Vector Databases Explained for System Design Interviews

How do vector databases make similarity search fast? We build from embeddings and nearest-neighbor search to HNSW, filters, hybrid search, and the tradeoffs that matter in system design interviews. Read the full article for free: https://www.hellointerview.com/youtub... Go deeper with Guided Practice, recent interview questions, an AI tutor, video walkthroughs, and behavioral practice in Hello Interview Premium: https://www.hellointerview.com/youtub... Chapters 0:00 Intro 2:11 Free guide and Premium 2:33 Vectors 4:47 Exact search 6:44 HNSW 9:48 IVF 14:01 Filtered search 16:21 Writes 18:02 Choosing a database 20:19 In the interview 21:44 Interviewer probes