Retrieval

Embeddings and Reranking

Embeddings and reranking improve search, RAG, classification, clustering, recommendation, and document retrieval quality.

Model inferenceOfficial source

Who this is for

Teams building knowledge-base or search systems.

Configuration reference

Values to confirm before setup

Embedding use

Convert text into vectors

Reranking use

Reorder candidate search results

Quote factor

Document volume, refresh frequency, query volume, vector dimensions

Setup flow

Practical steps

  1. 01Inventory document volume and update frequency.
  2. 02Choose embedding dimensions and chunking strategy.
  3. 03Choose vector database or search backend.
  4. 04Add reranking for high-value queries.
  5. 05Measure retrieval quality with customer examples.

RAG setup

A model key alone does not create good retrieval. Chunking, metadata, filters, reranking, and evaluation samples matter as much as the embedding model.

Common mistakes

Check these before escalating

  • Large backfills can create one-time token spikes.
  • Bad chunking produces bad answers even with a strong model.
  • Embedding model changes may require re-indexing.

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