Search from vim function

Question

I am trying to use a vim function to search whether :noh has been set or not

This is similar to question found here except that question does not take :noh into account

One way to search from a function is to use let @/ = 'needle'

However, after I use :noh, this no longer works for any of my functions. I have to call :set hlsearch outside of my function for the search to work. Example

function! Needle()
  let @/ = 'needle'
endfunction
nnoremap try1 :call Needle()<return>
nnoremap try2 :call Needle()<return>:set hlsearch<return>

the mapping "try1" does not work. The mapping "try2" does work.

Question - is there any way to get :set hlsearch to work from the function?

update - I found that search is indeed being performed, but the highlight is removed. This can be undone by pressing n in normal mode. It's still not executed from the funciton, but is closer to the solution I am looking for.

function! Needle()
  let @/ = 'needle'
endfunction
nnoremap try1 :call Needle()<return>
nnoremap try2 :call Needle()<return>n

"try1" will not work but "try2" will

Answer 1

It is a little tricky but this can be done. First you have to search using let @/ = 'needle'. This initiates the search. However, none of the highlights appear. To get the highlights, you simply need to go to the "next" instance with :normal! n, which will highlight all instances and move the cursor to the next instance. Final solution:

function! Needle()
  let @/ = 'needle'
  :normal! n
endfunction

nnoremap ,needle :call Needle()<return> 

Thanks B Layer and Ben Knoble for the help!

Answer 2

to check the state of :noh its hlsearch or nohlsearch, you can check it one of these ways:

:set hlsearch?

or

:set nohlsearch?