AI retrieval: structured vs vectors
When to lean on structured attributes and when embeddings help fill the gaps.
Updated 2026-09-29
Prefer structured filters for what they do best:
- Exact constraints (pressure, voltage, ratings).
- Deterministic joins (compatibility, replacements).
- Range queries and unit conversions.
Use embeddings for:
- Messy long‑tail language (“good for washdown”).
- Cross‑document reasoning where attributes are incomplete.
Expose both: clean attribute tables and concise, well‑phrased passages. Engines blend the signals.