# Fallback Vector Search

## Overview

The **Vector Search 0-Hit Fallback** feature enhances the search experience by eliminating zero-result queries. It enables support for **conversational and natural language search**, including **long-tail queries** that may not directly match product descriptions.

**Key Capabilities:**

* **No More Zero Results**: Ensures users receive relevant results, even when exact keyword matches are unavailable.
* **Context-Aware Understanding**: Utilizes **vector embeddings** (also referred to as **embedding models** or **language models**) to grasp the intent and context behind user queries.
* **Natural Language Support**: Allows users to search using everyday language, making the search experience more intuitive and flexible.

By understanding the meaning behind queries instead of relying solely on exact keyword matches, Vector Search 0-Hit Fallback returns more relevant and meaningful results—helping users find what they're looking for, even when terminology differs.

**Note:** This feature leverages vector-based language understanding technology but does **not** rely on general-purpose AI or large language models (LLMs). Your data stays on our servers, locally.

## Vector Search Settings

The **Vector Search Settings Page** allows you to configure what happens when a **keyword search returns no results** (also known as a "0-hit" search). With this feature, you can enable a **fallback to vector-based search**, helping users find relevant results even when traditional keyword matching fails.

**Availability**

This settings page is **only visible** if the **Vector Search module is enabled** for your account.

![Vector Search Fallback Mode](https://883583471-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FTV1CIVFU3DJKhWzkqLAG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e297eacd756e213ffb404d42edc14c183d693081%2Fvector-fallback-mode.png?alt=media)

### Settings

**Vector Search Mode**

* **Description**: Determines how vector search is used in relation to keyword search.
* **Options**:
  * **Only as fallback**: Vector search will only be used when keyword search returns no results.
  * **Hybrid**: Keyword and vector search results will be merged. For more information on hybrid mode, see [Hybrid Search](https://docs.fact-finder.com/docs/modules/vector-search/hybrid-search).
* **Default**: **Only as fallback**

**Vector Search Active**

* **Description**: Enables or disables vector search fallback behavior.
* **Default**: **Off**
* **When enabled**: The system will use vector search to retrieve results when a keyword search returns no matches.
* **Note**: This setting is only applicable when Vector Search Mode is set to "Only as fallback".

**Limit**

* **Description**: Sets the **maximum number of results** to return from a vector search to prevent using up your account limit too rapidly.
* **Default**: **1000**
* **Type**: Integer
* **Note**: This setting applies to both Fallback and Hybrid modes.