Keyword search matches the words you type. Semantic search tries to match the idea behind them. That distinction matters when you remember the substance of a note but not its wording.
Keyword and semantic search solve different problems
Keywords are excellent for exact names, codes, quotations, and rare phrases. Semantic retrieval is useful for concepts, paraphrases, and questions. Searching ‘decision about the launch date’ can surface a note that says ‘we agreed to ship after the review’ even though few words overlap.
A strong notes product uses both approaches rather than treating one as a universal replacement.
How meaning becomes searchable
The system converts a note and a query into numerical representations that capture patterns of meaning. It compares those representations to find candidates, then may rerank them using additional context.
- The original note remains the source of truth.
- Dates, note type, and other filters can narrow the candidate set.
- A generated answer should cite the notes used to create it.
Where semantic retrieval can fail
Similar language does not always mean the same real-world situation. Short or ambiguous notes may lack enough information. Names, numbers, negation, and changing decisions can also require exact matching or chronological reasoning.
That is why results should show excerpts and source links instead of hiding retrieval behind a confident answer.
How to write better searches
Ask with the context you remember: the approximate time, people involved, purpose, and desired result. Try a conceptual question first, then add filters or exact terms if the result set is broad.
The system should help you move from a vague memory to inspectable evidence in a few steps.
Use semantic search to discover candidates and exact search to verify details. For any important answer, open the source note and confirm the relevant passage.