Vocabulary

Understand the term. Connect the concept.

A practical dictionary of 512 AI, machine learning, mathematics, and programming terms from HerbDev’s AI Vocabulary app. Start with a definition, explore an example, then follow the concepts behind it.

Linked concepts open in a new tab. Audio reads the definition and example.

HNSW

Embeddings & Vector Search · Level 3 of 5

HNSW (HNSW)

A graph-based approximate-neighbor index using multiple navigable layers.

Its connectivity and search settings trade recall against memory and latency.

Example

A query navigates a coarse graph before exploring finer neighbors.

Listen to the definition and example

Audio transcript

HNSW. A graph-based approximate-neighbor index using multiple navigable layers. Its connectivity and search settings trade recall against memory and latency. For example: A query navigates a coarse graph before exploring finer neighbors.

Explore this concept

Why it matters

This helps you understand why a retrieval system finds or misses related information.

Start with

Related concepts

Quick recall question

Try answering before looking back at the definition.

Put the terminology into context: How AI works · Machine-native representations · All learning paths

Manage browser learning data

“Remove my test data” clears all AI 101 and ML 101 scores, reviews, project checklists and rating selections, plus saved vocabulary and recent history in this browser. Test entries cannot be separated from other learning progress. Cookie preferences, security protections, submitted feedback, contact emails and past analytics are kept.