# Chroma

Open-source embedding database for AI applications.

- Repository: https://github.com/Orchestra-Research/AI-Research-SKILLs (14176 stars)
- Category: Data and ML
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-10-11
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add Orchestra-Research/AI-Research-SKILLs --skill chroma -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add Orchestra-Research/AI-Research-SKILLs --skill chroma -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add Orchestra-Research/AI-Research-SKILLs --skill chroma -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add Orchestra-Research/AI-Research-SKILLs --skill chroma -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add Orchestra-Research/AI-Research-SKILLs`

## Description

Open-source embedding database for AI applications. Store embeddings and metadata, perform vector and full-text search, filter by metadata. Simple 4-function API. Scales from notebooks to production clusters. Use for semantic search, RAG applications, or document retrieval. Best for local development and open-source projects.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Chroma - Open-Source Embedding Database

The AI-native database for building LLM applications with memory.

## When to use Chroma

**Use Chroma when:**
- Building RAG (retrieval-augmented generation) applications
- Need local/self-hosted vector database
- Want open-source solution (Apache 2.0)
- Prototyping in notebooks
- Semantic search over documents
- Storing embeddings with metadata

**Metrics**:
- **24,300+ GitHub stars**
- **1,900+ forks**
- **v1.3.3** (stable, weekly releases)
- **Apache 2.0 license**

**Use alternatives instead**:
- **Pinecone**: Managed cloud, auto-scaling
- **FAISS**: Pure similarity search, no metadata
- **Weaviate**: Production ML-native database
- **Qdrant**: High performance, Rust-based

## Quick start

### Installation

```bash
# Python
pip install chromadb

# JavaScript/TypeScript
npm install chromadb @chroma-core/default-embed
```

### Basic usage (Python)

```python
import chromadb

# Create client
client = chromadb.Client()

# Create collection
collection = client.create_collection(name="my_collection")

# Add documents
collection.add(
    documents=["This is document 1", "This is document 2"],
    metadatas=[{"source": "doc1"}, {"source": "doc2"}],
    ids=["id1", "id2"]
)

# Query
results = collection.query(
    query_texts=["document about topic"],
    n_results=2
)

print(results)
```

## Core operations

### 1. Create collection

```python
# Simple collection
collection = client.create_collection("my_docs")

# With custom embedding function
from chromadb.utils import embedding_functions

openai_ef = embedding_functions.OpenAIEmbeddingFunction(
    api_key="your-key",
    model_name="text-embedding-3-small"
)

collection = client.create_collection(
    name="my_docs",
    embedding_function=openai_ef
)

# Get existing collection
collection = client.get_collection("my_docs")

# Delete collection
client.delete_collection("my_docs")
```

### 2. Add documents

The rest: https://github.com/Orchestra-Research/AI-Research-SKILLs/blob/HEAD/15-rag/chroma/SKILL.md