A method of performing a data search in a data source by which an operator of a data search pipeline is just-in-time optimized and compiled, using an operator optimization module which optimizes and compiles an intermediate representation of the operator, considering runtime information, and optimization rules, to produce an operator that is optimized for the data search being performed. The method can be applied with one operator or with many operators applied in any sequence or tree structure according to a query plan, as determined by runtime information and optimization rules.