Hybrid Retrieval
Hybrid retrieval combine semantic vector search with lexical keyword search to retrieve relevant passages. Vector search capture meaning and paraphrase, keyword search capture exact terms and identifiers, and fusion step merge both result sets so precise tokens and conceptual matches no dey missed.
Synonym dem: hybrid search, dense-sparse retrieval, vector plus keyword search, fusion retrieval
Hybrid retrieval acknowledge say no single retrieval signal enough for production quality. Dense vector embeddings excel at conceptual similarity but blur exact identifiers; sparse lexical methods nail precise tokens but ignore meaning. By running both and fusing their rankings, hybrid retrieval improve recall without sacrificing precision, which matter when answer must be grounded in exactly di right passage. Reranking pass over fused candidates then sharpen final context handed to di model.