Menu
Concepts

Grounding

3 min readbeginnerUpdated 28 Sept 2026
1 · In one line

Grounding gives a model relevant source material and asks it to base its response on that evidence.

1 · What it is

A grounding system connects a model to a data source. Search that source and return relevant snippets. Give the question and snippets to the model as its source of truth.

Retrieval-augmented generation is a commonly used grounding technique. Return the answer with links that let a reader inspect the sources. Grounding metadata can link specific generated segments to verifiable sources.

Grounding does not help when the selected sources are inaccurate or incomplete. With Google Search grounding, missing grounding metadata means the prompt response is not grounded. Grounding detection checks whether a response is based on supplied source material.

2 · Why it exists

Grounded responses can link generated text to verifiable sources.

Unsupported claimsA response can differ from the source material it was meant to use.
Missing contextA model needs the specific information required for the question.
Weak traceabilityCitations let a reader reference the original source and check accuracy.
3 · How it works

Put retrieved evidence beside the question before generation.

The answer is grounded in the snippets supplied for this request.
  1. 1 · askStart with a question that needs information from a defined source.
  2. 2 · retrieveSearch that source and return relevant snippets.
  3. 3 · groundGive the question and snippets to the model as its source of truth.
  4. 4 · citeReturn the answer with links that let a reader inspect the sources.

Retrieval-augmented generation is a commonly used grounding technique.

4 · Where it's used
WhoWhat they askWhat it works with
Support team“What does the current return policy permit?”The approved policy pages
Product analyst“Which release introduced this setting?”Official release notes
Research assistant“Which passage supports this summary?”The supplied papers
5 · What it solves, and what it doesn't
solves
  • Grounding anchors a response to verifiable information.
  • Retrieval can bring relevant source snippets into the request.
  • Grounding metadata can link specific generated segments to verifiable sources.
doesn't solve
  • Grounding does not help when the selected sources are inaccurate or incomplete.
  • With Google Search grounding, missing grounding metadata means the prompt response is not grounded.
  • Grounding detection checks whether a response is based on supplied source material.
6 · Go deeper
RAGHallucinationGround truthContextual retrievalHuman evaluation

Sources used

This explainer is written in original language. The links below support its factual claims.

  1. docsDevelop a generative AI application, Google Cloud · read 28 Sept 2026
  2. docsGrounding with your search API, Google Cloud · read 28 Sept 2026
  3. docsGrounding with Google Search, Google Cloud · read 28 Sept 2026
  4. docsGroundedness detection, Microsoft · read 28 Sept 2026
  5. docsRetrieve data and generate AI responses with Amazon Bedrock Knowledge Bases, Amazon Web Services · read 28 Sept 2026
Suggest a correction