Boolean retrieval works by using a simple logic model where documents are retrieved based on boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) applied to query terms. This model considers each term as a keyword, and the search results depend on the presence or absence of these terms in the documents.
For example, if a user searches for "machine learning AND AI," the system will return only those documents that contain both terms. If the query is "machine learning OR AI," documents containing either term will be retrieved. Boolean retrieval does not rank results based on relevance but rather includes documents that match the query conditions.
While Boolean retrieval is effective for exact matching, it is limited by its simplicity. It does not account for the semantic meaning of the terms or the importance of specific terms, making it less suitable for complex or ambiguous queries. Modern IR systems often combine Boolean retrieval with other techniques like term weighting for better precision and relevance.