Glossary of terms
Learn the meanings of terms used across Retool.
Definitions of terms you may come across when building software on Retool.
A
B
Beta
This functionality is currently in active development and subject to change. Beta functionality is available for you to use but may not yet be complete.
Blob
Wikipedia: Object storage is a computer data storage approach that manages data as "blobs" or "objects", as opposed to other storage architectures like file systems, which manage data as a file hierarchy, and block storage, which manages data as blocks within sectors and tracks. Each object is typically associated with a variable amount of metadata, and a globally unique identifier. Object storage can be implemented at multiple levels, including the device level, the system level, and the interface level. In each case, object storage seeks to enable capabilities not addressed by other storage architectures, like interfaces that are directly programmable by the application, a namespace that can span multiple instances of physical hardware, and data-management functions like data replication and data distribution at object-level granularity.
Block
A block of code, such as an SQL query or JavaScript statement, that runs within a workflow.
Bottom sheet
A modal for mobile apps that slides into view from the bottom of the viewport.
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.
Comma-separated values (CSV)
Wikipedia: Comma-separated values (CSV) is a text data format that uses commas to separate delimiter-separated values, and newlines to separate records. CSV data stores tabular data in plain text, where each line typically represents one data record. Each record consists of the same number of fields, and these are separated by commas. If the field delimiter itself may appear within a field, fields can be surrounded with quotation marks.
Component
A prebuilt interface element to display data, and manipulate or interact with it based on user actions.
Configuration Variables
Environment-specific values and secrets that you can reference in Retool resource configurations, apps, workflows, and queries.
Control flow
The order of operation and flow of data between workflow blocks.
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.
Dataset
A collection of records that are passed into an agent when running an eval. A dataset contains name, description, number of items, created, and updated properties.
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.
Embedding
A type of vector used by AI models to determine meaning and connections.
End user
An enabled user who did not build or edit an app or workflow during the billing cycle. End users are billed at a lower rate than standard users.
Eval
Evals allow users to evaluate and compare agent runs. Evals accept a dataset, an action, and a reviewer, and returns a set of traces.
Event handler
A method to trigger queries, control components, and perform other actions in response to user interactions.
Expected Stable channel release
The Stable channel release quarter in which this functionality is expected to be available. This may be subject to change and does not guarantee availability.
External user
Users whose email domains fall outside of what you define as 'internal'. External users are billed at a lower rate than standard users, and their permissions are usually more restricted.
F
Field
A Retool Database table column for the specified type of data. Each field maps to a related PostgreSQL column type.
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.
Fully qualified domain name (FQDN)
Wikipedia: A fully qualified domain name (FQDN), sometimes also called an absolute domain name, is a domain name that specifies its exact location in the tree hierarchy of the Domain Name System (DNS). It specifies all domain levels, including the top-level domain and the root zone. A fully qualified domain name is distinguished by its unambiguous DNS zone location in the hierarchy of DNS labels: it can be interpreted only in one way.
G
General availability
Functionality is generally available to eligible organizations and their users.
H
Hosting
The method by which Retool is hosted or deployed for your organization.
I
Instance
A single deployment of Retool. Self-hosted organizations can deploy multiple instances of Retool, if necessary.
J
No glossary entries found.
K
Kerberos
Wikipedia: Kerberos is a computer-network authentication protocol that works on the basis of tickets to allow nodes communicating over a non-secure network to prove their identity to one another in a secure manner. Its designers aimed it primarily at a client–server model, and it provides mutual authentication—both the user and the server verify each other's identity. Kerberos protocol messages are protected against eavesdropping and replay attacks.
L
Levenshtein distance
Wikipedia: In information theory, linguistics, and computer science, the Levenshtein distance is a string metric for measuring the difference between two sequences. The Levenshtein distance between two words is the minimum number of single-character edits required to change one word into the other. It is named after Soviet mathematician Vladimir Levenshtein, who defined the metric in 1965.
Live version
The published release of an app or deployed release of a workflow.
M
Media type
The media type that indicates the purpose and format of data (e.g., application/pdf for PDF files).
Modal
A content area that appears above other content, such as a dialog box.
Multitenancy
Wikipedia: Software multitenancy is a software architecture in which a single instance of software runs on a server and serves multiple tenants. Systems designed in such manner are "shared". A tenant is a group of users who share a common access with specific privileges to the software instance. With a multitenant architecture, a software application is designed to provide every tenant a dedicated share of the instance—including its data, configuration, user management, tenant individual functionality and non-functional properties. Multitenancy contrasts with multi-instance architectures, where separate software instances operate on behalf of different tenants.
N
Not currently available
Functionality that not yet available.
O
Organization
Organizations are how Retool group users, apps, resources, etc. Each Retool user is a member of an organization. Organization admins can add or remove users, manage access, and change its configuration.
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.
Private beta
This functionality is currently in active development and subject to change. Private beta functionality is not yet complete. To join this private beta, request access from your Retool account manager.
Private beta waitlist
This functionality is currently in active development and subject to change. Private beta functionality may not yet be complete. To join this private beta, sign up to the waitlist.
Public beta
This functionality is currently in active development and subject to change. Public beta functionality may not yet be complete. Admins can enable this functionality in the organization's Beta settings.
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
Resource
A saved set of user-configured properties that determine how Retool connects to data source. You create a resource for each data source you want to use with Retool.
Resource query
A block of code that interacts with or manipulates with a resource, such as an SQL query or API request.
Retool Cloud
The cloud-hosted version of Retool.
Retool Database editor
The interface for creating and managing Retool Database tables.
Reviewer
A mechanism that scores the output of an agent eval. Add reviewers when creating a dataset item for an agent eval.
S
Schema
Wikipedia: The database schema is the structure of a database described in a formal language supported typically by a relational database management system (RDBMS). The term "schema" refers to the organization of data as a blueprint of how the database is constructed. The formal definition of a database schema is a set of formulas (sentences) called integrity constraints imposed on a database. These integrity constraints ensure compatibility between parts of the schema. All constraints are expressible in the same language. A database can be considered a structure in realization of the database language. The states of a created conceptual schema are transformed into an explicit mapping, the database schema. This describes how real-world entities are modeled in the database.
Scope
The level of access granted. If you crete a custom OAuth application with which to authenticate, you typically define scopes to give Retool access, such as calendars.read or users.add.
Screen
The primary content areas of a mobile app that contain components. Users navigate between screens using the tab bar or by interactions that trigger event handlers, such as pressing a button or selecting an item from a list.
Security hardening
Wikipedia: In computer security, hardening is usually the process of securing a system by reducing its attack surface, which is larger when a system performs more functions; in principle a single-function system is more secure than a multipurpose one. Reducing available ways of attack typically includes changing default passwords, the removal of unnecessary software, unnecessary usernames or logins, and the disabling or removal of unnecessary services.
Self-hosted beta
Available in this version of self-hosted Retool and later.
Self-hosted Edge channel
Whether this functionality is available in the latest Edge channel release for self-hosted organizations. Edge releases are available if you want the latest features or to use beta functionality.
Self-hosted Retool
An instance of Retool that is deployed on-premise or in a virtual private cloud (VPC).
Self-hosted Stable channel
Whether this functionality is available in a supported Stable channel release for self-hosted organizations. Stable releases occur every quarter and enable administrators to more easily maintain and upgrade deployments. Stable releases are a few releases behind the Edge channel and typically do not include beta functionality.
Standard user
An enabled user who built or edited an app or workflow during the billing cycle.
Status
The current state of the functionality, such as whether it is in beta, generally available, or deprecated.
Supported
Whether this functionality is supported in the specified environment.
Synchronous workflows
A workflow that has a webhook response block and is triggered from an App, Workflow, or webhook
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).
Tool
Tools allow agents to take actions in other systems. A tool can be a workflow, a query, or another agent. An agent can call a tool to fetch data, perform computations, or interact with other parts of the system.
Toolscript
A JSX-style markup language built to serialize Retool apps which are protected using Source Control.
Topic
The scope for recipients for push notifications. Topics are similar in function to mailing lists where users subscribe to them based on what information they want to be notified about.
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
Vector database
Wikipedia: A vector database, vector store or vector search engine is a database that uses the vector space model to store vectors along with other data items. Vector databases typically implement one or more approximate nearest neighbor algorithms, so that one can search the database with a query vector to retrieve the closest matching database records.
W
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.