Searchplex ID Retrieval terminology registry

General Concept

Deep Research

Canonical ID https://id.searchplex.net/deep-research/

An agentic information-seeking pattern in which a system performs multi-step research by planning searches, browsing or retrieving sources, reasoning over evidence, and synthesizing a cited answer or report.

Also called

  • Agentic Deep Research

Scope

Deep research usually combines agentic retrieval, web browsing, source evaluation, citation, and synthesis. It is related to RAG and question answering, but it emphasizes multi-step research behavior and report-style synthesis rather than a single retrieval or generation step.

Observed terms

  • Deep Research Agent industry
  • DRA academic

Evaluated by

Not equivalent to

  • Deep Research is not Agentic RAG. Agentic RAG is a generation pattern with agentic retrieval or tool-use control; deep research emphasizes broader multi-step research and cited synthesis.
  • Deep Research is not Agentic Retrieval. Deep research is a broader agentic research and synthesis pattern; agentic retrieval is the retrieval loop that may support it.
  • Deep Research is not Question Answering. Question answering returns an answer to a question; deep research often produces a synthesized, cited research result after multiple search and reasoning steps.
  • Deep Research is not Retrieval-Augmented Generation. RAG is a retrieval-augmented generation pattern; deep research emphasizes multi-step search, browsing, evidence gathering, and cited synthesis.

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ID