Create Vector Stores

Vector Stores are AI-powered search indexes that organize your files for semantic search. Choose the right configuration for your use case, from temporary development environments to public knowledge bases.

Basic Creation

Create a new Vector Store with default settings:

When you create a Vector Store, you get a Vector Store object with a unique ID (UUID). You can use either the ID or the name you provide as Vector Store identifiers in all operations.

For complete details on the Vector Store object structure, see Data Models.

Configuration Options

Name (Vector Store Identifier)

The Vector Store name serves as both a human-readable identifier and works exactly like the Vector Store ID. Both are Vector Store identifiers that can be used interchangeably in all operations.

Name Properties:

Must be unique within your organization
Can be updated at any time
Both name and Vector Store ID work as vector_store_identifiers

Expiration Policies

Set automatic cleanup policies to manage Vector Store lifecycle based on activity:

Expiration Behavior:

last_active_at - Activity-based expiration

Timer resets on:
- add files
- delete files
- search operations
Best for: Development environments, temporary projects, demos

Default Behavior:

Vector stores never expire if expires_after is not set
No automatic cleanup unless explicitly configured

Example Use Cases:

Development: Set 7-day expiration for testing environments
Demos: Set 30-day expiration for temporary showcases
Production: No expiration for permanent knowledge bases

Public Access

Control read access to your Vector Store:

Access Levels:

Public (is_public=True)

Other Mixedbread users can search your Vector Store
Great for sharing documentation, FAQs, or knowledge bases
Billing: Search costs are paid by the person searching (they need an API key)
Use cases: Product docs, help centers, research papers

Private (is_public=False)