Chroma is the leading open-source vector database designed from the ground up for AI applications, with over 40,000 GitHub stars and adoption by thousands of developers worldwide. Unlike traditional databases retrofitted for embeddings, Chroma was purpose-built to make working with vector embeddings feel as natural as working with regular data. Get started with just three lines of Python code—no complex configuration, no infrastructure setup, no DevOps headaches. The platform handles embedding generation automatically using your choice of models including OpenAI, Cohere, Sentence Transformers, Hugging Face, or custom embedding functions, eliminating the need to manually convert text to vectors. Store documents, images, and code alongside their vector embeddings, and query using natural language to find semantically similar content based on meaning rather than keyword matching. Chroma excels at building RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) systems where you retrieve relevant context from your knowledge base to augment LLM prompts, dramatically improving answer accuracy and reducing hallucinations. The in-memory mode enables rapid prototyping and testing with instant startup and query responses, while persistent storage mode provides production-ready durability without code changes. Advanced filtering combines semantic search with traditional metadata queries, enabling complex searches like 'find documents similar to this about pricing published after January 2024.' Multi-modal support handles text, images, and code embeddings in a unified interface. Native integrations with LangChain, LlamaIndex, and major AI frameworks mean drop-in compatibility with existing AI development workflows. The platform supports hybrid search combining vector similarity with BM25 keyword matching for optimal retrieval accuracy. Client libraries available for Python and JavaScript enable deployment in both backend services and frontend applications. Chroma Cloud provides a managed, serverless deployment option with automatic scaling, enterprise security, and zero maintenance for teams wanting production infrastructure without operational overhead.