Architecture

What is Vector Database?

A database optimized for storing and searching AI embeddings at scale.

Definition

A vector database is a specialized database designed to store, index, and query high-dimensional vectors (embeddings). Unlike traditional databases that search by exact matches, vector databases find the most similar vectors using mathematical distance calculations. They are essential for RAG systems, semantic search, and recommendation engines.

๐Ÿ’ก Example

Pinecone, Weaviate, and Chroma are popular vector databases. A company might store embeddings of all their documentation in a vector database, then query it with a user question to find the most relevant documents for a RAG system.

Related concepts

RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)

A technique that lets AI access external knowledge bases to provide more accurate answers.

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Embedding

A numerical representation of text that captures its meaning as a vector.

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Explore AI tools

Find tools that use vector database in practice.

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What is Vector Database?

A vector database is a specialized database designed to store, index, and query high-dimensional vectors (embeddings). Unlike traditional databases that search by exact matches, vector databases find the most similar vectors using mathematical distance calculations. They are essential for RAG systems, semantic search, and recommendation engines.

How does Vector Database work in practice?

Pinecone, Weaviate, and Chroma are popular vector databases. A company might store embeddings of all their documentation in a vector database, then query it with a user question to find the most relevant documents for a RAG system.