Glossary
Passage Retrieval
Passage retrieval selects a relevant section of a document rather than treating the entire page as one unit. AI search systems can use the selected passage as context for an answer, making section-level clarity and self-contained claims important even on long pages.
In plain terms
The engine fetches the useful section of a page, not necessarily the whole page.
Why it matters
Every important section must make sense on its own because surrounding paragraphs may never enter the model’s context.
How to apply it
- Use descriptive headings for distinct questions.
- State the subject and answer inside each section.
- Keep evidence beside the claim it supports.
Example
A 5,000-word guide contributes only its 150-word pricing section to an answer about implementation cost.
Sources
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