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Search and similar media

Smart Search is the default search mode. It has one text box and returns up to 100 results.

  • Matches on names, tags and galleries show first.
  • Semantic results join them when available.
  • If semantic search fails, text results stay.

Similar photos and videos​

Scroll down in the viewer to load Similar photos and videos.

  • Each item has its own results and scroll state.
  • If you return within 30 seconds, Photoly restores the list. After that, it starts collapsed.
  • If you keep viewing an item, its list does not expire.
  • Back to top collapses the list and clears the cache for that item.

How indexing works​

Photoly embeds photos and videos after upload. The server queue or the uploading browser does this.

  • The server stores browser vectors with source = 'client'.
  • When idle, the server re-embeds a random 1% of them.
  • The server drops a user's browser vectors if their cosine similarity is below 0.98.
  • If no allowed side can embed a photo, it stays pending. A browser or the server embeds it later.

How search works​

Search uses the active profile.

  • A browser sends its query vector to POST /ai/search/vector.
  • With server placement, the server embeds the text.
  • If you change the model or preprocessing, Photoly builds a new profile in the background. Search keeps the old profile until the new one is ready.

For model placement and limits, see AI management.