## [What is semantic search?](https://parallel.ai/articles/what-is-semantic-search)

When you search for "Italian food" and get results about "Tuscan cuisine," you're experiencing semantic search— an AI-powered technique that understands meaning and intent instead of just matching keywords. Traditional search engines work like ctrl+F across the web, looking for your exact words, while semantic search interprets what you're actually trying to find. This article explains how semantic search works, why it matters for AI systems in 2025, and how to implement it in your applications.