What is Query Decomposition?

Query Decomposition is the process of breaking a complex prompt into smaller sub-questions that can be answered, retrieved, or reasoned through separately. AI search engines use decomposition when users ask multi-part questions such as vendor comparisons, implementation decisions, or strategic recommendations. For GEO, this means content should not only answer the headline topic, but also the sub-questions a buyer is likely to ask next. Strong pages include definitions, comparisons, risks, criteria, examples, and next steps. Structuring content around decomposed buyer prompts makes it more useful for AI systems that assemble answers from multiple pieces of evidence.