diff --git a/cypress/integration/control_link.js b/cypress/integration/control_link.js
index 2e2cf92deb..4c0587b009 100644
--- a/cypress/integration/control_link.js
+++ b/cypress/integration/control_link.js
@@ -58,13 +58,12 @@ context("Control Link", () => {
 			true
 		);
 
-		cy.intercept("POST", "/api/method/frappe.desk.search.search_link").as("search_link");
-
 		cy.get(".frappe-control[data-fieldname=link] input").focus().as("input");
-		cy.wait("@search_link");
-		cy.wait(500);
+		// Wait for dropdown to appear (request might be cached)
+		cy.get("@input").parent().findByRole("listbox").should("be.visible");
+		cy.wait(200);
 		cy.get("@input").type("todo for link", { delay: 100 });
-		cy.wait("@search_link");
+		// Wait for dropdown to update with search results
 		cy.wait(500);
 		cy.get("@input").parent().findByRole("listbox").should("be.visible");
 		cy.get("@input").type("{enter}");
@@ -81,10 +80,10 @@ context("Control Link", () => {
 		get_dialog_with_link().as("dialog");
 
 		cy.intercept("/api/method/frappe.client.validate_link*").as("validate_link");
-		cy.intercept("POST", "/api/method/frappe.desk.search.search_link").as("search_link");
 		cy.get(".frappe-control[data-fieldname=link] input").focus().as("input");
-		cy.wait("@search_link");
-		cy.wait(500);
+		// Wait for dropdown to appear (request might be cached)
+		cy.get("@input").parent().findByRole("listbox").should("be.visible");
+		cy.wait(200);
 		cy.get("@input").type("invalid value", { delay: 100 }).blur();
 		cy.wait("@validate_link");
 		cy.get("@input").should("have.value", "");
@@ -94,11 +93,11 @@ context("Control Link", () => {
 		get_dialog_with_link().as("dialog");
 
 		cy.intercept("/api/method/frappe.client.validate_link*").as("validate_link");
-		cy.intercept("POST", "/api/method/frappe.desk.search.search_link").as("search_link");
 
 		cy.get(".frappe-control[data-fieldname=link] input").focus().as("input");
-		cy.wait("@search_link");
-		cy.wait(500);
+		// Wait for dropdown to appear (request might be cached)
+		cy.get("@input").parent().findByRole("listbox").should("be.visible");
+		cy.wait(200);
 		cy.get("@input").type("  ", { delay: 100 }).blur();
 		cy.wait("@validate_link");
 		cy.get("@input").should("have.value", "");
@@ -112,12 +111,11 @@ context("Control Link", () => {
 	it("should show open link button", () => {
 		get_dialog_with_link().as("dialog");
 
-		cy.intercept("POST", "/api/method/frappe.desk.search.search_link").as("search_link");
-
 		cy.get("@todos").then((todos) => {
 			cy.get(".frappe-control[data-fieldname=link] input").focus().as("input");
-			cy.wait("@search_link");
-			cy.wait(500);
+			// Wait for dropdown to appear (request might be cached)
+			cy.get("@input").parent().findByRole("listbox").should("be.visible");
+			cy.wait(200);
 			cy.get("@input").type(todos[0], { delay: 100 }).blur();
 			// not waiting for validate_link because it will not get called
 			cy.get("@input").trigger("mouseover");
@@ -156,13 +154,12 @@ context("Control Link", () => {
 				}
 			});
 
-		cy.intercept("POST", "/api/method/frappe.desk.search.search_link").as("search_link");
-
 		cy.get(".frappe-control[data-fieldname=link] input").focus().as("input");
-		cy.wait("@search_link");
-		cy.wait(500);
+		// Wait for dropdown to appear (request might be cached)
+		cy.get("@input").parent().findByRole("listbox").should("be.visible");
+		cy.wait(200);
 		cy.get("@input").type("todo for link", { delay: 100 });
-		cy.wait("@search_link");
+		// Wait for dropdown to update with search results
 		cy.wait(500);
 		cy.get(".frappe-control[data-fieldname=link] ul").should("be.visible");
 		cy.get("@input").type("{enter}");
@@ -182,7 +179,6 @@ context("Control Link", () => {
 	it("should update dependant fields (via fetch_from)", () => {
 		cy.get("@todos").then((todos) => {
 			cy.visit(`/desk/todo/${todos[0]}`);
-			cy.intercept("POST", "/api/method/frappe.desk.search.search_link").as("search_link");
 			cy.intercept("/api/method/frappe.client.validate_link*").as("validate_link");
 
 			cy.fill_field("assigned_by", cy.config("testUser"), "Link");
@@ -211,7 +207,9 @@ context("Control Link", () => {
 
 			// set valid value again
 			cy.get("@input").clear().focus();
-			cy.wait("@search_link");
+			// Wait for dropdown to appear (request might be cached)
+			cy.get("@input").parent().findByRole("listbox").should("be.visible");
+			cy.wait(200);
 			cy.get("@input").type(cy.config("testUser"), { delay: 100 }).blur();
 			cy.wait("@validate_link");
 
@@ -280,12 +278,13 @@ context("Control Link", () => {
 			cy.wait(500);
 
 			get_dialog_with_gender_link().as("dialog");
-			cy.intercept("POST", "/api/method/frappe.desk.search.search_link").as("search_link");
 
 			cy.get(".frappe-control[data-fieldname=link] input").focus().as("input");
-			cy.wait("@search_link");
+			// Wait for dropdown to appear (request might be cached)
+			cy.get("@input").parent().findByRole("listbox").should("be.visible");
+			cy.wait(200);
 			cy.get("@input").type("Sonstiges", { delay: 100 });
-			cy.wait("@search_link");
+			// Wait for dropdown to update with search results
 			cy.wait(500);
 			cy.get(".frappe-control[data-fieldname=link] ul").should("be.visible");
 			cy.get(".frappe-control[data-fieldname=link] input").type("{enter}");
@@ -312,12 +311,13 @@ context("Control Link", () => {
 		cy.wait(1000);
 
 		get_dialog_with_gender_link().as("dialog");
-		cy.intercept("POST", "/api/method/frappe.desk.search.search_link").as("search_link");
 
 		cy.get(".frappe-control[data-fieldname=link] input").focus().as("input");
-		cy.wait("@search_link");
+		// Wait for dropdown to appear (request might be cached)
+		cy.get("@input").parent().findByRole("listbox").should("be.visible");
+		cy.wait(200);
 		cy.get("@input").type("Non-Conforming", { delay: 100 });
-		cy.wait("@search_link");
+		// Wait for dropdown to update with search results
 		cy.wait(500);
 		cy.get(".frappe-control[data-fieldname=link] ul").should("be.visible");
 		cy.get(".frappe-control[data-fieldname=link] input").type("{enter}");
diff --git a/cypress/integration/form_builder.js b/cypress/integration/form_builder.js
index 8677710bc4..37780eefce 100644
--- a/cypress/integration/form_builder.js
+++ b/cypress/integration/form_builder.js
@@ -50,14 +50,14 @@ context("Form Builder", () => {
 		cy.get(".modal-body .filter-action-buttons .add-filter").click();
 		cy.wait(100);
 
-		cy.intercept("POST", "/api/method/frappe.desk.search.search_link").as("search_link");
 		cy.get(".modal-body .filter-box .list_filter .filter-field .link-field input")
 			.focus()
 			.as("input");
-		cy.wait("@search_link");
-		cy.wait(500);
+		// Wait for dropdown to appear (request might be cached)
+		cy.get("@input").parent().findByRole("listbox").should("be.visible");
+		cy.wait(200);
 		cy.get("@input").type("Male", { delay: 100 });
-		cy.wait("@search_link");
+		// Wait for dropdown to update with search results
 		cy.wait(500);
 		cy.get("@input").type("{enter}", { delay: 100 });
 		cy.get("@input").blur();
@@ -97,8 +97,6 @@ context("Form Builder", () => {
 	});
 
 	it("Add Table field and check if columns are rendered", () => {
-		cy.intercept("POST", "/api/method/frappe.desk.search.search_link").as("search_link");
-
 		cy.visit(`/app/doctype/${doctype_name}`);
 		cy.findByRole("tab", { name: "Form" }).click();
 
@@ -127,7 +125,8 @@ context("Form Builder", () => {
 			.click()
 			.as("input");
 		cy.get("@input").clear({ force: true }).type("Web Form Field", { delay: 200 });
-		cy.wait("@search_link");
+		// Wait for dropdown to appear and selection to complete
+		cy.wait(500);
 
 		cy.get(last_field).click({ force: true });
 
diff --git a/cypress/support/commands.js b/cypress/support/commands.js
index f774dc9872..b7fa6d1003 100644
--- a/cypress/support/commands.js
+++ b/cypress/support/commands.js
@@ -172,13 +172,12 @@ Cypress.Commands.add("fill_field", (fieldname, value, fieldtype = "Data") => {
 	}
 
 	if (["Link", "Dynamic Link"].includes(fieldtype)) {
-		cy.intercept("POST", "/api/method/frappe.desk.search.search_link").as("search_link");
 		cy.get("@input").clear().focus();
-		cy.wait("@search_link");
+		// Wait for dropdown to appear (request might be cached, so don't wait for network)
 		cy.get("@input").parent().findByRole("listbox").as("dropdown");
 		cy.get("@dropdown").should("be.visible");
 		cy.get("@input").type(value, { delay: 100 });
-		cy.wait("@search_link");
+		// Wait for dropdown to update with search results
 		cy.get("@dropdown")
 			.should("be.visible")
 			.find("div[role='option']")
diff --git a/frappe/desk/search.py b/frappe/desk/search.py
index 4c9a92e698..9bd9fc1162 100644
--- a/frappe/desk/search.py
+++ b/frappe/desk/search.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from frappe.database.schema import SPECIAL_CHAR_PATTERN
 from frappe.model.db_query import get_order_by
 from frappe.permissions import has_permission
 from frappe.utils import cint, cstr, escape_html, unique
+from frappe.utils.caching import http_cache
 from frappe.utils.data import make_filter_tuple
 
 
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ class LinkSearchResults(TypedDict):
 
 # this is called by the Link Field
 @frappe.whitelist()
+@http_cache(max_age=60 * 5, stale_while_revalidate=60 * 5)
 def search_link(
 	doctype: str,
 	txt: str,
diff --git a/frappe/public/js/frappe/form/controls/link.js b/frappe/public/js/frappe/form/controls/link.js
index ce3f113ff9..c0a626fedb 100644
--- a/frappe/public/js/frappe/form/controls/link.js
+++ b/frappe/public/js/frappe/form/controls/link.js
@@ -340,6 +340,34 @@ frappe.ui.form.ControlLink = class ControlLink extends frappe.ui.form.ControlDat
 		});
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Determine if we should use GET (enables HTTP caching) or POST.
+	 * Use GET for empty searches with filters that fit in URL.
+	 * Use POST for searches with text or large filters.
+	 */
+	should_use_post_for_search(txt, filters, max_get_size = 2000) {
+		// Always use POST if there's search text
+		if (txt) return true;
+
+		// If no filters, use GET
+		if (!filters) return false;
+
+		// Check size of filters when stringified
+		let filters_str = filters;
+		if (typeof filters !== "string") {
+			try {
+				filters_str = JSON.stringify(filters);
+			} catch (e) {
+				// If stringification fails, use POST
+				return true;
+			}
+		}
+
+		// URL-encoded params add ~30% overhead on average
+		const estimated_size = filters_str.length * 1.3;
+		return estimated_size > max_get_size;
+	}
+
 	on_input(e) {
 		var doctype = this.get_options();
 		if (!doctype) return;
@@ -364,10 +392,12 @@ frappe.ui.form.ControlLink = class ControlLink extends frappe.ui.form.ControlDat
 
 		this.set_custom_query(args);
 
+		const use_get = !this.should_use_post_for_search(term, args.filters);
 		frappe.call({
-			type: "POST",
+			type: use_get ? "GET" : "POST",
 			method: "frappe.desk.search.search_link",
 			no_spinner: true,
+			cache: use_get,
 			args: args,
 			callback: (r) => {
 				if (!window.Cypress && !this.$input.is(":focus")) {