Course · Intermediate

Introduction to Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)

Language models hallucinate and lack access to your data. Retrieval-Augmented Generation fixes this by grounding responses in retrieved documents. This course walks you through building RAG pipelines from scratch, improving retrieval with query expansion and reranking, and diagnosing common failure modes so your systems are reliable in practice.

  • Intermediate friendly
  • 6 hrs
  • 3 lessons
  • Premium

Course overview

Learn to build Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems in Python, covering pipeline architecture, prompt design, query expansion, reranking, and debugging common failure modes.

What's inside

3 lessons

  • 01
    Basic RAG Architecture and Implementation

    Learn to build Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems. Create GitQuest, a Git support agent that retrieves documentation, generates grounded answers with citations, and handles unanswerable queries. Cover pipeline architecture, prompt design, and source attribution.

    120 min
  • 02
    RAG Retrieval and Context Management

    Learn retrieval techniques (multi-query, HyDE, reranking) and context management to improve RAG precision. Measure recall and optimize candidate pool size through experimentation.

    120 min
  • 03
    Diagnosing Common RAG Failure Modes

    Learn to diagnose RAG pipeline failures by inspecting retrieval, reranking, and generation stages. Identify vocabulary mismatches, source-type errors, hallucinations, parametric override, and citation issues using systematic debugging workflows.

    120 min

The Dataquest guarantee

Career outcomes guarantee

Dataquest has helped thousands of people start new careers in data. If you put in the work and follow our path, you'll master data skills and grow your career.

Satisfaction guarantee

We believe so strongly in our paths that we offer a full satisfaction guarantee. If you complete a career path on Dataquest and aren't satisfied with your outcome, we'll give you a refund.

Master skills faster with Dataquest

Go from zero to job-ready

Go from zero to job-ready

Learn exactly what you need to achieve your goal. Don't waste time on unrelated lessons.

Build your project portfolio

Build your project portfolio

Build confidence with our in-depth projects, and show off your data skills.

Challenge yourself with exercises

Challenge yourself with exercises

Work with real data from day one with interactive lessons and hands-on exercises.

Showcase your path certification

Showcase your path certification

Share the evidence of your hard work with your network and potential employers.

Grow your career with Dataquest.

98%
of learners recommend
Dataquest for career advancement
4.85
Dataquest rating
SwitchUp Best Bootcamps
$30k
Average salary boost
for learners who complete a path
Aaron Melton
Aaron Melton
Business Analyst at Aditi Consulting

Dataquest starts at the most basic level, so a beginner can understand the concepts. I tried learning to code before, using Codecademy and Coursera. I struggled because I had no background in coding, and I was spending a lot of time Googling. Dataquest helped me actually learn.

Jessica Ko
Jessica Ko
Machine Learning Engineer at Twitter

I liked the interactive environment on Dataquest. The material was clear and well organized. I spent more time practicing then watching videos and it made me want to keep learning.

Victoria E. Guzik
Victoria E. Guzik
Associate Data Scientist at Callisto Media

I really love learning on Dataquest. I looked into a couple of other options and I found that they were much too handhold-y and fill in the blank relative to Dataquest's method. The projects on Dataquest were key to getting my job. I doubled my income!

Join 1M+ data learners on Dataquest.

  1. 1

    Create a free account

  2. 2

    Choose a learning path

  3. 3

    Complete exercises and projects

  4. 4

    Advance your career

Start the Introduction to Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) course

Join 211 learners — all free to start.