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.
