Definition
Query rewriting is when a search engine or AI system changes a user’s original question into one or more clearer versions before looking for answers. It might fix spelling, add missing context, swap in synonyms, or split a broad question into several focused ones. The goal is to match the user’s real intent rather than just their exact words.
Use Cases
Query rewriting is used to handle vague, misspelled, or conversational questions, and to expand one question into the several sub questions an AI needs to build a full answer. This is what lets a single question like “best way to speed up my site” return results that cover many specific fixes.
Why It Matters for SEO
Query rewriting matters for SEO because pages no longer compete for one exact phrase, but for the rewritten and expanded versions a system creates. This is closely tied to query understanding and to retrieval augmented generation, which fetches sources for each sub question. Content that answers clear, specific questions tends to get picked up across more of these rewrites.
Related Concepts
Related concepts include query understanding, query fan out, and AI answer inclusion. They all describe how modern search turns one question into many and gathers the best sources for each.