DATABASE ELEMENT RETRIEVAL BY EXAMPLE

A system and method for database element retrieval. A query comprises identifying which elements in the database are close or similar to an example which is specified in the query. The query is performed by defining a hyper-box that surrounds the example in the database space. Once the hyper-box is defined, the elements contained within the hyper-box will be close or similar to the example in the query. The elements contained in the hyper-box may be subsequently ranked in the database space using a Euclidean concept of distance.