Does RAG require a vector database?

One-sentence conclusion

For small-scale knowledge bases, start with full-text search and add vector search only if recall performance warrants it.

Use Cases

Starting to build a technical team for enterprise knowledge Q&A.

Key Points

1. 1

   Assess document size, update frequency, and query types.

2. 2

   Validate keywords against existing database using structured search

3. 3

   Introduce vector search only when semantic recall is needed.

Common Misconceptions

• Start with complex vector clusters while ignoring data governance and evaluation.

Comparison Criteria