4. Search report 

A search report is prepared containing the results of the search, in particular by identifying the documents constituting the relevant state of the art (see B‑X, 9).

The search report serves to provide information on the relevant state of the art to the applicant, to the examining divisions of the EPO and, by means of its publication, to the public.

The search report is accompanied by the search opinion (see B‑XI, subject to the exceptions mentioned in B‑XI, 7), which together with the European search report constitutes the extended European search report (EESR).