Question: Is Redis a vector database?

Answer

No, Redis is not primarily known as a vector database. It is an in-memory data structure store, used as a database, cache, and message broker. Redis supports various data structures such as strings, hashes, lists, sets, sorted sets with range queries, bitmaps, hyperloglogs, geospatial indexes, and streams.

Vector databases are designed to store and manage vector embeddings which are generated through machine learning models for tasks like similarity search or recommendations. These databases are optimized for handling high-dimensional data.

Although Redis is not a vector database by design, it has been expanded through modules such as RedisAI and RediSearch to handle more complex use cases, including ones involving vector data. For example, RedisAI can be used to deploy and run machine learning models within Redis, and RediSearch provides secondary indexing, full-text search, and query capabilities that complement AI and ML applications. However, if your primary requirement is the efficient handling of vector data at scale, dedicated vector databases or solutions specifically designed for vector search might be more suitable.