diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -3,6 +3,12 @@
 
 Search service for the Software Heritage archive.
 
+It is similar to swh-storage in what it contains,
+but provides different ways to query it: while swh-storage is mostly
+a key-value store that returns an object from a primary key,
+swh-search is focused on reverse indices, to allow finding objects that
+match some criteria; for example full-text search.
+
 Currently uses ElasticSearch, and provides only origin search (by URL and metadata)
 
 # Dependencies
diff --git a/docs/index.rst b/docs/index.rst
--- a/docs/index.rst
+++ b/docs/index.rst
@@ -1,7 +1,15 @@
-Software Heritage - Python module template
-==========================================
+.. _swh-search:
 
-Python module template, used as skeleton to create new modules.
+Software Heritage - search service
+==================================
+
+The SWH search service, or swh-search, stores a partial copy of
+the |swh| archive.
+It is similar to swh-storage in what it contains,
+but provides different ways to query it: while swh-storage is mostly
+a key-value store that returns an object from a primary key,
+swh-search is focused on reverse indices, to allow finding objects that
+match some criteria; for example full-text search.
 
 
 .. toctree::
@@ -9,9 +17,10 @@
    :caption: Contents:
 
 
-Indices and tables
-==================
+Reference Documentation
+-----------------------
+
+.. toctree::
+   :maxdepth: 2
 
-* :ref:`genindex`
-* :ref:`modindex`
-* :ref:`search`
+   /apidoc/swh.search