Indexing and searching text with Lucene
Smart Search
Even state-of-the-art computers need to use clever methods to process ever-increasing amounts of document data. The open source Lucene framework uses inverted indexing for fast searches of document collections.
Nowadays, almost any commercially available hard drive can store more text than a whole library. In the digital world, a traditional system such as a card catalog or a knowledgeable librarian is no longer adequate to help find the right shelf. Even software equivalents such as find or zgrep are not always fast enough to track a particular piece of information amongst giga- or terabytes of data.
The science that deals with this type of search problem is called information retrieval. Computer scientists have developed sophisticated methods for tracking down files that users don’t even know exist. The free Java library Lucene implements some of these methods. Doug Cutting published an early version of Lucene in 1999. Two years later, the project, which carries the middle name of Cutting’s wife, came under the auspices of the Apache Foundation when it joined the Apache Jakarta Project. Lucene has been available in Version 4.0 since October 2012. The index file structures are backward compatible, so the transition from 3.6 to 4.0 does not cause any problems. Over the years, Lucene has become one of the most widely used solutions for indexing and searching text. (See the box titled “Lucene In All Its Facets.”)
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Endless OS 6 has Arrived
After more than a year since the last update, the latest release of Endless OS is now available for general usage.
-
Fedora Asahi 40 Remix Available for Macs with Apple Silicon
If you've been anticipating KDE's Plasma 6 for your Apple Silicon-powered Mac, then you're in luck.
-
Red Hat Adds New Deployment Option for Enterprise Linux Platforms
Red Hat has re-imagined enterprise Linux for an AI future with Image Mode.
-
OSJH and LPI Release 2024 Open Source Pros Job Survey Results
See what open source professionals look for in a new role.
-
Proton 9.0-1 Released to Improve Gaming with Steam
The latest release of Proton 9 adds several improvements and fixes an issue that has been problematic for Linux users.
-
So Long Neofetch and Thanks for the Info
Today is a day that every Linux user who enjoys bragging about their system(s) will mourn, as Neofetch has come to an end.
-
Ubuntu 24.04 Comes with a “Flaw"
If you're thinking you might want to upgrade from your current Ubuntu release to the latest, there's something you might want to consider before doing so.
-
Canonical Releases Ubuntu 24.04
After a brief pause because of the XZ vulnerability, Ubuntu 24.04 is now available for install.
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.