Automation glossary

Semantic Search

Semantic search finds results by meaning rather than exact keywords, usually by comparing embeddings of the query and the content.

In plain language

Searching “cancel my plan” also finds articles titled “How to end your subscription.”

Example

A help-desk assistant uses semantic search to find the three most relevant articles for each customer question.

Embedding · Vector Database · Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) · Large Language Model (LLM)

Common misconception

Semantic search does not replace keyword search everywhere; exact codes, names, and IDs are often found better with keywords.

Implementation guidance

Combine semantic and keyword search for best results, keep the index current, filter by metadata such as product or date, and test with real queries.

Primary references

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