     * Use the global general search for searching across multiple fields.
+     *
+     * @param string|array $searchPhrase
+     */
+    private function generalFieldSearch(DataList $query, array $searchableFields, $searchPhrase): DataList
+    {
+        return $query->alterDataQuery(function (DataQuery $dataQuery) use ($searchableFields, $searchPhrase) {
+            // If necessary, split search phrase into terms, then search across fields.
+            if (Config::inst()->get($this->modelClass, 'general_search_split_terms')) {
+                if (is_array($searchPhrase)) {
+                    // Allow matches from ANY query in the array (i.e. return $obj where query1 matches OR query2 matches)
+                    $dataQuery = $dataQuery->disjunctiveGroup();
+                    foreach ($searchPhrase as $phrase) {
+                        // where ((field1 LIKE %lorem% OR field2 LIKE %lorem%) AND (field1 LIKE %ipsum% OR field2 LIKE %ipsum%))
+                        $generalSubGroup = $dataQuery->conjunctiveGroup();
+                        foreach (explode(' ', $phrase) as $searchTerm) {
+                            $this->generalSearchAcrossFields($searchTerm, $generalSubGroup->disjunctiveGroup(), $searchableFields);
+                        }
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    // where ((field1 LIKE %lorem% OR field2 LIKE %lorem%) AND (field1 LIKE %ipsum% OR field2 LIKE %ipsum%))
+                    $generalSubGroup = $dataQuery->conjunctiveGroup();
+                    foreach (explode(' ', $searchPhrase) as $searchTerm) {
+                        $this->generalSearchAcrossFields($searchTerm, $generalSubGroup->disjunctiveGroup(), $searchableFields);
+                    }
+                }
+            } else {
+                // where (field1 LIKE %lorem ipsum% OR field2 LIKE %lorem ipsum%)
+                $this->generalSearchAcrossFields($searchPhrase, $dataQuery->disjunctiveGroup(), $searchableFields);
+            }
+        });
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Get the search filter for the given fieldname when searched from the general search field.
+     */
+    private function getGeneralSearchFilter(string $modelClass, string $fieldName): ?SearchFilter
+    {
+        if ($filterClass = Config::inst()->get($modelClass, 'general_search_field_filter')) {
+            return Injector::inst()->create($filterClass, $fieldName);
+        }
+        return $this->getFilter($fieldName);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Search against a single field
+     *
+     * @param string|array $searchPhrase
+     */
+    private function individualFieldSearch(DataList $query, array $searchableFields, string $searchField, $searchPhrase): DataList
+    {
+        $filter = $this->getFilter($searchField);
+        if (!$filter) {
+            return $query;
+        }
+        $filter->setModel($this->modelClass);
+        $filter->setValue($searchPhrase);
+        $searchableFieldSpec = $searchableFields[$searchField] ?? [];
+        return $query->alterDataQuery(function ($dataQuery) use ($filter, $searchableFieldSpec) {
+            $this->applyFilter($filter, $dataQuery, $searchableFieldSpec);
+        });
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Apply a SearchFilter to a DataQuery for a given field's specifications
+     */
+    private function applyFilter(SearchFilter $filter, DataQuery $dataQuery, array $searchableFieldSpec): void
+    {
+        if ($filter->isEmpty()) {
+            return;
+        }
+        if (isset($searchableFieldSpec['match_any'])) {
+            $searchFields = $searchableFieldSpec['match_any'];
+            $filterClass = get_class($filter);
+            $value = $filter->getValue();
+            $modifiers = $filter->getModifiers();
+            $subGroup = $dataQuery->disjunctiveGroup();
+            foreach ($searchFields as $matchField) {
+                /** @var SearchFilter $filter */
+                $filter = Injector::inst()->create($filterClass, $matchField, $value, $modifiers);
+                $filter->apply($subGroup);
+            }
+        } else {
+            $filter->apply($dataQuery);
+        }
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/tests/php/Forms/GridField/GridFieldFilterHeaderTest.php b/tests/php/Forms/GridField/GridFieldFilterHeaderTest.php
index e7bf6a3fb..174412e7f 100644
--- a/tests/php/Forms/GridField/GridFieldFilterHeaderTest.php
+++ b/tests/php/Forms/GridField/GridFieldFilterHeaderTest.php
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ use SilverStripe\Forms\Tests\GridField\GridFieldFilterHeaderTest\CheerleaderHat;
 use SilverStripe\Forms\Tests\GridField\GridFieldFilterHeaderTest\Mom;
 use SilverStripe\Forms\Tests\GridField\GridFieldFilterHeaderTest\Team;
 use SilverStripe\Forms\Tests\GridField\GridFieldFilterHeaderTest\TeamGroup;
-use SilverStripe\Forms\Tests\GridField\GridFieldFilterHeaderTest\TestController;
 use SilverStripe\ORM\DataList;
+use SilverStripe\ORM\DataObject;
 
 class GridFieldFilterHeaderTest extends SapphireTest
 {
@@ -89,9 +89,12 @@ class GridFieldFilterHeaderTest extends SapphireTest
     public function testSearchFieldSchema()
     {
         $searchSchema = json_decode($this->component->getSearchFieldSchema($this->gridField) ?? '');
+        $modelClass = $this->gridField->getModelClass();
+        /** @var DataObject $obj */
+        $obj = new $modelClass();
 
         $this->assertEquals('field/testfield/schema/SearchForm', $searchSchema->formSchemaUrl);
-        $this->assertEquals('Name', $searchSchema->name);
+        $this->assertEquals($obj->getGeneralSearchFieldName(), $searchSchema->name);
         $this->assertEquals('Search "Teams"', $searchSchema->placeholder);
         $this->assertEquals(new \stdClass, $searchSchema->filters);
 
@@ -110,9 +113,12 @@ class GridFieldFilterHeaderTest extends SapphireTest
         );
         $this->gridField->setRequest($request);
         $searchSchema = json_decode($this->component->getSearchFieldSchema($this->gridField) ?? '');
+        $modelClass = $this->gridField->getModelClass();
+        /** @var DataObject $obj */
+        $obj = new $modelClass();
 
         $this->assertEquals('field/testfield/schema/SearchForm', $searchSchema->formSchemaUrl);
-        $this->assertEquals('Name', $searchSchema->name);
+        $this->assertEquals($obj->getGeneralSearchFieldName(), $searchSchema->name);
         $this->assertEquals('Search "Teams"', $searchSchema->placeholder);
         $this->assertEquals('test', $searchSchema->filters->Search__Name);
         $this->assertEquals('place', $searchSchema->filters->Search__City);
@@ -145,9 +151,10 @@ class GridFieldFilterHeaderTest extends SapphireTest
         $searchForm = $this->component->getSearchForm($this->gridField);
 
         $this->assertTrue($searchForm instanceof Form);
-        $this->assertEquals('Search__Name', $searchForm->fields[0]->Name);
-        $this->assertEquals('Search__City', $searchForm->fields[1]->Name);
-        $this->assertEquals('Search__Cheerleader__Hat__Colour', $searchForm->fields[2]->Name);
+        $this->assertEquals('Search__q', $searchForm->fields[0]->Name);
+        $this->assertEquals('Search__Name', $searchForm->fields[1]->Name);
+        $this->assertEquals('Search__City', $searchForm->fields[2]->Name);
+        $this->assertEquals('Search__Cheerleader__Hat__Colour', $searchForm->fields[3]->Name);
         $this->assertEquals('TeamsSearchForm', $searchForm->Name);
         $this->assertEquals('cms-search-form', $searchForm->extraClasses['cms-search-form']);
 
diff --git a/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest.php b/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest.php
index c3a0a379f..8c80a4492 100644
--- a/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest.php
+++ b/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest.php
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 namespace SilverStripe\ORM\Tests\Search;
 
+use LogicException;
+use ReflectionMethod;
+use SilverStripe\Core\Config\Config;
 use SilverStripe\Dev\SapphireTest;
 use SilverStripe\Forms\TextField;
 use SilverStripe\Forms\TextareaField;
@@ -9,7 +12,10 @@ use SilverStripe\Forms\NumericField;
 use SilverStripe\Forms\DropdownField;
 use SilverStripe\Forms\CheckboxField;
 use SilverStripe\Forms\FieldList;
+use SilverStripe\Forms\HiddenField;
 use SilverStripe\ORM\DataList;
+use SilverStripe\ORM\Filters\EndsWithFilter;
+use SilverStripe\ORM\Filters\ExactMatchFilter;
 use SilverStripe\ORM\Filters\PartialMatchFilter;
 use SilverStripe\ORM\Search\SearchContext;
 
@@ -20,6 +26,7 @@ class SearchContextTest extends SapphireTest
 
     protected static $extra_dataobjects = [
         SearchContextTest\Person::class,
+        SearchContextTest\NoSearchableFields::class,
         SearchContextTest\Book::class,
         SearchContextTest\Company::class,
         SearchContextTest\Project::class,
@@ -29,6 +36,7 @@ class SearchContextTest extends SapphireTest
         SearchContextTest\Customer::class,
         SearchContextTest\Address::class,
         SearchContextTest\Order::class,
+        SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class,
     ];
 
     public function testResultSetFilterReturnsExpectedCount()
@@ -45,6 +53,20 @@ class SearchContextTest extends SapphireTest
         $this->assertEquals(1, $results->Count());
     }
 
+    public function testSearchableFieldsDefaultsToSummaryFields()
+    {
+        $obj = new SearchContextTest\NoSearchableFields();
+        $summaryFields = $obj->summaryFields();
+        $expected = [];
+        foreach ($summaryFields as $field => $label) {
+            $expected[$field] = [
+                'title' => $obj->fieldLabel($field),
+                'filter' => 'PartialMatchFilter',
+            ];
+        }
+        $this->assertEquals($expected, $obj->searchableFields());
+    }
+
     public function testSummaryIncludesDefaultFieldsIfNotDefined()
     {
         $person = SearchContextTest\Person::singleton();
@@ -109,6 +131,7 @@ class SearchContextTest extends SapphireTest
         $context = $company->getDefaultSearchContext();
         $this->assertEquals(
             new FieldList(
+                new HiddenField($company->getGeneralSearchFieldName(), 'General Search'),
                 (new TextField("Name", 'Name'))
                     ->setMaxLength(255),
                 new TextareaField("Industry", 'Industry'),
@@ -255,6 +278,195 @@ class SearchContextTest extends SapphireTest
         $this->assertNull($nothing);
     }
 
+    public function testGeneralSearch()
+    {
+        $general1 = $this->objFromFixture(SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class, 'general1');
+        $context = $general1->getDefaultSearchContext();
+        $generalField = $general1->getGeneralSearchFieldName();
+
+        // Matches on a variety of fields
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => 'General']);
+        $this->assertCount(2, $results);
+        $this->assertNotContains('MatchNothing', $results->column('Name'));
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => 'brown']);
+        $this->assertCount(1, $results);
+        $this->assertEquals('General One', $results->first()->Name);
+
+        // Uses its own filter (not field filters)
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => 'exact']);
+        $this->assertCount(1, $results);
+        $this->assertEquals('General One', $results->first()->Name);
+
+        // Uses match_any fields
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => 'first']);
+        $this->assertCount(1, $results);
+        $this->assertEquals('General One', $results->first()->Name);
+        // Even across a relation
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => 'arbitrary']);
+        $this->assertCount(1, $results);
+        $this->assertEquals('General One', $results->first()->Name);
+    }
+
+    public function testSpecificSearchFields()
+    {
+        $general1 = $this->objFromFixture(SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class, 'general1');
+        $context = $general1->getDefaultSearchContext();
+        $generalField = $general1->getGeneralSearchFieldName();
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => $general1->ExcludeThisField]);
+        $this->assertNotEmpty($general1->ExcludeThisField);
+        $this->assertCount(0, $results);
+    }
+
+    public function testGeneralOnlyUsesSearchableFields()
+    {
+        $general1 = $this->objFromFixture(SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class, 'general1');
+        $context = $general1->getDefaultSearchContext();
+        $generalField = $general1->getGeneralSearchFieldName();
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => $general1->DoNotUseThisField]);
+        $this->assertNotEmpty($general1->DoNotUseThisField);
+        $this->assertCount(0, $results);
+    }
+
+    public function testGeneralSearchSplitTerms()
+    {
+        $general1 = $this->objFromFixture(SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class, 'general1');
+        $context = $general1->getDefaultSearchContext();
+        $generalField = $general1->getGeneralSearchFieldName();
+
+        // These terms don't exist in a single field in this order on any object, but they do exist in separate fields.
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => 'general blue']);
+        $this->assertCount(1, $results);
+        $this->assertEquals('General Zero', $results->first()->Name);
+
+        // These terms exist in a single field, but not in this order.
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => 'matches partial']);
+        $this->assertCount(1, $results);
+        $this->assertEquals('General One', $results->first()->Name);
+    }
+
+    public function testGeneralSearchNoSplitTerms()
+    {
+        Config::modify()->set(SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class, 'general_search_split_terms', false);
+        $general1 = $this->objFromFixture(SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class, 'general1');
+        $context = $general1->getDefaultSearchContext();
+        $generalField = $general1->getGeneralSearchFieldName();
+
+        // These terms don't exist in a single field in this order on any object
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => 'general blue']);
+        $this->assertCount(0, $results);
+
+        // These terms exist in a single field, but not in this order.
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => 'matches partial']);
+        $this->assertCount(0, $results);
+
+        // These terms exist in a single field in this order.
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => 'partial matches']);
+        $this->assertCount(1, $results);
+        $this->assertEquals('General One', $results->first()->Name);
+    }
+
+    public function testGetGeneralSearchFilter()
+    {
+        $general1 = $this->objFromFixture(SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class, 'general1');
+        $context = $general1->getDefaultSearchContext();
+        $getSearchFilterReflection = new ReflectionMethod($context, 'getGeneralSearchFilter');
+        $getSearchFilterReflection->setAccessible(true);
+
+        // By default, uses the PartialMatchFilter.
+        $this->assertSame(
+            PartialMatchFilter::class,
+            get_class($getSearchFilterReflection->invoke($context, $general1->ClassName, 'ExactMatchField'))
+        );
+        $this->assertSame(
+            PartialMatchFilter::class,
+            get_class($getSearchFilterReflection->invoke($context, $general1->ClassName, 'PartialMatchField'))
+        );
+
+        // Changing the config changes the filter.
+        Config::modify()->set(SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class, 'general_search_field_filter', EndsWithFilter::class);
+        $this->assertSame(
+            EndsWithFilter::class,
+            get_class($getSearchFilterReflection->invoke($context, $general1->ClassName, 'ExactMatchField'))
+        );
+        $this->assertSame(
+            EndsWithFilter::class,
+            get_class($getSearchFilterReflection->invoke($context, $general1->ClassName, 'PartialMatchField'))
+        );
+
+        // Removing the filter config defaults to use the field's filter.
+        Config::modify()->set(SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class, 'general_search_field_filter', '');
+        $this->assertSame(
+            ExactMatchFilter::class,
+            get_class($getSearchFilterReflection->invoke($context, $general1->ClassName, 'ExactMatchField'))
+        );
+        $this->assertSame(
+            PartialMatchFilter::class,
+            get_class($getSearchFilterReflection->invoke($context, $general1->ClassName, 'PartialMatchField'))
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function testGeneralSearchFilterIsUsed()
+    {
+        Config::modify()->set(SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class, 'general_search_field_filter', '');
+        $general1 = $this->objFromFixture(SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class, 'general1');
+        $context = $general1->getDefaultSearchContext();
+        $generalField = $general1->getGeneralSearchFieldName();
+
+        // Respects ExactMatchFilter
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => 'exact']);
+        $this->assertCount(0, $results);
+        // No match when splitting terms
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => 'This requires an exact match']);
+        $this->assertCount(0, $results);
+
+
+        // When not splitting terms, the behaviour of `ExactMatchFilter` is slightly different.
+        Config::modify()->set(SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class, 'general_search_split_terms', false);
+        // Respects ExactMatchFilter
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => 'exact']);
+        $this->assertCount(0, $results);
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => 'This requires an exact match']);
+        $this->assertCount(1, $results);
+        $this->assertEquals('General One', $results->first()->Name);
+    }
+
+    public function testGeneralSearchDisabled()
+    {
+        Config::modify()->set(SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class, 'general_search_field_name', '');
+        $general1 = $this->objFromFixture(SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class, 'general1');
+        $context = $general1->getDefaultSearchContext();
+        $generalField = $general1->getGeneralSearchFieldName();
+        $this->assertEmpty($generalField);
+
+        // Defaults to returning all objects, because the field doesn't exist in the SearchContext
+        $numObjs = SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::get()->count();
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => 'General']);
+        $this->assertCount($numObjs, $results);
+        $results = $context->getResults([$generalField => 'brown']);
+        $this->assertCount($numObjs, $results);
+
+        // Searching on other fields still works as expected (e.g. first field, which is the UI default in this situation)
+        $results = $context->getResults(['Name' => 'General']);
+        $this->assertCount(2, $results);
+        $this->assertNotContains('MatchNothing', $results->column('Name'));
+    }
+
+    public function testGeneralSearchCustomFieldName()
+    {
+        Config::modify()->set(SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class, 'general_search_field_name', 'some_arbitrary_field_name');
+        $obj = new SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch();
+        $this->assertSame('some_arbitrary_field_name', $obj->getGeneralSearchFieldName());
+        $this->testGeneralSearch();
+    }
+
+    public function testGeneralSearchFieldNameMustBeUnique()
+    {
+        Config::modify()->set(SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class, 'general_search_field_name', 'MatchAny');
+        $general1 = $this->objFromFixture(SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch::class, 'general1');
+        $this->expectException(LogicException::class);
+        $general1->getDefaultSearchContext();
+    }
+
     public function testMatchAnySearch()
     {
         $order1 = $this->objFromFixture(SearchContextTest\Order::class, 'order1');
diff --git a/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest.yml b/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest.yml
index 2759311eb..ea297934b 100644
--- a/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest.yml
+++ b/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest.yml
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ SilverStripe\ORM\Tests\Search\SearchContextTest\AllFilterTypes:
 SilverStripe\ORM\Tests\Search\SearchContextTest\Customer:
   customer1:
     FirstName: Bill
+    MatchAny: Some arbitrary Value
   customer2:
     FirstName: Bailey
   customer3:
@@ -100,3 +101,34 @@ SilverStripe\ORM\Tests\Search\SearchContextTest\Order:
     Name: 'Jack'
     Customer: =>SilverStripe\ORM\Tests\Search\SearchContextTest\Customer.customer3
     ShippingAddress: =>SilverStripe\ORM\Tests\Search\SearchContextTest\Address.address3
+
+SilverStripe\ORM\Tests\Search\SearchContextTest\GeneralSearch:
+  general0:
+    Name: General Zero
+    DoNotUseThisField: omitted
+    HairColor: blue
+    ExcludeThisField: excluded
+    ExactMatchField: Some specific value here
+    PartialMatchField: A partial match is allowed for this field
+    MatchAny1: Some match any field
+    MatchAny2: Another match any field
+    Customer: =>SilverStripe\ORM\Tests\Search\SearchContextTest\Customer.customer2
+  general1:
+    Name: General One
+    DoNotUseThisField: omitted
+    HairColor: brown
+    ExcludeThisField: excluded
+    ExactMatchField: This requires an exact match
+    PartialMatchField: This explicitly allows partial matches
+    MatchAny1: first match
+    MatchAny2: second match
+    Customer: =>SilverStripe\ORM\Tests\Search\SearchContextTest\Customer.customer1
+  general2:
+    Name: MatchNothing
+    DoNotUseThisField: MatchNothing
+    HairColor: MatchNothing
+    ExcludeThisField: MatchNothing
+    ExactMatchField: MatchNothing
+    PartialMatchField: MatchNothing
+    MatchAny1: MatchNothing
+    MatchAny2: MatchNothing
diff --git a/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest/Customer.php b/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest/Customer.php
index 4efe9efa9..fc72d8b2e 100644
--- a/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest/Customer.php
+++ b/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest/Customer.php
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ class Customer extends DataObject implements TestOnly
     private static $table_name = 'SearchContextTest_Customer';
 
     private static $db = [
-        'FirstName' => 'Text'
+        'FirstName' => 'Text',
+        'MatchAny' => 'Varchar',
     ];
 }
diff --git a/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest/GeneralSearch.php b/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest/GeneralSearch.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d20fe4981
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest/GeneralSearch.php
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace SilverStripe\ORM\Tests\Search\SearchContextTest;
+
+use SilverStripe\Dev\TestOnly;
+use SilverStripe\Forms\TextField;
+use SilverStripe\ORM\DataObject;
+
+class GeneralSearch extends DataObject implements TestOnly
+{
+    private static $table_name = 'SearchContextTest_GeneralSearch';
+
+    private static $db = [
+        'Name' => 'Varchar',
+        'DoNotUseThisField' => 'Varchar',
+        'HairColor' => 'Varchar',
+        'ExcludeThisField' => 'Varchar',
+        'ExactMatchField' => 'Varchar',
+        'PartialMatchField' => 'Varchar',
+        'MatchAny1' => 'Varchar',
+        'MatchAny2' => 'Varchar',
+    ];
+
+    private static $has_one = [
+        'Customer' => Customer::class,
+        'ShippingAddress' => Address::class,
+    ];
+
+    private static $searchable_fields = [
+        'Name',
+        'HairColor',
+        'ExcludeThisField' => [
+            'general' => false,
+        ],
+        'ExactMatchField' => [
+            'filter' => 'ExactMatchFilter',
+        ],
+        'PartialMatchField' => [
+            'filter' => 'PartialMatchFilter',
+        ],
+        'MatchAny' => [
+            'field' => TextField::class,
+            'match_any' => [
+                'MatchAny1',
+                'MatchAny2',
+                'Customer.MatchAny',
+            ]
+        ]
+    ];
+}
diff --git a/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest/NoSearchableFields.php b/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest/NoSearchableFields.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..39ead8537
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/php/ORM/Search/SearchContextTest/NoSearchableFields.php
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace SilverStripe\ORM\Tests\Search\SearchContextTest;
+
+use SilverStripe\Dev\TestOnly;
+use SilverStripe\ORM\DataObject;
+
+class NoSearchableFields extends DataObject implements TestOnly
+{
+    private static $table_name = 'SearchContextTest_NoSearchableFields';
+
+    private static $db = [
+        'Name' => 'Varchar',
+        'Email' => 'Varchar',
+        'HairColor' => 'Varchar',
+        'EyeColor' => 'Varchar'
+    ];
+
+    private static $has_one = [
+        'Customer' => Customer::class,
+    ];
+
+    private static $summary_fields = [
+        'Name' => 'Custom Label',
+        'Customer.FirstName' => 'Customer',
+        'HairColor',
+        'EyeColor',
+    ];
+}