Search that matches meaning rather than exact keywords, typically powered by embeddings.
Friendly Description: Semantic search is search that understands what you mean instead of just matching the exact words you typed. It's the difference between a librarian who hears "books about feeling sad" and brings you novels about grief, depression, and loss, versus one who only finds books with the word "sad" in the title. Semantic search uses AI embeddings to find results that match the spirit of your query.
Example: If you type "affordable family-friendly hotels near the beach" into a semantic search system, it will surface hotels described as "budget-friendly," "great for kids," or "steps from the shore," even though those exact words aren't in your query. It found the meaning, not just the keywords.