Chroma is an open-source AI-native vector database designed for building LLM applications that need to store and retrieve embeddings efficiently. Its simple Python API makes adding semantic memory and retrieval to AI applications straightforward, while its architecture scales from local development to production deployments. AI developers building RAG applications, semantic search, and knowledge-augmented chatbots use Chroma as a lightweight, developer-friendly vector store that gets applications running quickly without the operational complexity of managing larger database infrastructure.