apps/docs/concepts/how-it-works.mdx
Supermemory isn't just another document storage system. It's designed to mirror how human memory actually works - forming connections, evolving over time, and generating insights from accumulated knowledge.
Traditional systems store files. Supermemory creates a living knowledge graph.
<CardGroup cols={2}> <Card title="Traditional Systems" icon="folder"> - Static files in folders - No connections between content - Search matches keywords - Information stays frozen </Card> <Card title="Supermemory" icon="network"> - Dynamic knowledge graph - Rich relationships between memories - Semantic understanding - Information evolves and connects </Card> </CardGroup>Understanding this distinction is crucial to using Supermemory effectively.
Documents are what you provide - the raw materials:
Think of documents as books you hand to Supermemory. See Content Types for the full list of supported formats.
Memories are what Supermemory creates - the understanding:
Think of memories as the insights and connections your brain makes after reading those books.
<Note> **Key Insight**: When you upload a 50-page PDF, Supermemory doesn't just store it. It breaks it into hundreds of interconnected memories, each understanding its context and relationships to your other knowledge. </Note>The graph connects memories through three types of relationships. For a deeper dive into how these relationships work, see Graph Memory.
When new information contradicts or updates existing knowledge, Supermemory creates an "update" relationship.
<CodeGroup> ```text Original Memory "You work at Supermemory as a content engineer" ```"You now work at Supermemory as the CMO"
The system tracks which memory is latest with an isLatest field, ensuring searches return current information.
When new information adds to existing knowledge without replacing it, Supermemory creates an "extends" relationship.
Continuing our "working at supermemory" analogy, a memory about what you work on would extend the memory about your role given above.
<CodeGroup> ```text Original Memory "You work at Supermemory as the CMO" ```"Your work consists of ensuring the docs are up to date, making marketing campaigns, SEO, etc."
Both memories remain valid and searchable, providing richer context.
The most sophisticated relationship - when Supermemory infers new connections from patterns in your knowledge.
<CodeGroup> ```text Memory 1 "Dhravya is the founder of Supermemory" ```"Dhravya frequently discusses AI and machine learning innovations"
"Supermemory is likely an AI-focused company"
These inferences help surface insights you might not have explicitly stated.
Understanding the pipeline helps you optimize your usage:
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Queued | Document waiting to process |
| Extracting | Content being extracted |
| Chunking | Creating memory chunks |
| Embedding | Generating vectors |
| Indexing | Building relationships |
| Done | Fully searchable |
Now that you understand how Supermemory works:
<CardGroup cols={2}> <Card title="Add Memories" icon="plus" href="/add-memories"> Start adding content to your knowledge graph </Card> <Card title="Search Memories" icon="search" href="/search"> Learn to query your knowledge effectively </Card> </CardGroup>