mlsanityData to 14 Oct 2026

DOTRAG: Retrieval-Time Reasoning Along Paths

arXiv 2605.18760 ↗First posted 6 Apr 2026cs.IR cs.AIcited by 1

On the map: Retrieval-augmented generation → Knowledge-graph and structured-knowledge RAG

Abstract (arXiv)

Graph Retrieval-Augmented Generation (GraphRAG) is dominated by a retrieve-then-reason paradigm, where context is retrieved using heuristics and then reasoned over. Such methods struggle to adapt to the query-specific logic required for complex multi-hop tasks, often accumulating irrelevant context or missing correct relational paths. We propose DotRAG, a training-free GraphRAG framework that reformulates retrieval as a reasoning process over paths. Our approach generates query-conditioned constraints that guide graph exploration, prune irrelevant regions, and iteratively discover relational paths without relying on explicit step-by-step reasoning chains. We introduce Division of Thought (DOT), an abstraction that decomposes retrieval into localized search spaces and adapts the search strategy to each query. DotRAG achieves SOTA performance on MetaQA and UltraDomain, with consistent gains on multi-hop tasks, demonstrating the effectiveness of reasoning-guided retrieval.

Key facts. Cited by 1 paper in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026). Placed in Knowledge-graph and structured-knowledge RAG, one of 15 directions in Retrieval-augmented generation. Builds on 23 of its 31 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 6 Apr 2026.

Builds on

23 of 31 references.

Closest ancestors · 11

Same direction, newest first

  1. 2025StepChain GraphRAG: Reasoning Over Knowledge Graphs for Multi-Hop Question Answering3 Oct
  2. 2025GraphRAG-R1: Graph Retrieval-Augmented Generation with Process-Constrained Reinforcement Learning31 Jul
  3. 2025GraphRunner: A Multi-Stage Framework for Efficient and Accurate Graph-Based Retrieval11 Jul
  4. 2025Retrieval-Augmented Generation with Hierarchical Knowledge13 Mar
  5. 2025PathRAG: Pruning Graph-based Retrieval Augmented Generation with Relational Paths18 Feb
  6. 2025HopRAG: Multi-Hop Reasoning for Logic-Aware Retrieval-Augmented Generation18 Feb
  7. 2025GFM-RAG: Graph Foundation Model for Retrieval Augmented Generation3 Feb
  8. 2024LightRAG: Simple and Fast Retrieval-Augmented Generation8 Oct
  9. 2024Graph Retrieval-Augmented Generation: A Survey15 Aug
  10. 2024GNN-RAG: Graph Neural Retrieval for Large Language Model Reasoning30 May
  11. 2024From Local to Global: A Graph RAG Approach to Query-Focused Summarization24 Apr

Other references · 12

  1. 2020Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Knowledge-Intensive NLP Taskscited by 9,297
  2. 2022ReAct: Synergizing Reasoning and Acting in Language Modelscited by 8,695
  3. 2023Self-RAG: Learning to Retrieve, Generate, and Critique through Self-Reflectioncited by 1,839
  4. 2023Ragas: Automated Evaluation of Retrieval Augmented Generationcited by 418
  5. 2024HippoRAG: Neurobiologically Inspired Long-Term Memory for Large Language Modelscited by 281
  6. 2025Agentic Retrieval-Augmented Generation: A Survey on Agentic RAGcited by 249
  7. 2017Variational Reasoning for Question Answering with Knowledge Graphcited by 170
  8. 2024Medical Graph RAG: Towards Safe Medical Large Language Model via Graph Retrieval-Augmented Generationcited by 90
  9. 2024A Comprehensive Survey of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG): Evolution, Current Landscape and Future Directionscited by 70
  10. 2025Reasoning RAG via System 1 or System 2: A Survey on Reasoning Agentic Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Industry Challengescited by 19
  11. 2025RAG-R1: Incentivizing the Search and Reasoning Capabilities of LLMs through Multi-query Parallelismcited by 16
  12. 2025Reasoning by Exploration: A Unified Approach to Retrieval and Generation over Graphscited by 6

Built on by

Cited by year (2026 to 14 Oct)

Citing papers per year: 2026: 1.

1 paper.

  1. 2026MOSAIC: Query-Aware Exploration Policy Adaptation for GraphRAGcited by 0

Similar, not cited

Close in wording, no citation either way

  1. 2026Retrieving Minimal and Sufficient Reasoning Subgraphs with Graph Foundation Models for Path-aware GraphRAG
  2. 2024LEGO-GraphRAG: Modularizing Graph-based Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Design Space Exploration
  3. 2025Beyond Static Retrieval: Opportunities and Pitfalls of Iterative Retrieval in GraphRAG
  4. 2025GraphSearch: An Agentic Deep Searching Workflow for Graph Retrieval-Augmented Generation
  5. 2026Toward Robust GraphRAG: Mitigating Retrieval Drift and Hallucination from Imperfect Knowledge Graphs
  6. 2026GraphSearch: Agentic Search-Augmented Reasoning for Zero-Shot Graph Learning
  7. 2025PropRAG: Guiding Retrieval with Beam Search over Proposition Paths
  8. 2026FlowRAG: Synergizing Explicit Reasoning via Frequency-Aware Multi-Granularity Graph Flow