> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ragrails.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Vector Databases

> Supported vector database providers and the names to use in SDK, CLI, and REST calls.

Ragrails stores embedded chunks in a vector database. Use the same provider, collection, and URL when you store, retrieve, query, or chat over the same knowledge base.

## Supported Providers

| Provider     | Use this value | Install extra                                      | Default URL             | Default collection | Notes                                                 |
| ------------ | -------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------- | ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| Qdrant local | `qdrant`       | `ragrails[qdrant]` or `ragrails[store-qdrant]`     | `http://localhost:6333` | `rag_chunks`       | Good local default and quickstart path                |
| Qdrant Cloud | `qdrant_cloud` | `ragrails[qdrant]` or `ragrails[store-qdrant]`     | none                    | `rag_chunks`       | Set `url` to your cloud endpoint and `QDRANT_API_KEY` |
| Pinecone     | `pinecone`     | `ragrails[pinecone]` or `ragrails[store-pinecone]` | none                    | `rag-chunks`       | Uses `PINECONE_API_KEY`                               |
| Weaviate     | `weaviate`     | `ragrails[weaviate]` or `ragrails[store-weaviate]` | `http://localhost:8080` | `RagChunks`        | Works with local or hosted Weaviate                   |

## Where The Name Goes

<CodeGroup>
  ```python SDK theme={null}
  from ragrails import RagRails

  rag = RagRails(
      collection="support",
      vector_store={"provider": "qdrant", "url": "http://localhost:6333"},
  )
  ```

  ```bash CLI theme={null}
  ragrails query "refund policy" \
    --vector-db qdrant \
    --collection support \
    --url http://localhost:6333
  ```

  ```json REST API theme={null}
  {
    "vector_db": "qdrant",
    "collection": "support",
    "url": "http://localhost:6333"
  }
  ```
</CodeGroup>

<Note>The SDK constructor uses `vector_store={"provider": ...}`. CLI and REST use `vector_db` for the same provider name.</Note>

## Local Qdrant

The quickstarts use local Qdrant because it is easy to run in Docker:

```bash theme={null}
docker run -p 6333:6333 qdrant/qdrant
```

Use this target in examples:

```text theme={null}
provider: qdrant
url: http://localhost:6333
collection: support
```

## Cloud Providers

Cloud vector databases usually require an API key in the environment plus provider-specific setup in the hosted service.

| Provider     | Environment variable |
| ------------ | -------------------- |
| Qdrant Cloud | `QDRANT_API_KEY`     |
| Pinecone     | `PINECONE_API_KEY`   |
| Weaviate     | `WEAVIATE_API_KEY`   |

<Note>Keep API keys in environment variables, not in `.ragrails.toml` or request examples.</Note>

## Related Pages

* [Installation](/getting-started/installation)
* [Configuration](/getting-started/configuration)
* [Storing](/features/storing)
* [SDK storing](/usage/sdk/storing)
* [REST storing](/usage/server/storing)