Searchplex ID Retrieval terminology registry

Task

Query Decomposition

Canonical ID https://id.searchplex.net/query-decomposition/

Breaking a complex query or information need into smaller subqueries or subproblems that can be retrieved or answered separately.

Also called

  • Question Decomposition

Scope

Query decomposition is common in multi-hop question answering, agentic retrieval, and complex search tasks. It is distinct from query reformulation, which changes a query, and from query routing, which decides where or how a query should be handled.

Observed terms

  • Subquery Generation industry
  • Sub-Question Generation ml-nlp

Part of

Not equivalent to

  • Query Decomposition is not Query Reformulation. Query decomposition breaks a complex information need into subqueries; query reformulation changes an existing query to better express or satisfy an information need.
  • Query Decomposition is not Query Routing. Query decomposition creates subqueries or subproblems; query routing chooses the handling path or retrieval resource.
  • Query Decomposition is not Retrieval Planning. Query decomposition may be one step in a retrieval plan; retrieval planning chooses the overall retrieval strategy or sequence.

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