# Relevance Options

Relevance modifiers change the importance of fields, based on keyword matches.

{% hint style="info" %}
The relevance formula is different for every configuration, it depends on a lot of variables. The reasons on how and why it works a certain way is out of the scope of this documentation.
{% endhint %}

## Relevance weight values

Depending if you are using the Regular (default) or Index [table engine](https://documentation.ajaxsearchpro.com/index-table), the corresponding panel will be visible under the Relevance Options.

{% hint style="info" %}
Using the [index table](https://documentation.ajaxsearchpro.com/index-table) engine is beneficial for most setups, as the **keyword occurence count** (how many times the phrase was found in specific field) is also considered. This is a huge advanted agains the regular engine, where this is not possible.
{% endhint %}

![Relevance for the regular engine](https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2F-M2i5TEyzxF21Al6ko6W%2F-M2i6kybdX4naySzcW9Z%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=df9a6fe6-cc47-437b-81cb-782b9d667ff0)

![](https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2F-M2i5TEyzxF21Al6ko6W%2F-M2i6v-Tcgu2nUeMpRYy%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=fd5fe0c8-f2a0-49a2-99fe-9f39e8e892c7)

### Exact match vs. Non-exact match relevance

Exact match relevance is calculated without examining each word in the phrase, only checking the exact phrase for occurences. Non-exact match relevance is the opposite, where each word is checked separately.

### How should you choose the relevance values?

For most cases the default configuration is perfectly fine. Please check the table below for different cases.

#### Category, tag or any other taxonomy match should be the most relevant

| Engine             | Title weight | Content weight | Excerpt weight | Terms weight | Custom f. weight | Author weight |
| ------------------ | ------------ | -------------- | -------------- | ------------ | ---------------- | ------------- |
| Regular engine     | <=5          | <=5            | <=5            | **10**       | <=2              | N/A           |
| Index Table engine | <=20         | <=20           | <=10           | >=**200**    | <=10             | <=10          |

#### A custom field value should be the most important

| Engine             | Title weight | Content weight | Excerpt weight | Terms weight | Custom f. weight | Author weight |
| ------------------ | ------------ | -------------- | -------------- | ------------ | ---------------- | ------------- |
| Regular engine     | <=5          | <=5            | <=5            | <=5          | **10**           | N/A           |
| Index Table engine | <=20         | <=20           | <=10           | <=10         | **>=200**        | <=10          |

If more than one field is much more important, then make sure to set them both to higher values.