Annoy uses multiple random projection trees and a priority queue-based search to efficiently find approximate nearest neighbors. The core data structure is a forest of binary trees, where each tree is built by recursively splitting the dataset using random hyperplanes. During tree construction, Annoy selects two random points, computes the hyperplane equidistant to them, and partitions the data into left/child nodes based on their position relative to this hyperplane. This process repeats until nodes reach a predefined size. By building multiple trees (e.g., 50 or 100), Annoy creates diverse partitions of the data, reducing the risk of poor splits in any single tree affecting query results. The priority queue then aggregates and refines candidate neighbors from traversed nodes across all trees.
The random projection trees contribute to efficiency by narrowing the search space. For example, in a high-dimensional dataset like image embeddings, a single tree might split the space along a hyperplane that separates “cat” and “dog” features. Another tree might split based on color or texture. During a query, Annoy traverses each tree to the leaf node closest to the query point, collecting candidate neighbors from these nodes. The randomness ensures that each tree provides a different “view” of the data, increasing the likelihood of capturing true neighbors. The priority queue dynamically maintains the top candidates during traversal, avoiding unnecessary comparisons with distant points. This combination of parallel tree traversals and candidate aggregation balances exploration (checking diverse regions) and exploitation (focusing on promising candidates).
These strategies directly impact query performance in two ways. First, the use of multiple trees reduces variance: even if one tree’s hyperplanes poorly align with the query, others compensate. For instance, if a user searches for a “red car” in a dataset, some trees might prioritize color-based splits, while others focus on shape, ensuring relevant candidates are found. Second, the priority queue minimizes computational overhead by limiting exact distance calculations to a small subset of candidates. Annoy also allows tuning the number of trees and search depth, letting users trade off between speed (fewer trees, shallower searches) and accuracy (more trees, deeper searches). This flexibility makes it suitable for applications like recommendation systems, where fast responses are critical, but missing relevant items can degrade user experience.