Vector Databases

Preface

To repeat a well-worn phrase, this is the book I wish I had when I started exploring vector databases. I was looking for a single source of basic theory and practical applications of vector databases, but I found none.

Existing vector database resources are fragmented across vendor documentation, blog posts, YouTube videos, and GitHub code. I wanted practical working examples rather than theoretical coverage. I also have a personal preference for proceeding systematically from basics to simple working systems to help organize data locally—especially private data.

Thus began my journey to pull together information from multiple sources and multiple directions into a coherent whole. And this book is what emerged. It is meant to be useful to the intermediate developer, from the theoretically minded to the “just show me the code” type. There’s something for everyone.

The book follows a clear pedagogical arc: concepts → tools → applications → future directions. Each chapter builds on previous ones while remaining practical with working code examples. The progression moves from understanding vector databases to building working applications that are meant for personal use, hands-on interaction, and extension by developers who want to build personal data management systems. It culminates in a forward-looking proposal for industry standardization of a Vector Query Language modeled after SQL.

The somewhat opinionated part of this book’s approach is a focus on simple hybrid vector ...