RAG & Search
Hybrid search
Search that combines semantic similarity with traditional keyword matching.
Example
An employee search combines exact policy numbers with meaning-based matches.
Why it matters
It combines precise matching with broader discovery when either approach alone leaves gaps.
You'll hear it
“We need the policy number and similar wording to help with this search.”
Can you control it?
Set by the team
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 combining methods guarantee the best result?
- No. Their relative influence and the available documents still matter.
- Can the two methods favor different documents?
- Yes. One may favor matching words while the other favors related meaning.
- Can it take more work to maintain?
- Yes. Keeping multiple search methods current can add processing and testing needs.