Reference · How-to · ~10 min
How to add citations to RAG answers
Last updated
Users trust answers they can **click back to source chunks**.
Users trust answers they can **click back to source chunks**.
#Steps
1. **Tag chunks** with stable IDs and human labels (`faq.md § Refunds`)
2. **Pass IDs in context** — prefix each chunk: `[doc:faq#3] …text…`
3. **Prompt for cites** — "Quote supporting lines; cite chunk IDs"
4. **Parse citations** from model output or use structured JSON
5. **Render links** in UI — map chunk ID → URL or modal snippet
6. **Validate** — refuse to show cite if ID wasn't in retrieved set
#Prompt snippet
Use ONLY the notes below. After each claim, cite the chunk ID in brackets.
If unsupported, say "Not in the notes."
Notes:
[doc:policy#1] Annual plans refund within 14 days…
[doc:policy#2] Monthly plans are non-refundable…
Question: Can I refund my annual plan after 20 days?#Quality check
Ask a question whose answer spans two docs — both sources should appear.