Hybrid Search: The Best of Both Worlds Search Solution

At Cludo, we’re constantly evolving to meet the needs of a smarter, more intuitive digital world. That’s why we’re excited to announce the launch of Hybrid Search: a breakthrough in search technology that combines the precision of traditional keyword search with the contextual understanding of vector search.

This innovative approach delivers a more relevant, accurate, and satisfying search experience for users across industries.

What is Hybrid Search?

Hybrid Search is the integration of two distinct search approaches:

• Keyword search, which provides fast, precise matches based on the words users type.
  
  
• Vector search, which captures the meaning behind those words using AI-powered semantic understanding.
  
  

Search is no longer just about matching keywords — it’s about understanding meaning. While keyword search offers fast and exact matches using ranking algorithms, it often struggles with nuances like synonyms, misspellings, or complex queries. On the other hand, vector search uses semantic similarity to find related terms and concepts, even if the exact words aren’t used. But it can be slower and less precise in certain use cases.

Hybrid Search merges these strengths, blending keyword and vector results using an algorithm called Reciprocal Rank Fusion (RRF). The result? A smarter, more flexible search experience that delivers both relevance and context — helping users find what they’re looking for, even when they don’t know exactly how to search for it.

Why It Matters: Solving Real Search Challenges

Most websites today rely heavily on keyword-based search engines. While effective for straightforward queries, they often fall short when users:

• Use different terminology (e.g., “physician” vs. “doctor” vs. “healthcare provider”)
• Misspell a term or phrase
• Ask a question rather than using keywords
• Use phrases that require deeper interpretation

This is where Hybrid Search makes a difference. By pairing exact keyword matching with semantic understanding, Cludo’s Hybrid Search delivers a richer, more relevant set of results — helping users find what they need, even if they don’t use the perfect search terms.

How It Works: Indexing and Searching Behind the Scenes

Indexing with Hybrid Search

When Hybrid Search is enabled:

1. Your content is crawled and indexed as both text and vector data.

2. Key fields (like page titles and descriptions) are processed by our vector API, which converts them into semantic vector embeddings.

3. Each document is stored in both the keyword index and the vector index, creating a dual representation of your content.
   
   

Searching with Hybrid Search

When a visitor performs a search:

1. Their query is processed as both text and vector.
   
   
2. We perform two parallel searches:

• • • A keyword search across the traditional index

    • A vector search against the semantic embeddings

3. The results are merged using Reciprocal Rank Fusion, which prioritizes relevance from both sources.

4. The combined list is returned via the search API — delivering both precision and contextual relevance in one seamless result set.

Built for Performance and the Future

This new approach is built on an upgraded foundation designed to handle larger data sets, support faster query responses, and scale effortlessly as your content grows — ensuring your search experience remains powerful, flexible, and ready for future advancements in AI-driven technology.

With Hybrid Search, Cludo helps you address some of the most common challenges in site search:

• Synonyms & Misspellings: No more missed results because of minor variations.

• Complex Queries: Better interpretation of intent behind multi-word or question-based searches.

• Contextual Relevance: Understand what visitors mean — not just what they type.

Even better, this new approach is built on an upgraded foundation that enhances speed, scalability, and adaptability for future advancements. Hybrid Search doesn’t just make your site smarter today — it makes it adaptable for tomorrow.

A Versatile Solution for Complex Search Needs

Hybrid Search isn’t just for advanced users or niche scenarios. It’s built to solve everyday search challenges across a wide range of industries:

• In higher education, students can find courses and resources even if they don’t know the exact program name.

• In healthcare, patients can search symptoms or conditions using varied terminology and still reach the right content.

• In government and public services, users can get relevant results even when using non-official terms.

By capturing both the literal and intended meaning of search queries, Hybrid Search helps your organization serve visitors better — no matter how they search.

Ready for What’s Next in Search?

Search is evolving. Visitors expect more. With Cludo’s Hybrid Search, you can meet those expectations with a solution that understands language more like a human — delivering faster, more relevant results that improve satisfaction, reduce frustration, and keep visitors engaged.

Hybrid Search helps your most valued visitors connect with the right information — even when their words don’t say it perfectly. Let your content do more. Let your search understand more. Welcome to Hybrid Search from Cludo.