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RAG & Search

Contextual retrieval

Adding background explanations to pieces of a document before making them searchable for AI.

Example

A searchable paragraph includes a short note explaining which document and topic it belongs to.

Why people use it

It helps short passages remain understandable when separated from their original documents.

What you'll hear

“Add a little background before storing each passage.”

What this means for you

Check that added explanations accurately describe the original material.

Can you control it?

Developer-only

The people building or running the AI choose this setup. An everyday user generally needs their help to change how this part works.

Common questions

Does adding background notes fix an inaccurate source?
No. Helpful notes can improve searching but cannot make false source material correct.
Can the added background be wrong?
Yes. A mistaken explanation can make a passage easier to find for the wrong reasons.
Does the original wording have to disappear?
No. The extra background information can sit alongside the original passage rather than replace it.

Related terms

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