# ADR-0026: First-class retrieval pipeline identity

## Status

Accepted — 2026-08-25.

## Decision

Identity covers embedding space, sparse/fusion digests, optional reranker deployment/configuration
and candidate/output K. Embedding-only and reranked configurations are distinct immutable domain
objects.

## Consequences

Advisor and UI can compare pipeline behavior without conflating it with an embedding deployment.
Reranker addition is behavioral; embedding replacement requires reindexing.