---
title: "Manage collections"
description: "Use the following guides for detailed instructions and concepts related to specific Weaviate features. Learn how to perform basic collection operations, configure vectorizers, integrate models, implement multi-tenancy or multi-node setups, migrate data, and manage cross-references."
url: https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections
---

# Manage collections

Use the following guides for detailed instructions and concepts related to specific Weaviate features. Learn how to perform basic collection operations, configure vectorizers, integrate models, implement multi-tenancy or multi-node setups, migrate data, and manage cross-references.

Not every setting can be changed after a collection exists. For what you can change, and what needs a new collection, see [Collection definition: Mutability](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/config-refs/collections#mutability).



[Basic collection operations (CRUD)](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections/collection-operations): Learn how to create, read, update, and delete collections.

[Vectorizer and vector settings](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections/vector-config): Configure a vectorizer (embedding model), vector indexing parameters, and related settings.

[Inverted index](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections/inverted-index): Configure the inverted index for efficient keyword searches and filtering.

[Generative and reranker models](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections/generative-reranker-models): Integrate Weaviate with various model providers like OpenAI, Hugging Face, Cohere, etc.

[Multi-tenancy](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections/multi-tenancy): Isolate data for different tenants within a single Weaviate instance.

[Multi-node setup](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections/multi-node-setup): Set up and configure Weaviate for high availability and scalability across multiple nodes.

[Collection aliases](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections/collection-aliases): Use aliases to switch between collections without changing your application code.

[Time to live](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections/time-to-live): Set a time-to-live (TTL) for objects to automatically expire and be deleted.

[Migrate collections](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections/migrate): Learn strategies and steps for migrating your data schemas and objects.

[Cross-references](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections/cross-references): Define, manage, and query relationships between objects.



## How collections work

A Weaviate collection is defined by several core components and settings that enable data storage and vector search. Key elements include:

- **Objects**:
  - The fundamental units stored within a collection. Each object contains data properties and includes vector embeddings representing its meaning. (See the ['How-to: Manage objects' guide](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-objects) for more details on manipulating objects).

- **AI Model Integrations**:

  - **[Vectorizers (Embedding Models)](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections/vector-config)**: Generate vector embeddings from object properties to enable semantic search.
  - **[Generative models](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections/generative-reranker-models)**: Used to perform RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation), combining retrieved data with generative AI capabilities.
  - **[Reranker models](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections/generative-reranker-models)**: Refine search relevance by re-ordering the initial results from a search query.

- **Configuration Settings**:

  - **[Vector index](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections/vector-config#set-vector-index-type)**: The vector index is used to speed up vector searches.
  - **[Inverted index](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections/inverted-index)**: Optimizes keyword searches by indexing textual object properties for faster lookups.
  - **[Multi-tenancy](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections/multi-tenancy)**: Enables securely storing data for multiple distinct tenants (users or groups) within the same collection instance.
  - **[Aliases](https://docs.weaviate.io/weaviate/manage-collections/collection-aliases)**: Use aliases to re-point to different collections without changing your application code.

![Collections in Weaviate](https://docs.weaviate.io/assets/images/weaviate-collections-simplified-a3dc43546e641e170a0a52f4fd78278b.png)