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Vector Search

GENAI

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20 views

Vector Search

GENAI

Uploaded by

vicky.sonawane3
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Bhavishya Pandit

WHAT IS VECTOR SEARCH?

Vector search is used to find relevant information by representing text as vectors


(numerical arrays) in high-dimensional space. Instead of keyword matching, it
compares the semantic similarity between vectors, enabling more accurate retrieval
of contextually similar content.
Vector search leverages embeddings, where words, sentences, or documents are
transformed into dense vector representations. By measuring the proximity (e.g.,
cosine similarity) between these vectors, it identifies the most semantically relevant
results, making it particularly effective for tasks like document retrieval,
recommendation systems, and question-answering within RAG.

Bhavishya Pandit
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Improved Context Understanding: Vector search helps RAG retrieve information based
on semantic meaning, not just exact keywords.
Handles Synonyms: It captures similar meanings even if different words or phrases are
used, improving search flexibility.
Efficient Large-Scale Retrieval: It can quickly search vast amounts of data, essential for
large datasets and real-time applications.
Better Accuracy: By focusing on vector similarity, it provides more relevant and precise
results compared to keyword matching.
Enhanced User Experience: It improves the quality of answers and recommendations
by understanding context and intent, leading to more meaningful interactions.

Bhavishya Pandit
1. EXACT NEAREST NEIGHBOR SEARCH

Exact Nearest Neighbor (ENN) Search is a search technique used to find the closest data
points (neighbors) to a given query point in high-dimensional space. It compares the
distances between vectors and retrieves the exact data points with the smallest distance
to the query.

Here’s how the Exact Nearest Neighbor (ENN) search algorithm works:
Vector Representation: Data points and the query point are represented as vectors
in a high-dimensional space.
Distance Calculation: For each data point in the dataset, the algorithm computes
the distance to the query point using a distance metric (e.g., Euclidean distance,
Manhattan distance).
Find the Closest Points: The algorithm compares the distances and identifies the
data point(s) with the smallest distance to the query.
Return Result: The closest data point(s) is returned as the exact nearest
neighbor(s) to the query.

Bhavishya Pandit
2. APPROXIMATE NEAREST
NEIGHBOR (ANN) SEARCH

ANN Search is a search technique used to quickly find data points that are close to a
query point in high-dimensional space, but with a trade-off in precision. Unlike Exact
Nearest Neighbor (ENN) search, ANN aims to find a "good enough" nearest neighbor
faster, which is useful for large datasets where exact search can be too slow.
How ANN Search Works :
1. Vector Representation: Data points and the query are transformed into vectors in
high-dimensional space.
2. Data Partitioning: The algorithm partitions the dataset into smaller, manageable
subsets using techniques like hashing, tree-based structures, or clustering.
3. Search within Subset: The algorithm performs a search within the nearest partition
rather than the entire dataset, reducing computational effort.
4. Return Approximate Neighbor: Instead of finding the exact nearest neighbor, it
returns an approximate neighbor that is close enough, trading off some accuracy for
speed.
Bhavishya Pandit
3. SEMANTIC SEARCH

Semantic Search is a search technique that focuses on understanding the meaning and
context of the query, rather than just matching keywords. It leverages natural language
processing (NLP) and machine learning to retrieve results based on the intent and
semantic relationships in the text.

How Semantic Search Works :


1. Text Embeddings: Queries and documents are converted into dense vector
representations (embeddings) that capture their meaning and context.
2. Similarity Comparison: The search algorithm compares the vectors of the query and
documents to find semantically similar content, often using metrics like cosine
similarity.
3. Contextual Understanding: It identifies relevant information based on the
underlying meaning, even if the exact keywords aren’t present.
4. Return Relevant Results: The most semantically similar results are ranked and
returned, improving accuracy and relevance in search results.

Bhavishya Pandit
4. SPARSE VECTOR SEARCH

Sparse Vector Search is a search technique used to find relevant data points in high-
dimensional space, focusing on vectors that contain a significant number of zeros. This is
useful in scenarios where only a small subset of features is relevant, such as in text data
represented by term frequency-inverse document frequency or word embeddings.
How Sparse Vector Search Works:
1. Sparse Representation: Data points and queries are represented as sparse vectors,
where most of the elements are zeros.
2. Distance Metrics: The search algorithm employs specialized distance metrics (like
cosine similarity or Jaccard index) focusing on the non-zero elements.
3. Indexing: Sparse vectors are often indexed using data structures like inverted
indices or locality-sensitive hashing to speed up the search process.
4. Nearest Neighbor Search: The algorithm identifies the closest data points based on
their sparse vector representations, efficiently filtering out irrelevant data.
5. Return Relevant Results: The results are ranked and returned based on their
similarity to the query vector, emphasizing the most relevant data points despite the
sparsity.
Bhavishya Pandit
FUTURE OF VECTOR
SEARCH

Enhanced Accuracy: Improved algorithms and contextual information will lead to more
precise and relevant search results.
Scalability: Advanced indexing structures and distributed computing will enable
efficient search through massive datasets.
Multi-Modal Integration: Vector search will increasingly support cross-modal data
(text, images, audio), providing richer results.
Personalization: Tailored search results based on user preferences and dynamic
context adaptation will enhance user experience.
Real-Time Applications: Faster processing speeds will allow for real-time vector search,
improving interactions in applications like conversational AI.
Broader Adoption: Industries will leverage vector search for better knowledge
management and decision-making.

Bhavishya Pandit
DO YOU KNOW ANY
OTHER VECTOR SEARCH
TECHNIQUES?
Let me know in the comments
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on GenAI

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