> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cortex.aic.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cortex.aic.io/reference/glossary.md).

# Glossary

**Account** — A person who can sign in. An account needs active access to use a workspace.

**Analytical workspace** — The area where an analyst develops a judgment from evidence for a defined question.

**Appointment** — A retained decision that gives a person a specific formal responsibility for a period of time. It does not automatically give access to all records.

**Authority case** — The record of an external collection authority and its review. Check that the authority covers the exact use.

**Citation** — A link to an exact passage in a retained version of source material.

**Collection plan** — The plan for how a team will answer a requirement. A plan can contain tasks, assigned people, and expected results.

**Compartment** — A need-to-know restriction in a record's handling. A person needs the applicable access to read it.

**Decision point** — The decision that a requirement must support. It tells the team why an answer is needed.

**Derivative** — A reviewed new version of content prepared for a defined sharing purpose. It does not change the original.

**Evidence memory** — The CORTEX area for preserved originals, processing versions, and evidence that can be cited.

**Feedback** — A retained recipient response and the follow-on decision about the question or product.

**Handling** — The protective marking, compartments, caveats, and instructions that control use of a record.

**Information need** — A smaller question under a requirement.

**Interpretation** — A recorded reading or translation of a passage. It stays linked to the original words.

**Node** — The CORTEX service that stores confirmed changes and provides the web application.

**Original material** — The source file as acquired. CORTEX keeps it and its hash so a user can check later versions against it.

**Package** — Exact approved content prepared for a named recipient and purpose.

**Product** — An authored intelligence output for a defined decision need. It can have drafts and reviewed revisions.

**Protective marking** — The first visible part of a record's handling. A user can select only a marking allowed by their current access.

**Release** — A separate decision that approves and publishes an exact product revision for a defined audience.

**Requirement** — The recorded question and decision need that directs the work. Its owner decides whether it is answered.

**Review** — A separate person's recorded check of exact content or a decision. Different workflows have different review rules.

**Source** — A registered origin of information. Source registration, authority, protection, and material acquisition are separate steps.

**Workspace** — The selected area where a team keeps related tasks and records. The workspace controls membership, operating context, and visible features.