Hybrid search combines sparse (keyword-based, e.g. BM25) and dense (vector/Embedding-based) retrieval in the same query. Pure semantic search struggles on rare product codes, names, or specific dates; pure keyword misses synonyms — hybrid takes the best of both. Scores are typically fused with Reciprocal Rank Fusion (RRF), then a Reranking step produces the final order. It has become a de-facto standard in production RAG systems because it measurably improves retrieval quality.
MEVZU N°124ISTANBULYEAR I — VOL. III
Glossary · Intermediate · 2022
Hybrid Search
An approach that combines keyword and semantic search to improve retrieval quality.
- EN — English term
- Hybrid Search
- TR — Turkish term
- Hibrit Arama