Efficiently processing vector queries, with query vectors and filters, against vector indexes

One or more non-transitory storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause:

• receiving a vector query that includes a query vector and a predicate on a non-vector column of a base table that stores a plurality of vectors;
• in response to receiving the vector query and while traversing a vector index, that is based on the plurality of vectors:
• based on the query vector, identifying a set of candidate vectors;
• for each candidate vector in the set of candidate vectors:
• identifying, in the vector index, a value, associated with said each candidate vector, for the non-vector column, and
• determining whether the value satisfies the predicate;
• and
• selecting a strict subset, of the set of candidate vectors, whose values for the non-vector column satisfy the predicate;
• for each candidate vector in the strict subset, computing a vector distance between the query vector and said each candidate vector;
• determining a result of the vector query based on vector distances computed for the candidate vectors in the strict subset.

A system comprising:

• one or more computing devices;
• one or more non-transitory storage media storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more computing devices, cause:
• receiving a vector query that includes a query vector and a predicate on a non-vector column of a base table that stores a plurality of vectors;
• in response to receiving the vector query and while traversing a vector index, that is based on the plurality of vectors:
• based on the query vector, identifying a set of candidate vectors;
• for each candidate vector in the set of candidate vectors:
• identifying, in the vector index, a value, associated with said each candidate vector, for the non-vector column, and
• determining whether the value satisfies the predicate;
• and
• selecting a strict subset, of the set of candidate vectors, whose values for the non-vector column satisfy the predicate;
• for each candidate vector in the strict subset, computing a vector distance between the query vector and said each candidate vector;
• determining a result of the vector query based on vector distances computed for the candidate vectors in the strict subset.