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ColBERT Embeddings

Weaviate's integration with Jina AI's APIs allows you to access their models' capabilities directly from Weaviate.

Configure a Weaviate vector index to use a Jina AI ColBERT embedding model, and Weaviate will generate embeddings for various operations using the specified model and your Jina AI API key. This feature is called the vectorizer.

At import time, Weaviate generates text object embeddings and saves them into the index. For vector and hybrid search operations, Weaviate converts text queries into embeddings.

Embedding integration illustration

Requirements

Section titled “Requirements”

Weaviate configuration

Section titled “Weaviate configuration”

Your Weaviate instance must be configured with the Jina AI ColBERT vectorizer integration (text2colbert-jinaai) module.

For Weaviate Cloud (WCD) users

This integration is enabled by default on Weaviate Cloud (WCD) instances.

For self-hosted users

API credentials

Section titled “API credentials”

You must provide a valid Jina AI API key to Weaviate for this integration. Go to Jina AI to sign up and obtain an API key.

Provide the API key to Weaviate using one of the following methods:

  • Set the JINAAI_APIKEY environment variable that is available to Weaviate.
  • Provide the API key at runtime, as shown in the examples below.
Python
# Recommended: save sensitive data as environment variables
jinaai_key = os.getenv("JINAAI_API_KEY")
JavaScript/TypeScript
const jinaaiApiKey = process.env.JINAAI_API_KEY || '';  // Replace with your inference API key
Go
"X-JinaAI-Api-Key": os.Getenv("JINAAI_API_KEY"),

Configure the vectorizer

Section titled “Configure the vectorizer”

Configure a Weaviate index as follows to use a Jina AI ColBERT embedding model:

Python
from weaviate.classes.config import Configureclient.collections.create(    "DemoCollection",    vector_config=[        Configure.MultiVectors.text2vec_jinaai(            name="title_vector",            source_properties=["title"]        )    ],    # Additional parameters not shown)
JavaScript/TypeScript
await client.collections.create({
  name: 'DemoCollection',
  vectorizers: [
    weaviate.configure.multiVectors.text2VecJinaAI({
      name: 'title_vector',
      sourceProperties: ['title'],
    })
  ]
})
Go
// Define the collectionbasicJinaColbertVectorizerDef := &models.Class{  Class: "DemoCollection",  VectorConfig: map[string]models.VectorConfig{    "title_vector": {      Vectorizer: map[string]interface{}{        "text2colbert-jinaai": map[string]interface{}{          "properties": []string{"title"},        },      },    },  },}// add the collectionerr = client.Schema().ClassCreator().WithClass(basicJinaColbertVectorizerDef).Do(ctx)if err != nil {  panic(err)}

Select a model

Section titled “Select a model”

You can specify one of the available models for the vectorizer to use, as shown in the following configuration example.

Python
from weaviate.classes.config import Configureclient.collections.create(    "DemoCollection",    vector_config=[        Configure.MultiVectors.text2vec_jinaai(            name="title_vector",            source_properties=["title"],            model="jina-colbert-v2",        )    ],)
JavaScript/TypeScript
await client.collections.create({
  name: 'DemoCollection',
  vectorizers: [
    weaviate.configure.multiVectors.text2VecJinaAI({
      name: 'title_vector',
      sourceProperties: ['title'],
      model: "jina-colbert-v2",
    })
  ]
})
Go
// Define the collectionjinaColbertWithModelDef := &models.Class{  Class: "DemoCollection",  VectorConfig: map[string]models.VectorConfig{    "title_vector": {      Vectorizer: map[string]interface{}{        "text2colbert-jinaai": map[string]interface{}{          "properties": []string{"title"},          "model":      "jina-colbert-v2",        },      },    },  },}// add the collectionerr = client.Schema().ClassCreator().WithClass(jinaColbertWithModelDef).Do(ctx)if err != nil {  panic(err)}

You can specify one of the available models for Weaviate to use. The default model is used if no model is specified.

Vectorization behavior

Weaviate follows the collection configuration and a set of predetermined rules to vectorize objects.

Unless specified otherwise in the collection definition, the default behavior is to:

  • Only vectorize properties that use the text or text[] data type (unless skipped)
  • Sort properties in alphabetical (a-z) order before concatenating values
  • If vectorizePropertyName is true (false by default) prepend the property name to each property value
  • Join the (prepended) property values with spaces
  • Prepend the class name (unless vectorizeClassName is false)
  • Convert the produced string to lowercase

Vectorizer parameters

Section titled “Vectorizer parameters”

The following examples show how to configure Jina AI-specific options.

Note that dimensions is not applicable for the jina-colbert-v1 model.

Python
from weaviate.classes.config import Configureclient.collections.create(    "DemoCollection",    vector_config=[        Configure.MultiVectors.text2vec_jinaai(            name="title_vector",            source_properties=["title"],            # Further options            # model="jina-colbert-v2",            # dimensions=64,  # e.g. 128, 64 (only applicable for some models)        )    ],    # Additional parameters not shown)
JavaScript/TypeScript
await client.collections.create({
  name: 'DemoCollection',
  vectorizers: [
    weaviate.configure.multiVectors.text2VecJinaAI({
      name: 'title_vector',
      sourceProperties: ['title'],
      // Further options
      // model: "jina-colbert-v2",
      // dimensions: 64,  // e.g. 128, 64 (only applicable for some models)
    })
  ]
})
Go
// Define the collectionjinaColbertFullDef := &models.Class{  Class: "DemoCollection",  VectorConfig: map[string]models.VectorConfig{    "title_vector": {      Vectorizer: map[string]interface{}{        "text2colbert-jinaai": map[string]interface{}{          "properties": []string{"title"},          "model":      "jina-colbert-v2",          "dimensions": 96, // e.g. 128, 64 (only applicable for some models)        },      },    },  },}// add the collectionerr = client.Schema().ClassCreator().WithClass(jinaColbertFullDef).Do(ctx)if err != nil {  panic(err)}

Data import

Section titled “Data import”

After configuring the vectorizer, import data into Weaviate. Weaviate generates embeddings for text objects using the specified model.

Python
source_objects = [    {"title": "The Shawshank Redemption", "description": "A wrongfully imprisoned man forms an inspiring friendship while finding hope and redemption in the darkest of places."},    {"title": "The Godfather", "description": "A powerful mafia family struggles to balance loyalty, power, and betrayal in this iconic crime saga."},    {"title": "The Dark Knight", "description": "Batman faces his greatest challenge as he battles the chaos unleashed by the Joker in Gotham City."},    {"title": "Jingle All the Way", "description": "A desperate father goes to hilarious lengths to secure the season's hottest toy for his son on Christmas Eve."},    {"title": "A Christmas Carol", "description": "A miserly old man is transformed after being visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve in this timeless tale of redemption."}]collection = client.collections.use("DemoCollection")with collection.batch.fixed_size(batch_size=200) as batch:    for src_obj in source_objects:        # The model provider integration will automatically vectorize the object        batch.add_object(            properties={                "title": src_obj["title"],                "description": src_obj["description"],            },            # vector=vector  # Optionally provide a pre-obtained vector        )        if batch.number_errors > 10:            print("Batch import stopped due to excessive errors.")            breakfailed_objects = collection.batch.failed_objectsif failed_objects:    print(f"Number of failed imports: {len(failed_objects)}")    print(f"First failed object: {failed_objects[0]}")
JavaScript/TypeScript
let srcObjects = [
  { title: "The Shawshank Redemption", description: "A wrongfully imprisoned man forms an inspiring friendship while finding hope and redemption in the darkest of places." },
  { title: "The Godfather", description: "A powerful mafia family struggles to balance loyalty, power, and betrayal in this iconic crime saga." },
  { title: "The Dark Knight", description: "Batman faces his greatest challenge as he battles the chaos unleashed by the Joker in Gotham City." },
  { title: "Jingle All the Way", description: "A desperate father goes to hilarious lengths to secure the season's hottest toy for his son on Christmas Eve." },
  { title: "A Christmas Carol", description: "A miserly old man is transformed after being visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve in this timeless tale of redemption." }
];
Go
var sourceObjects = []map[string]string{  {"title": "The Shawshank Redemption", "description": "A wrongfully imprisoned man forms an inspiring friendship while finding hope and redemption in the darkest of places."},  {"title": "The Godfather", "description": "A powerful mafia family struggles to balance loyalty, power, and betrayal in this iconic crime saga."},  {"title": "The Dark Knight", "description": "Batman faces his greatest challenge as he battles the chaos unleashed by the Joker in Gotham City."},  {"title": "Jingle All the Way", "description": "A desperate father goes to hilarious lengths to secure the season's hottest toy for his son on Christmas Eve."},  {"title": "A Christmas Carol", "description": "A miserly old man is transformed after being visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve in this timeless tale of redemption."},}// Convert items into a slice of models.Objectobjects := []models.PropertySchema{}for i := range sourceObjects {  objects = append(objects, map[string]interface{}{    // Populate the object with the data    "title":       sourceObjects[i]["title"],    "description": sourceObjects[i]["description"],  })}// Batch write itemsbatcher := client.Batch().ObjectsBatcher()for _, dataObj := range objects {  batcher.WithObjects(&models.Object{    Class:      "DemoCollection",    Properties: dataObj,  })}// FlushbatchRes, err := batcher.Do(ctx)// Error handlingif err != nil {  panic(err)}for _, res := range batchRes {  if res.Result.Errors != nil {    for _, err := range res.Result.Errors.Error {      if err != nil {        fmt.Printf("Error details: %v\n", *err)        panic(err.Message)      }    }  }}

Searches

Section titled “Searches”

Once the vectorizer is configured, Weaviate will perform vector and hybrid search operations using the specified Jina AI model.

Embedding integration at search illustration

Vector (near text) search

Section titled “Vector (near text) search”

When you perform a vector search, Weaviate converts the text query into an embedding using the specified model and returns the most similar objects from the database.

The query below returns the n most similar objects from the database, set by limit.

Python
collection = client.collections.use("DemoCollection")response = collection.query.near_text(    query="A holiday film",  # The model provider integration will automatically vectorize the query    limit=2)for obj in response.objects:    print(obj.properties["title"])
JavaScript/TypeScript
const collectionName = 'DemoCollection'
const myCollection = client.collections.use(collectionName)
Go
nearTextResponse, err := client.GraphQL().Get().  WithClassName("DemoCollection").  WithFields(    graphql.Field{Name: "title"},  ).  WithNearText(client.GraphQL().NearTextArgBuilder().    WithConcepts([]string{"A holiday film"})).  WithLimit(2).  Do(ctx)if err != nil {  panic(err)}fmt.Printf("%v", nearTextResponse)
Section titled “Hybrid search”

When you perform a hybrid search, Weaviate converts the text query into an embedding using the specified model and returns the best scoring objects from the database.

The query below returns the n best scoring objects from the database, set by limit.

Python
collection = client.collections.use("DemoCollection")response = collection.query.hybrid(    query="A holiday film",  # The model provider integration will automatically vectorize the query    limit=2)for obj in response.objects:    print(obj.properties["title"])
JavaScript/TypeScript
const collectionName = 'DemoCollection'
const myCollection = client.collections.use(collectionName)
Go
hybridResponse, err := client.GraphQL().Get().  WithClassName("DemoCollection").  WithFields(    graphql.Field{Name: "title"},  ).  WithHybrid(client.GraphQL().HybridArgumentBuilder().    WithQuery("A holiday film")).  WithLimit(2).  Do(ctx)if err != nil {  panic(err)}fmt.Printf("%v", hybridResponse)

References

Section titled “References”

Available models

Section titled “Available models”
  • jina-colbert-v2 (server default)
    • By default, Weaviate uses 128 dimensions
  • jina-colbert-v1

Note that dimensions is not applicable for the jina-colbert-v1 model.

Further resources

Section titled “Further resources”

Other integrations

Section titled “Other integrations”

Code examples

Section titled “Code examples”

Once the integrations are configured at the collection, the data management and search operations in Weaviate work identically to any other collection. See the following model-agnostic examples:

External resources

Section titled “External resources”

Questions and feedback

Section titled “Questions and feedback”

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