Embedding
1 min read · Reviewed 17 Oct 2026
In short
A way of turning text into numbers so software can compare meaning.
In plain English
A representation of a piece of text as a list of numbers, arranged so that things meaning similar things end up numerically close together.
A real example
A search that finds a document about "cancelling your plan" when you searched "how do I stop paying" — different words, similar meaning.
Why it matters
It is the machinery behind search that understands intent, and behind letting an AI find the right document before answering. You will rarely touch it directly, but it explains why modern search feels different.
