Weaviate hybrid search: rankedFusion vs. relativeScoreFusion

AI Impact Summary

Weaviate’s hybrid search leverages two distinct search algorithms, rankedFusion and relativeScoreFusion, to combine vector and keyword search results. The newer relativeScoreFusion algorithm, introduced in version 1.20 and now the default, normalizes the scores from both search types, offering a more robust and adaptable approach to combining results. This shift highlights a key technical update within Weaviate, potentially impacting applications relying on the hybrid search functionality, particularly those using older versions.