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RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)

Reviewed 19 July 2026Canonical definitionPart of: Agent Evaluation Terms →

An architecture pattern where an AI agent retrieves relevant information from external knowledge sources before generating a response. Requires careful access control to ensure the agent only retrieves data it is authorized to see.

§01 / QUESTIONSterm: RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)
Questions

Common questions.

What is RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)?

An architecture pattern where an AI agent retrieves relevant information from external knowledge sources before generating a response.

How does RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) work?

Requires careful access control to ensure the agent only retrieves data it is authorized to see.

Which terms are related to RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)?

Closely related concepts include Answer Faithfulness, Retrieval Poisoning, Agentic RAG, Continuous Integration Agent. Each is defined in the Prefactor glossary.

§02 / RELATEDnext: where this fits
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Where this fits.

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