# Fetch Similar

It is often required to get similar samples to a given selection to complete an analysis, or test an hypothesis within the platform. For instance, if a subset of the reviewed samples is consistently failing and appears to share a common characteristic - such as a specific lighting condition or the presence of a particular object -retrieving similar samples can help validate whether that characteristic is indeed contributing to the failures. 

The "Fetch Similar" provides similar samples to selected samples [from the population exploration](https://docs.tensorleap.ai/user-interface/project/dashlets/population-exploration#selecting-and-reviewing-samples) or the [sample analysis](https://docs.tensorleap.ai/user-interface/project/dashboards/dashlets/sample-analysis). The similar samples could be taken from a slice of the data, defined by [filters](https://docs.tensorleap.ai/user-interface/project/dashboards/dashboard-actions/dashboard-filtering). 

### Fetch similar from population exploration

<figure><img src="https://3509361326-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F9UXeOlFqlw8pl79U2HGU%2Fuploads%2FySEXQ9UJL9x9b9rTuMvT%2FKapture%202025-07-05%20at%2022.19.38.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=89473a9e-1c6e-4bfc-a06e-b37b03613616" alt=""><figcaption><p>Running fetch similar from the population exploration to get the most similar samples given a specific filter (samples should be in the validation set)</p></figcaption></figure>

Once samples has been selected from the population exploration, we could use the "Fetch Similar" button to retrieve similar samples. The computed result would be added as a special [filter](https://docs.tensorleap.ai/user-interface/project/dashboards/dashboard-actions/dashboard-filtering) to the population exploration, resulting in only the most similar samples presented.

### Fetch Similar from sample analysis

<figure><img src="https://3509361326-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F9UXeOlFqlw8pl79U2HGU%2Fuploads%2Fqndc4UrhV6vL86cwBtjY%2FKapture%202025-07-05%20at%2022.23.45.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=a97a4752-7521-42c4-ae48-0adc16d05360" alt=""><figcaption><p>Fetch similar from sample analysis by clicking the magnet icon</p></figcaption></figure>

Given a selection of samples in the [sample analysis](https://docs.tensorleap.ai/user-interface/project/dashboards/dashlets/sample-analysis) dashlet, similar samples could also be retrieved. This would create a special global filter, applying the entire dashboard to only contain these similar samples.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Notice that it is sometimes required to examine only one slice (i.e. train), but to fetch similars from an disjoint slice (i.e. unlabeled). Such an action would disable all pre-existing filters from the dashlet, to ensure the fetch similar filter is not in contradiction with existing filters.
{% endhint %}