> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.askui.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Glossary

> This page provides a glossary of key AskUI terms and definitions to help you understand the core concepts and components of the platform.

| **Term**                                | **Meaning**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| :-------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **access token**                        | Gives you access to the AskUI inference in combination with your workspace ID. Every access token has an expiry date and is assigned to exactly one workspace. See [Managing Access Tokens](/02-how-to-guides/01-account-management/04-tokens).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| **action**                              | A method in the AskUI Control Client API that describes an action to be taken against the operating system, e.g., `click()`, `type()`. See [Vision Agent API Actions](/04-reference/01-agent-frameworks/02-python/02-vision-agent-api/agent).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| **annotation**                          | Marked area around an element with metadata including name, text, and bounding box coordinates.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| **automation**                          | A system of multiple connected workflows.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **bounding box**                        | A rectangle described by coordinates that define an element’s location, visually displayed as a red rectangle.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| **credentials**                         | A combination of **workspace ID** and **access token**, both tied to the same workspace.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **element**                             | A graphical user interface component (or *ui element*), e.g., a button, text, menu, text field etc.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| **inference**                           | The process of annotating a user interface.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| **inference server**                    | The backend system that performs inference (UI analysis and annotation).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **instruction**                         | A single AskUI directive, usually consisting of **action + (optional) locator**.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| **interactive annotation**              | Exploring the annotations of a user interface through an annotated screenshot.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| **locator**                             | A description of an UI *element* that is used to (re-)locate (find) the element on the screen, e.g., when trying to click on it; can be a simple textual description like `"login button"` or more complex, potentially multi-modal, e.g., `loc.Image("path/to/image.png").below_of(loc.Text("Login"))`. See [Vision Agent API Locators](/04-reference/01-agent-frameworks/02-python/02-vision-agent-api/locators) and [Element Selection Guide](/03-explanation/02-best-practices/01-element-selection/01-element-selection). |
| **UI Controller (legacy)**              | A service that controls inputs and observes visuals on the operating system.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| **AskUI Controller**                    | The updated service that controls inputs and observes visuals on the operating system.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| **UI Control Client**                   | Retrieves annotations from the inference server and executes input instructions on the operating system via the AskUI Controller.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| **AskUI Studio (former User Portal)**   | A platform where you can create access tokens for your workspace.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| **AskUI-Installer**                     | The installer that sets up AskUI components on a machine.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **AskUI Development Environment (ADE)** | A terminal environment for setting up and managing AskUI components and projects.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| **AskUI Runner**                        | A self-hosted component that downloads and runs workflows from AskUI Studio.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| **workflow**                            | A set of instructions designed to complete a single task.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **workspace**                           | Every registered user has exactly **one workspace**, which can contain multiple access tokens.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| **workspace ID**                        | The unique identifier for your workspace, used in combination with an access token to access AskUI inference.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |