ELI5: how vector search works
// explanation
What is vector search?
Vector search is like a smart way to find things that are similar to what you're looking for, even if they don't use the exact same words [2][3]. Instead of looking for a perfect match like "red apple," it understands what you mean and finds things that are similar in meaning [1][3].
How does it convert things into vectors?
Before searching, the computer converts words, images, and other information into special lists of numbers called "vector embeddings" that capture what something means [1][5]. It's like turning a description of a pizza into a fingerprint that computers can understand and compare [5].
Why is this better than regular search?
Regular search needs you to type the exact words, but vector search understands what you're trying to find even if you use different words [3]. If you search for "tired and sleepy," it knows you mean the same thing as "exhausted" because the meaning is captured in the vectors [3].
How does it find similar things?
The computer compares your search question (turned into a vector) with all the vectors in the database and finds the ones that are most similar [2]. It's like finding puzzle pieces that fit together rather than looking for an exact word match [1][2].
// sources
Nov 21, 2024 ... How does vector search work?. Vector search works by converting data and queries into vector embeddings. Vector embeddings are generated by ...
Vector search is a search technique used to find similar items or data points, typically represented as vectors, in large collections.
Since the meaning and context is captured in the embedding, vector search finds what users mean, without requiring an exact keyword match. It works with textual ...
Jun 19, 2024 ... Things work but now we're tempted to just switch to a keyword search system and have a lightweight LLM like phi3-mini to generate context aware ...
Aug 5, 2024 ... How Does Vector Search Work? In vector search, items in the database are assigned vector embeddings that describe their attributes and their ...
Video by IBM Technology
Video by AssemblyAI
Video by Convex
