AI Glossary Term
What does “Parent-Document Retrieval” mean?
Definition
A retrieval pattern that searches small chunks but returns their larger parent documents for richer context.
How Parent-Document Retrieval works
Example
A small paragraph about a refund deadline matches the query precisely. The system returns the whole policy section containing it, so the model also sees the exceptions that follow.
Why it matters
Small chunks match precisely but may lack context; larger ones carry context but match poorly. This approach tries to get both.
Common questions
What is a parent document?
The larger section, page, or file that a small chunk was cut from.
Downside?
Larger returns use more of the context window.
How do I choose sizes?
Test on your own questions. Chunk size should fit how your documents are organized.