Query Relaxation and Scoping as part of semantic search

Semantic search is about understanding what users input into a search box, allowing search engines to meet users where they are rather than requiring them to adapt to the engine's parameters. Techniques like synonyms, query word removal, and query scoping help improve recall and precision in search results. Query expansion increases recall by expanding what the query will match, while query relaxation and scoping increase precision by focusing on relevant attributes. Synonyms and alternatives are crucial for increasing recall, as they allow users to find similar items using different words or phrases. Different types of synonyms include two-way (direct replacements), one-way (object belonging to a larger category), and alternative corrections (exact match appears higher). Query word removal can improve recall by removing common words that don't provide value, while query scoping increases precision by focusing on relevant attributes. Balancing precision and recall is essential for providing users with the most relevant search results.