Definition · foundations
search traversal
search traversal is the order and method used to visit options in a search tree or graph. You can spot search traversal in practice when the record shows what the system observes, what choice it makes, and what changes next, without asking the reader to guess or trust a slogan.
157 definitions656 sourced recordsNamed source: ACL Anthology
Why does search traversal matter?
Traversal sets which paths a search follows and when it stops. That choice shapes cost and coverage. For search traversal, start with three checks: What can the system observe? What choice can it make? What changes after it acts? The answers should point to visible evidence, not a promise.
What does search traversal look like?
An agent follows links two levels deep, skips repeats, and stops after it finds three primary sources. This example makes search traversal visible by naming the actor, the action, and the result in practice. It is an illustration for readers, not a claim that every product behaves this way.
What is search traversal easy to confuse with?
Search traversal moves through a search space. Retrieval selects items from a store or index. The closest entries here are search graph, search tree, active RAG. Compare their definitions with search traversal before using the names as if they mean the same thing. That comparison keeps search traversal separate from nearby ideas without pretending the boundary is always perfect.
How certain is this definition?
This definition is marked source checked because ACL Anthology supports its main points. The date shows when we last read that source. If you are making a purchase, policy, safety, or design decision, open the source first and make sure its limits fit the decision in front of you.
Who introduced the term search traversal?
The source shows how search traversal is used, but it does not prove who said it first. We name an origin only when a dated, direct record supports it. If that record is missing, we leave the question open instead of repeating a popular story as fact.
What should you understand before search traversal?
Read artificial intelligence (AI) first when search traversal depends on a more basic idea or mechanism. The link gives you a useful route through the glossary. It does not mean every author teaches the subject in this order, so follow the source when the sequence matters.
What should this term help you answer?
Use search traversal to ask what an agent can observe, decide, change, remember, or hand off. The questions below turn the definition into a practical check. They are prompts for your own work, not claims made by the source, so change them to fit the system you are examining.
- What can the system observe?
- What choice can it make?
- What changes after it acts?
Which source supports this definition of search traversal?
ACL Anthology supports this working definition of search traversal. We checked the link on 2026-07-12. Open the original record for its context, methods, limits, and publication details. The short explanation here is a guide to search traversal; the linked source remains the evidence to inspect when the wording or boundary matters.
direct supportsearch traversalChecked 2026-07-12→