> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://algolia.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Real-time personalization and historical personalization

<Callout icon="flask-conical" color="#14b8a6">
  This is a **beta feature** according to [Algolia's Terms of Service ("Beta Services")](https://www.algolia.com/policies/terms/).
</Callout>

Modern personalization combines historical insights with real-time adaptability to create intelligent experiences that:

* Recognize individual user preferences across time
* Respond to immediate user intent
* Provide contextually relevant results instantly
* Evolve with continued user interaction

## Two complementary approaches

By combining historical and real-time personalization approaches,
you can transform your search experience from a static tool into a dynamic system that drives engagement and conversion at every stage of the user journey.

### Historical personalization

Historical personalization builds a comprehensive understanding of users over time by analyzing patterns across multiple sessions.

**Key characteristics:**

* Creates persistent user profiles based on long-term behavior
* Reveals established preferences and interests
* Increases in value as users return and generate more data
* Enables predictive search results based on historical patterns

**Best for:** returning users with established interaction history

**Example:** an ecommerce platform surfacing products similar to what a user has purchased in previous months, reflecting their consistent style preferences.

### Real-time personalization

Real-time personalization captures and responds to a user's immediate context and goals within a single visit,
adapting in real-time to their current needs.

**Key characteristics:**

* Analyzes behavior within the current session only
* Adapts search results based on immediate actions
* Works for first-time visitors with no previous history
* Responds quickly to shifting user intent

**Best for:** all users, including first-time visitors

**Example:** a content website adapting search results based on topics the user has viewed in the last few minutes, even if they've never visited before.

## Strategic comparison

| Aspect                        | Historical personalization               | Real-time personalization                    |
| ----------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| **User coverage**             | Returning users with history             | All users, including first-time visitors     |
| **Data timeline**             | Hours or days of interaction             | Seconds or minutes within current session    |
| **Implementation complexity** | Requires user identification system      | Works without persistent user identification |
| **Response to change**        | Gradually adapts to evolving preferences | Immediately responds to current needs        |
| **Personalization depth**     | Rich, based on established patterns      | Focused on immediate context and intent      |

<Note>
  Real-time personalization will activate only for new users,
  while historical personalization will apply for returning users.
</Note>

## Maximize impact through combined approaches

The most effective personalization strategies take advantage of both approaches:

* **Use real-time personalization** to provide immediate value to all users
* **Layer historical personalization** for returning users to deepen relevance
* **Create a continuous experience** that bridges individual sessions
* **Balance immediate context** with long-term user understanding

By implementing both approaches, you create a comprehensive personalization strategy that serves users at every stage of their relationship with your platform.

## How Advanced Personalization combines both approaches

By default, Advanced Personalization supports historical personalization.
[Activate real-time personalization](/doc/guides/personalization/advanced-personalization/configure/setup/enable-real-time-personalization)
to enhance and complement the historical approach.