Vector databases are a type of database that stores and processes data in a high-dimensional vector space, enabling similarity and nearest-neighbor search patterns. They offer a different approach to representing data than traditional relational databases, which can handle transactions and flexible schemas. Vector databases are particularly useful for applications such as recommendation systems, image and video recognition, anomaly detection, bioinformatics, and natural language processing. However, they also come with challenges, including increased costs, efforts, and skills required, as well as security concerns. Specialty vector databases have been developed to address these challenges, but using a general-purpose multi-model database can be a more cost-effective solution. As the use of generative AI and natural language processing continues to grow, applications that require semantic search capabilities will become increasingly important, making it essential to adopt a suitable database solution early on.