diff --git a/src/datadoc/frontend/callbacks/register_callbacks.py b/src/datadoc/frontend/callbacks/register_callbacks.py
index 3283ed9c..a38918e8 100644
--- a/src/datadoc/frontend/callbacks/register_callbacks.py
+++ b/src/datadoc/frontend/callbacks/register_callbacks.py
@@ -25,9 +25,8 @@
 from datadoc.frontend.callbacks.utils import update_global_language_state
 from datadoc.frontend.callbacks.variables import accept_variable_metadata_date_input
 from datadoc.frontend.callbacks.variables import accept_variable_metadata_input
+from datadoc.frontend.callbacks.variables import populate_variables_workspace
 from datadoc.frontend.components.builders import build_dataset_edit_section
-from datadoc.frontend.components.builders import build_edit_section
-from datadoc.frontend.components.builders import build_ssb_accordion
 from datadoc.frontend.components.dataset_tab import SECTION_WRAPPER_ID
 from datadoc.frontend.components.variables_tab import ACCORDION_WRAPPER_ID
 from datadoc.frontend.components.variables_tab import VARIABLES_INFORMATION_ID
@@ -39,8 +38,6 @@
 from datadoc.frontend.fields.display_dataset import OBLIGATORY_EDITABLE_DATASET_METADATA
 from datadoc.frontend.fields.display_dataset import OPTIONAL_DATASET_METADATA
 from datadoc.frontend.fields.display_dataset import DatasetIdentifiers
-from datadoc.frontend.fields.display_variables import OBLIGATORY_VARIABLES_METADATA
-from datadoc.frontend.fields.display_variables import OPTIONAL_VARIABLES_METADATA
 from datadoc.frontend.fields.display_variables import VariableIdentifiers
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -143,39 +140,24 @@ def callback_populate_variables_info_section(
     @app.callback(
         Output(ACCORDION_WRAPPER_ID, "children"),
         Input("language-dropdown", "value"),
+        Input("search-variables", "value"),
         prevent_initial_call=True,
     )
     def callback_populate_variables_workspace(
         language: str,
+        search_query: str,
     ) -> list:
-        """Create variable workspace with accordions for variables."""
+        """Create variable workspace with accordions for variables.
+
+        Allows for filtering which variables are displayed via the search box.
+        """
         update_global_language_state(SupportedLanguages(language))
-        logger.info("Populating new variables workspace")
-        return [
-            build_ssb_accordion(
-                variable.short_name,
-                {
-                    "type": "variables-accordion",
-                    "id": f"{variable.short_name}-{language}",  # Insert language into the ID to invalidate browser caches
-                },
-                variable.short_name,
-                children=[
-                    build_edit_section(
-                        OBLIGATORY_VARIABLES_METADATA,
-                        "Obligatorisk",
-                        variable,
-                        state.current_metadata_language.value,
-                    ),
-                    build_edit_section(
-                        OPTIONAL_VARIABLES_METADATA,
-                        "Anbefalt",
-                        variable,
-                        state.current_metadata_language.value,
-                    ),
-                ],
-            )
-            for variable in list(state.metadata.variables)
-        ]
+        logger.debug("Populating variables workspace. Search query: %s", search_query)
+        return populate_variables_workspace(
+            state.metadata.variables,
+            state.current_metadata_language,
+            search_query,
+        )
 
     @app.callback(
         Output(SECTION_WRAPPER_ID, "children"),
@@ -189,7 +171,7 @@ def callback_populate_dataset_workspace(
     ) -> list:
         """Create dataset workspace with sections."""
         update_global_language_state(SupportedLanguages(language))
-        logger.info("Populating new dataset workspace")
+        logger.debug("Populating dataset workspace")
         if n_clicks:
             return [
                 build_dataset_edit_section(
diff --git a/src/datadoc/frontend/callbacks/variables.py b/src/datadoc/frontend/callbacks/variables.py
index b37696cf..8ab12bfd 100644
--- a/src/datadoc/frontend/callbacks/variables.py
+++ b/src/datadoc/frontend/callbacks/variables.py
@@ -11,17 +11,61 @@
 from datadoc.frontend.callbacks.utils import MetadataInputTypes
 from datadoc.frontend.callbacks.utils import find_existing_language_string
 from datadoc.frontend.callbacks.utils import parse_and_validate_dates
+from datadoc.frontend.components.builders import build_edit_section
+from datadoc.frontend.components.builders import build_ssb_accordion
 from datadoc.frontend.fields.display_variables import (
     MULTIPLE_LANGUAGE_VARIABLES_METADATA,
 )
+from datadoc.frontend.fields.display_variables import OBLIGATORY_VARIABLES_METADATA
+from datadoc.frontend.fields.display_variables import OPTIONAL_VARIABLES_METADATA
 from datadoc.frontend.fields.display_variables import VariableIdentifiers
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from datadoc_model import model
     from datadoc_model.model import LanguageStringType
 
+    from datadoc.enums import SupportedLanguages
+
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+def populate_variables_workspace(
+    variables: list[model.Variable],
+    language: SupportedLanguages,
+    search_query: str,
+) -> list:
+    """Create variable workspace with accordions for variables.
+
+    Allows for filtering which variables are displayed via the search box.
+    """
+    return [
+        build_ssb_accordion(
+            variable.short_name or "",
+            {
+                "type": "variables-accordion",
+                "id": f"{variable.short_name}-{language.value}",  # Insert language into the ID to invalidate browser caches
+            },
+            variable.short_name or "",
+            children=[
+                build_edit_section(
+                    OBLIGATORY_VARIABLES_METADATA,
+                    "Obligatorisk",
+                    variable,
+                    language.value,
+                ),
+                build_edit_section(
+                    OPTIONAL_VARIABLES_METADATA,
+                    "Anbefalt",
+                    variable,
+                    language.value,
+                ),
+            ],
+        )
+        for variable in variables
+        if search_query in (variable.short_name or "")
+    ]
+
+
 def handle_multi_language_metadata(
     metadata_field: str,
     new_value: MetadataInputTypes | LanguageStringType,
diff --git a/src/datadoc/frontend/components/variables_tab.py b/src/datadoc/frontend/components/variables_tab.py
index 85644d51..b5a500b9 100644
--- a/src/datadoc/frontend/components/variables_tab.py
+++ b/src/datadoc/frontend/components/variables_tab.py
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ def build_variables_tab() -> dbc.Tab:
                         ssb.Input(
                             label="Søk i variabler",
                             searchField=True,
-                            disabled=True,
-                            placeholder="Kommer...",
+                            disabled=False,
+                            placeholder="Variabel kortnavn...",
                             id="search-variables",
                             n_submit=0,
                             value="",
diff --git a/tests/frontend/callbacks/test_variables_callbacks.py b/tests/frontend/callbacks/test_variables_callbacks.py
index 1fc7959d..7f3cdfe3 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/callbacks/test_variables_callbacks.py
+++ b/tests/frontend/callbacks/test_variables_callbacks.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 from datadoc.enums import SupportedLanguages
 from datadoc.frontend.callbacks.variables import accept_variable_metadata_date_input
 from datadoc.frontend.callbacks.variables import accept_variable_metadata_input
+from datadoc.frontend.callbacks.variables import populate_variables_workspace
 from datadoc.frontend.fields.display_variables import VariableIdentifiers
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -223,3 +224,24 @@ def test_accept_variable_metadata_date_input(
         assert metadata.variables[0].contains_data_until == arrow.get(
             contains_data_until,
         ).to("utc")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("search_query", "expected_length"),
+    [("", 8), ("a", 4), ("pers_id", 1)],
+)
+def test_populate_variables_workspace_filter_variables(
+    search_query: str,
+    expected_length: int,
+    metadata: DataDocMetadata,
+):
+    assert (
+        len(
+            populate_variables_workspace(
+                metadata.variables,
+                SupportedLanguages.NORSK_BOKMÅL,
+                search_query,
+            ),
+        )
+        == expected_length
+    )