# Parameter index on type dense\_vector deprecation log

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/parameter-index-on-type-dense-vector-deprecation-log/360116>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Tags:** vector-search\
**Created:** [May 24, 2024, 4:25am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/parameter-index-on-type-dense-vector-deprecation-log/360116 "2024-05-24T04:25:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ol\_minhkhau](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/ol_minhkhau/32/134768_2.png) [@ol\_minhkhau](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ol_minhkhau)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 4:25am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/parameter-index-on-type-dense-vector-deprecation-log/360116/1 "2024-05-24T04:25:27Z")

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I have a dynamic template with the mapping like this  
`"mapping": { "type": "dense_vector", "dims": 42, "index": false }`

And I receive this deprecation log:  
`Parameter [index] has no effect on type [dense_vector] and will be removed in future`

I'm using Elasticsearch 7.17 and planning to migrate to 8.13. The documentation on version 8.13 does mention the use of indexing on type dense\_vector ([ref](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/dense-vector.html#:~:text=You%20can%20disable%20indexing%20by%20setting%20the%20index%20parameter%20to%20false%3A)). It also mentions that we can disable indexing by setting index to false ([ref](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/8.13/dense-vector.html#index-vectors-knn-search:~:text=You%20can%20disable%20indexing%20by%20setting%20the%20index%20parameter%20to%20false%3A)). So I wonder whether I should ignore it or not because the log level is **critical** but it seems to be a legit function and removing it may trade off some of the performance.

Please help me explain why there is that deprecation log and whether I should keep the setting or not. Many thanks.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kathleen\_DeRusso](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/kathleen_derusso/32/132039_2.png) [@Kathleen\_DeRusso](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Kathleen_DeRusso)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 12:05pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/parameter-index-on-type-dense-vector-deprecation-log/360116/2 "2024-05-24T12:05:30Z")

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You can add `dense_vector` fields with `index: false` but please note that the vectors have to be indexed in order to perform approximate `knn` search. This is why we enable indexing for default for `dense_vector` fields. If you index these with `index: false` in 7.x and want to use this functionality when you upgrade to 8.x you will have to reindex to a new index with `index: true` to use it.

If `index` is set to false you can still use brute force knn.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ol\_minhkhau](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/ol_minhkhau/32/134768_2.png) [@ol\_minhkhau](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ol_minhkhau)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2024, 3:12am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/parameter-index-on-type-dense-vector-deprecation-log/360116/3 "2024-05-27T03:12:13Z")

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So does this mean that I can ignore the deprecation log? Why is it there anyway?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kathleen\_DeRusso](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/kathleen_derusso/32/132039_2.png) [@Kathleen\_DeRusso](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Kathleen_DeRusso)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2024, 12:15pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/parameter-index-on-type-dense-vector-deprecation-log/360116/4 "2024-05-28T12:15:15Z")

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I think your confusion stems from the fact that you're using an older version and vector search is quickly evolving. Support for indexing vectors was added in 8.0.0.