Apps glossary
Learn the meanings of app-related terms.
Definitions of apps-related terms. Refer to the main glossary for definitions of terms across Retool.
A
App IDE
The web-based interface for building web and mobile apps.
B
No glossary entries found.
C
Canvas
The area of the IDE in which you build the user interface for your app. The canvas can contain distinct frames, such as the sidebar or header.
Component
A prebuilt interface element to display data, and manipulate or interact with it based on user actions.
CRUD
Wikipedia: In computer programming, create, read, update, and delete (CRUD) are the four basic operations (actions) of persistent storage. CRUD is also sometimes used to describe user interface conventions that facilitate viewing, searching, and changing information using computer-based forms and reports.
Current working version
The version that reflects the current state of the app or workflow.
D
Data source
Somewhere you store data. This could be a PostgreSQL database, a REST API, etc.
Dependency graph
Wikipedia: In mathematics, computer science and digital electronics, a dependency graph is a directed graph representing dependencies of several objects towards each other. It is possible to derive an evaluation order or the absence of an evaluation order that respects the given dependencies from the dependency graph.
E
Embedded expressions
Code, surrounded by {{}}, that Retool synchronously evaluates as JavaScript. This enables you to dynamically set property values using transformations or conditional logic to build complex apps and workflows. Read more about embedded expressions.
Event handler
A method to trigger queries, control components, and perform other actions in response to user interactions.
F
Frame
A distinct area of the app canvas in which you add components. Frames provide you with flexible layout options for arranging your app's user interface. You can add frames to pages or use them globally.
G
H
No glossary entries found.
I
No glossary entries found.
J
No glossary entries found.
K
No glossary entries found.
L
Live version
The published release of an app or deployed release of a workflow.
M
Modal
A content area that appears above other content, such as a dialog box.
N
No glossary entries found.
O
No glossary entries found.
P
Page
Retool apps contain pages that function as distinct sections with their own code and components. Users switch between pages using event handlers or navigation controls. Retool only evaluates page code or component values when the page is currently in view.
Q
Query
A block of code that interacts with or manipulates data. This can be an SQL or API resource query, or JavaScript code.
R
S
No glossary entries found.
T
Ternary operator
Wikipedia: In computer programming, the ternary conditional operator is a ternary operator that is part of the syntax for basic conditional expressions in several programming languages. It is commonly referred to as the conditional operator, conditional expression, ternary if, or inline if. An expression if a then b else c or a ? b : c evaluates to b if the value of a is true, and otherwise to c. One can read it aloud as "if a then b otherwise c". The form a ? b : c is the most common, but alternative syntaxes do exist; for example, Raku uses the syntax a ?? b !! c to avoid confusion with the infix operators ? and !, whereas in Visual Basic .NET, it instead takes the form If(a, b, c).
Trace
Wikipedia: Tracing in software engineering refers to the process of capturing and recording information about the execution of a software program. This information is typically used by programmers for debugging purposes, and additionally, depending on the type and detail of information contained in a trace log, by experienced system administrators or technical-support personnel and by software monitoring tools to diagnose common problems with software. Tracing is a cross-cutting concern.
Transformer
Reusable blocks of JavaScript code to transform data that can be referenced anywhere in an app.
U
No glossary entries found.
V
No glossary entries found.
W
Workflow IDE
The web-based interface for building workflows.
X
No glossary entries found.
Y
No glossary entries found.
Z
Zero-based numbering
Wikipedia: Zero-based numbering is a way of numbering in which the initial element of a sequence is assigned the index 0, rather than the index 1 as is typical in everyday non-mathematical or non-programming circumstances. Under zero-based numbering, the initial element is sometimes termed the zeroth element, rather than the first element; zeroth is a coined word for the ordinal number zero. In some cases, an object or value that does not (originally) belong to a given sequence, but which could be naturally placed before its initial element, may be termed the zeroth element. There is no wide agreement regarding the correctness of using zero as an ordinal, as it creates ambiguity for all subsequent elements of the sequence when lacking context.