---
title: The Semantic Kernel Vector Store data architecture (Preview)
description: Defines the data architecture for Semantic Kernel, including the relationship between vector stores, collections and records.
zone_pivot_groups: programming-languages
author: westey-m
ms.topic: conceptual
ms.author: westey
ms.date: 07/08/2024
ms.service: semantic-kernel
---
# The Semantic Kernel Vector Store data architecture (Preview)

::: zone pivot="programming-language-csharp"

::: zone-end
::: zone pivot="programming-language-python"

> [!WARNING]
> The Semantic Kernel Vector Store functionality is in preview, and improvements that require breaking changes may still occur in limited circumstances before release.

::: zone-end
::: zone pivot="programming-language-java"

> [!WARNING]
> The Semantic Kernel Vector Store functionality is in preview, and improvements that require breaking changes may still occur in limited circumstances before release.

::: zone-end

Vector Store abstractions in Semantic Kernel are based on three main components: **vector stores**, **collections** and **records**.
**Records** are contained by **collections**, and **collections** are contained by **vector stores**.

- A **vector store** maps to an instance of a database
- A **collection** is a collection of **records** including any index required to query or filter those **records**
- A **record** is an individual data entry in the database

## Collections in different databases

The underlying implementation of what a collection is, will vary by connector and is influenced by how each database groups and indexes records.
Most databases have a concept of a collection of records and there is a natural mapping between this concept and the Vector Store abstraction collection.
Note that this concept may not always be referred to as a `collection` in the underlying database.

> [!TIP]
> For more information on what the underlying implementation of a collection is per connector, refer to [the documentation for each connector](./out-of-the-box-connectors/index.md).