Vector Database vs. Vector Search
While vector database and vector search are similar terms, their main difference lies in the function and the process of each. A vector database is an entire data management solution, while vector search is a type of semantic search tool.
When you conduct a vector search, your query vector will be compared to a large collection of vectors in an attempt to find similarities. This action is sometimes dubbed a similarity search. Unlike traditional databases, the goal here is to find similar matches in a short amount of time. Your database is where you conduct your vector search. Using indexing, you'll enjoy a lightning fast similarity search to take the legwork out of analyzing your data.