Definition
The process of condensing long-form retrieved context or agentic conversation history into a semantically dense representation to stay within LLM context window limits and reduce noise. It involves a trade-off between computational overhead (the cost of the summarization step) and the preservation of granular details required for downstream reasoning.
In RAG, summarization is a context-management strategy, not a final creative output task.
"A high-pressure trash compactor that shrinks bulky cargo into dense, lightweight fuel pellets to fit inside a small rocket cabin."
- Context Window(Prerequisite)
- Map-Reduce(Component)
- Lost in the Middle(Component)
- Recursive Character Text Splitter(Prerequisite)
Conceptual Overview
The process of condensing long-form retrieved context or agentic conversation history into a semantically dense representation to stay within LLM context window limits and reduce noise. It involves a trade-off between computational overhead (the cost of the summarization step) and the preservation of granular details required for downstream reasoning.
Disambiguation
In RAG, summarization is a context-management strategy, not a final creative output task.
Visual Analog
A high-pressure trash compactor that shrinks bulky cargo into dense, lightweight fuel pellets to fit inside a small rocket cabin.