Glossary
Lexical Search
Lexical search retrieves documents by matching words or word forms in the query with words in the index. Modern systems may add stemming, synonyms and other language processing, but exact terms, names and identifiers still matter in ways that purely semantic retrieval can miss.
In plain terms
It finds content through matching words, including important exact names and phrases.
Why it matters
AI retrieval often combines lexical and semantic methods, so precise category and product language remains useful.
How to apply it
- Use official names and technical identifiers accurately.
- Place primary terms in titles and clear headings.
- Avoid repeating terms where one natural use is enough.
Example
A search for a model number retrieves its documentation because the exact identifier appears, even though semantic similarity adds little.
Sources
Related reading
Related terms
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