Weight

What is Weight?

Weight in search refers to the multiplier applied to ranking signals. For example, product title matches may be weighted higher than description matches.

How It Works (quick)

• Scoring model: Ranking = Σ(signal × weight).
• Signals: Term frequency, freshness, CTR, sales data.
• Tuning: Adjust weights per field, category, or business rule.
• Experimentation: A/B test to balance relevance vs business needs.

Why It Matters in E-commerce

• Lets you prioritize titles, brands, or reviews.
• Supports business goals (boosting margin, stock, or trending items).
• Helps balance relevance and merchandising.

Best Practices

• Start with default IR weights (BM25).
• Layer business weights carefully.
• Monitor for bias (don’t over-promote low-relevance items).
• Document rules and changes.

Summary

Weight controls the influence of ranking signals. It’s the knob you turn to balance recall, relevance, and revenue.