{
 "id": "https://redfinchadvisory.com/lexicon/model-routing",
 "slug": "model-routing",
 "prefLabel": "Model routing",
 "altLabel": [
  "LLM routing",
  "Model cascading"
 ],
 "hiddenLabel": [],
 "definition": "A step that picks, for each request, which model handles it, using a fixed rule or a model that judges the request.",
 "scopeNote": "Google for Developers (Machine Learning Glossary, 2026) says: “The algorithm that determines the ideal model for inference in model cascading. A model router is itself typically a machine learning model that gradually learns how to pick the best model for a given input. However, a model router could sometimes be a simpler, non-machine learning algorithm.” In practice, many routers are fixed rules. Cascading is a different method: it tries a cheap model first and moves up only if the answer isn't good enough.",
 "tier": null,
 "group": "Connections and systems",
 "broader": [
  "https://redfinchadvisory.com/lexicon/llm-gateway"
 ],
 "narrower": [],
 "related": [
  {
   "id": "https://redfinchadvisory.com/lexicon/router-agent",
   "type": "confused"
  }
 ],
 "links": [],
 "modified": "2026-10-21",
 "markdown": "https://redfinchadvisory.com/lexicon/model-routing.md",
 "inScheme": {
  "id": "https://redfinchadvisory.com/lexicon",
  "version": "1.0",
  "currentAsOf": "2026-10-21"
 }
}