Query Fan-Out

Query fan-out is a retrieval technique used by answer engines and LLMs to break down a single, complex user prompt into multiple, distinct sub-queries.

What is query fan-out?

Query fan-out is a retrieval technique used by AI search engines and LLMs to break down a single, complex user prompt into multiple, distinct sub-queries. Instead of relying on a straightforward keyword match, the system runs these sub-queries in parallel to gather information from various perspectives simultaneously.

This process allows the AI to fan out the user's intent, searching for related context like pricing, reviews, or technical specs, before synthesizing the results into one comprehensive answer. Think of it as an automated research assistant that anticipates the follow-up questions a user might have and answers them all in the initial response to reduce ambiguity and hallucination.

Learn more: For a comprehensive look at the query fan-out, how it works, and why it’s critical for marketers, explore our guide to query fan-out.