diff --git a/bindings/lua/sqlite_vec.lua b/bindings/lua/sqlite_vec.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dde78604
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bindings/lua/sqlite_vec.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+-- sqlite_vec.lua Lua 5.1 compatible version with JSON fallback
+local sqlite3 = require("lsqlite3")
+
+local M = {}
+
+-- Function to load extension
+function M.load(db)
+    local possible_paths = {
+        "../../sqlite-vec.so",      -- Linux
+        "../../sqlite-vec.dll",     -- Windows  
+        "../../sqlite-vec.dylib",   -- macOS
+        "./sqlite-vec.so",
+        "./sqlite-vec.dll",
+        "./sqlite-vec.dylib",
+        "../sqlite-vec.so",
+        "../sqlite-vec.dll", 
+        "../sqlite-vec.dylib",
+        "sqlite-vec",
+    }
+    
+    local entry_point = "sqlite3_vec_init"
+    
+    if db.enable_load_extension then
+        db:enable_load_extension(true)
+        for _, path in ipairs(possible_paths) do
+            local ok, result = pcall(function()
+                return db:load_extension(path, entry_point)
+            end)
+            if ok then
+                db:enable_load_extension(false)
+                return result
+            end
+        end
+        db:enable_load_extension(false)
+        error("Failed to load extension from all paths")
+    else
+        for _, path in ipairs(possible_paths) do
+            local ok, result = pcall(function()
+                return db:load_extension(path, entry_point)
+            end)
+            if ok then
+                return result
+            else
+                local ok2, result2 = pcall(function()
+                    return db:load_extension(path)
+                end)
+                if ok2 then
+                    return result2
+                end
+            end
+        end
+        error("Failed to load extension from all paths")
+    end
+end
+
+-- Lua 5.1 compatible float to binary conversion function
+local function float_to_bytes(f)
+    if f == 0 then
+        return string.char(0, 0, 0, 0)
+    end
+    
+    local sign = 0
+    if f < 0 then
+        sign = 1
+        f = -f
+    end
+    
+    local mantissa, exponent = math.frexp(f)
+    exponent = exponent - 1
+    
+    if exponent < -126 then
+        mantissa = mantissa * 2^(exponent + 126)
+        exponent = -127
+    else
+        mantissa = (mantissa - 0.5) * 2
+    end
+    
+    exponent = exponent + 127
+    mantissa = math.floor(mantissa * 2^23 + 0.5)
+    
+    local bytes = {}
+    bytes[1] = mantissa % 256; mantissa = math.floor(mantissa / 256)
+    bytes[2] = mantissa % 256; mantissa = math.floor(mantissa / 256)
+    bytes[3] = mantissa % 256 + (exponent % 2) * 128; exponent = math.floor(exponent / 2)
+    bytes[4] = exponent % 128 + sign * 128
+    
+    return string.char(bytes[1], bytes[2], bytes[3], bytes[4])
+end
+
+-- Helper function: serialize float vector to binary format (Lua 5.1 compatible)
+function M.serialize_f32(vector)
+    local buffer = {}
+    
+    if string.pack then
+        for _, v in ipairs(vector) do
+            table.insert(buffer, string.pack("f", v))
+        end
+    else
+        for _, v in ipairs(vector) do
+            table.insert(buffer, float_to_bytes(v))
+        end
+    end
+    
+    return table.concat(buffer)
+end
+
+-- New: JSON format vector serialization (more reliable fallback)
+function M.serialize_json(vector)
+    local values = {}
+    for _, v in ipairs(vector) do
+        table.insert(values, tostring(v))
+    end
+    return "[" .. table.concat(values, ",") .. "]"
+end
+
+return M 
diff --git a/examples/simple-lua/.gitignore b/examples/simple-lua/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7d2345ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/simple-lua/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# Lua specific
+*.luac
+
+# SQLite databases (if any test files are created)
+*.db
+*.sqlite
+*.sqlite3 
diff --git a/examples/simple-lua/README.md b/examples/simple-lua/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..819df7dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/simple-lua/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+# SQLite-Vec Simple Lua Example
+
+This example demonstrates how to use sqlite-vec with Lua and the lsqlite3 binding.
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+1. **Lua** (5.1 or later) - The example is compatible with Lua 5.1+
+2. **lsqlite3** - Lua SQLite3 binding
+3. **sqlite-vec extension** - Compiled for your platform
+
+## Installation
+
+### Install lsqlite3
+
+Using LuaRocks:
+```bash
+luarocks install lsqlite3
+```
+
+Or on Ubuntu/Debian:
+```bash
+apt-get install lua-sql-sqlite3
+```
+
+### Build sqlite-vec
+
+From the sqlite-vec root directory:
+```bash
+make
+```
+
+This will create the appropriate extension file (.so, .dll, or .dylib) for your platform.
+
+### Setup sqlite_vec.lua
+
+You have two options:
+
+1. **Copy the binding file** (recommended):
+   ```bash
+   cp ../../bindings/lua/sqlite_vec.lua ./
+   ```
+
+2. **Modify the require path** in `demo.lua` to point to the bindings directory.
+
+## Running the Example
+
+```bash
+lua demo.lua
+```
+
+Expected output:
+```
+=== SQLite-Vec Simple Lua Example ===
+sqlite_version=3.x.x, vec_version=v0.x.x
+Inserting vector data...
+Executing KNN query...
+Results:
+rowid=3 distance=0.000000
+rowid=2 distance=0.200000
+rowid=1 distance=0.400000
+✓ Demo completed successfully
+``` 
diff --git a/examples/simple-lua/demo.lua b/examples/simple-lua/demo.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..295125e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/simple-lua/demo.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env lua
+
+-- Simple Lua example demonstrating sqlite-vec usage
+-- This example shows how to create vector tables, insert data, and perform KNN queries
+
+local sqlite3 = require("lsqlite3")
+
+-- You can either:
+-- 1. Copy sqlite_vec.lua from ../../bindings/lua/sqlite_vec.lua to this directory
+-- 2. Or modify the path below to point to the bindings directory
+local sqlite_vec = require("sqlite_vec")
+
+function main()
+    print("=== SQLite-Vec Simple Lua Example ===")
+    
+    -- Create in-memory database
+    local db = sqlite3.open_memory()
+    if not db then
+        error("Failed to create database")
+    end
+    
+    -- Load sqlite-vec extension
+    local load_success, load_error = pcall(function()
+        sqlite_vec.load(db)
+    end)
+    
+    if not load_success then
+        error("Failed to load sqlite-vec extension: " .. tostring(load_error))
+    end
+    
+    -- Check versions - handle the case where vec_version() might not be available
+    local sqlite_version = nil
+    local vec_version = nil
+    
+    for row in db:nrows("SELECT sqlite_version()") do
+        sqlite_version = row.sqlite_version
+        break
+    end
+    
+    -- Try to get vec_version, but don't fail if it's not available
+    local success, _ = pcall(function()
+        for row in db:nrows("SELECT vec_version()") do
+            vec_version = row.vec_version
+            break
+        end
+    end)
+    
+    if sqlite_version then
+        if vec_version then
+            print(string.format("sqlite_version=%s, vec_version=%s", sqlite_version, vec_version))
+        else
+            print(string.format("sqlite_version=%s, vec_version=unknown", sqlite_version))
+        end
+    end
+    
+    -- Verify extension is loaded by checking for vec0 module
+    local vec0_available = false
+    for row in db:nrows("SELECT name FROM pragma_module_list() WHERE name='vec0'") do
+        vec0_available = true
+        break
+    end
+    
+    if vec0_available then
+        print("✓ sqlite-vec extension loaded successfully")
+    else
+        error("sqlite-vec extension loaded but vec0 module not found")
+    end
+    
+    -- Test data - same as other examples for consistency
+    local items = {
+        {1, {0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 0.1}},
+        {2, {0.2, 0.2, 0.2, 0.2}},
+        {3, {0.3, 0.3, 0.3, 0.3}},
+        {4, {0.4, 0.4, 0.4, 0.4}},
+        {5, {0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5}},
+    }
+    local query = {0.3, 0.3, 0.3, 0.3}
+    
+    -- Create virtual table
+    local create_result = db:exec("CREATE VIRTUAL TABLE vec_items USING vec0(embedding float[4])")
+    if create_result ~= sqlite3.OK then
+        error("Failed to create virtual table: " .. db:errmsg())
+    end
+    
+    -- Insert data using JSON format (more compatible)
+    print("Inserting vector data...")
+    db:exec("BEGIN")
+    
+    for _, item in ipairs(items) do
+        local rowid = math.floor(item[1])
+        local vector_json = sqlite_vec.serialize_json(item[2])
+        
+        local sql = string.format("INSERT INTO vec_items(rowid, embedding) VALUES (%d, '%s')", 
+                                 rowid, vector_json)
+        local result = db:exec(sql)
+        if result ~= sqlite3.OK then
+            error("Failed to insert item: " .. db:errmsg())
+        end
+    end
+    
+    db:exec("COMMIT")
+    
+    -- Verify data was inserted
+    local count = 0
+    for row in db:nrows("SELECT COUNT(*) as count FROM vec_items") do
+        count = row.count
+        break
+    end
+    print(string.format("✓ Inserted %d vector records", count))
+    
+    -- Perform KNN query using JSON format
+    print("Executing KNN query...")
+    local query_json = sqlite_vec.serialize_json(query)
+    
+    local sql = string.format([[
+        SELECT
+            rowid,
+            distance
+        FROM vec_items
+        WHERE embedding MATCH '%s'
+        ORDER BY distance
+        LIMIT 3
+    ]], query_json)
+    
+    print("Results:")
+    for row in db:nrows(sql) do
+        print(string.format("rowid=%d distance=%f", row.rowid, row.distance))
+    end
+    
+    db:close()
+    print("✓ Demo completed successfully")
+end
+
+-- Run the demo with error handling
+local success, error_msg = pcall(main)
+if not success then
+    print("Error: " .. tostring(error_msg))
+    os.exit(1)
+end 
diff --git a/examples/simple-lua/run.sh b/examples/simple-lua/run.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ec7d54f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/simple-lua/run.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Simple run script for the Lua example
+
+echo "=== SQLite-Vec Lua Example Runner ==="
+
+# Check if Lua is available
+if ! command -v lua &> /dev/null; then
+    echo "Error: Lua is not installed or not in PATH"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+# Check if lsqlite3 is available
+lua -e "require('lsqlite3')" 2>/dev/null
+if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "Error: lsqlite3 module is not installed"
+    echo "Install it with: luarocks install lsqlite3"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+# Check if sqlite-vec extension exists
+if [ ! -f "../../sqlite-vec.so" ] && [ ! -f "../../sqlite-vec.dll" ] && [ ! -f "../../sqlite-vec.dylib" ]; then
+    echo "Error: sqlite-vec extension not found"
+    echo "Build it with: cd ../.. && make"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+# Run the demo
+echo "Running demo..."
+lua demo.lua