📌 Query Generalisation Summary
Query generalisation is the process of making a search or database query broader so that it matches a wider range of results. This is done by removing specific details, using more general terms, or relaxing conditions in the query. The goal is to retrieve more relevant data, especially when the original query returns too few results.
🙋🏻♂️ Explain Query Generalisation Simply
Imagine you are looking for a book in a library and you only search for books written by a specific author in a specific year. If you do not find what you want, you might decide to search for books by that author in any year, or even books in the same genre. This way, you have a better chance of finding something useful.
📅 How Can it be used?
Query generalisation can be used to improve search features in an online shop by broadening user queries when few products match.
🗺️ Real World Examples
In a recruitment website, if a user searches for jobs with the exact title Software Developer in London but finds no results, the system can generalise the query to include related job titles such as Programmer or Software Engineer, or expand the location to nearby cities.
A medical research database may generalise a query for studies on a rare disease by including related conditions or broader disease categories, helping researchers access more relevant literature when direct matches are limited.
✅ FAQ
What is query generalisation and why is it useful?
Query generalisation is when you make a search or database query less specific so it brings back more results. This is helpful if your first search is too narrow and does not show what you need. By making the query broader, you have a better chance of finding useful information you might otherwise miss.
How can I make my search queries more general?
To generalise your search, you can remove very specific words, use broader terms, or leave out certain filters. For example, if you are looking for red running shoes in size 8, just searching for running shoes will show you more options. This approach can help when you are not sure exactly what to look for or when your first search gives too few results.
Are there any downsides to making queries more general?
While generalising a query can help you find more results, it can also mean you get a lot of irrelevant information. Sometimes you may have to sift through more items to find what you are really after. It is often a balance between being too specific and too broad, depending on how much information you need.
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