inverted index (C1)
noun phrase
Pronunciation: /ˈɪnvərtɪd ˈɪndɛks/
Definition
A data structure that maps each unique word or term to its locations in a document or a set of documents, allowing for efficient retrieval of documents that contain a specific word or phrase.
Examples
The search engine's inverted index enabled it to return relevant results in a fraction of a second.
Creating an inverted index for the entire database took several hours, but it improved query performance significantly.
How to Use inverted index
- create an inverted index (verb phrase)
- to build a data structure that maps each unique word or term to its locations in a document or a set of documents — "The developer created an inverted index for the company's database to improve query performance."
- use an inverted index (verb phrase)
- to utilize a data structure that maps each unique word or term to its locations in a document or a set of documents — "The search engine uses an inverted index to quickly find relevant results."
Browse the full Anaversity dictionary