Three search modes
Curiosity supports three retrieval modes. Use hybrid for most cases.
| Mode | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Text | BM25 keyword ranking | Identifiers, part numbers, exact titles |
| Vector | Cosine similarity over embeddings | Paraphrased questions, long descriptive text |
| Hybrid | Text + vector, blended score | Most enterprise data — use this by default |
Decision rule:
- Users search by exact codes or identifiers → text
- Users describe problems in their own words → vector
- Both are common → hybrid (it is)
All three modes are always permission-aware. The ACL filter applies before ranking — a user never receives results they can't access, regardless of mode.