Basics of Vector Databases: Moving Beyond Rows and Columns

In this article, we’ll explore the basics of Vector Databases (Vector DBs) and why they are the backbone of modern AI. What is a Vector Database? A traditional database (like SQL) organizes data into rigid rows and columns. A Vector DB is different. Instead of searching for exact matches (like a keyword search), it stores data as Embeddings—which are long lists of numbers representing the "meaning" of the data. Popular Vector Databases There are several players in the market, each with unique st