Federated search is a method of searching across multiple, heterogeneous data sources simultaneously and aggregating the results in a unified manner. Unlike traditional search, which pulls data from a single repository, federated search queries multiple systems, databases, or platforms and presents a consolidated result to the user.
For example, in an academic setting, federated search might allow users to query various digital libraries, journals, and databases at once, providing a broad spectrum of relevant articles, even though the data resides in different systems. Federated search is often used in enterprise environments, where companies need to search across diverse sources like internal databases, cloud storage, and external platforms.
Federated search systems typically involve components like data connectors, which interface with each data source, and a query processor, which aggregates the results. The challenge lies in efficiently managing different data formats, sources, and retrieval methods while maintaining speed and accuracy in delivering results.