# Actions on Google glossary (Dialogflow)

The list below defines some of the key terms you should know when developing
with Actions on Google.

## A

Action
:   An interaction you build for the Google Assistant that supports a specific
    *[intent](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#intent)* and
    has a corresponding *[fulfillment](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#fulfillment)* that
    processes the intent.

[Actions on Google](https://developers.google.com/actions/extending-the-assistant)
:   Developer platform that lets you define and fulfill Actions that any user can
    invoke through the Google Assistant.

[Actions console](https://console.actions.google.com/)
:   Web tool for creating, maintaining, testing, and publishing Actions.

[Actions simulator](https://developers.google.com/actions/tools/simulator)
:   Web tool for testing and debugging Actions in real-time. The simulator
    lets you test your Actions for all surfaces that the Google Assistant supports,
    without requiring a physical device.

Action package
:   A JSON file that defines your Actions. This file includes information for
    the Actions directory listing, account linking information, a list of
    intents that the Actions can handle, and the actual fulfillment endpoints.

Actions project
:   A project you create in the *[Actions console](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#actions-console)*
    to manage, test, and publish a collection of Actions; Google maintains your
    Actions project in Google's cloud infrastructure.

[Actions directory](https://assistant.google.com/explore/)
:   Google's registry for users to discover and learn how to invoke Actions
    on the Assistant.

    - **Synonyms:** *Assistant explorer, Actions explorer,
      Assistant directory, Explore page, web directory*

Action phrase
:   A phrase that lets users deep link into specific functionality in an
    Action. Users can utter the Actions project name followed by the Action
    phrase to invoke a specific task the Action supports (for example,
    "Hey Google, talk to Geek Num to learn about the number 42"). Users may
    also be able to utter the Action phrase by itself to discover
    your Actions (for example, "Hey Google, learn about the number 42").

    - **Synonyms:** *Action invocation phrase,
      implicit invocation intent*

[agent](https://dialogflow.com/docs/agents)
:   A project that you can create in
    *[Dialogflow](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#dialogflow)* to handle specific
    conversational experiences; each agent can have its own intent mappings
    and corresponding *[fulfillment](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#fulfillment)* and
    *[entity](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#entity)* definitions. Agents can also handle
    multiple languages, and have versions (for example, "dev" and "prod").


[annotation](https://dialogflow.com/docs/intents#example_annotation)
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to the linking of words or values
    within *[training phrases](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#training-phrase)* to their
    corresponding *[entities](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#entity)* ; annotations are
    used by Dialogflow to recognize and extract
    *[parameters](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#parameter)* from
    *[user queries](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#user-query)*.

## B

[built-in intent](https://developers.google.com/actions/discovery/built-in-intents)
:   A unique identifier that tells Google that your Action is suitable to
    fulfill a specific category of user requests, such as playing games or
    ordering tickets. Google defines the built-in intents and the phrases that
    can trigger the Actions associated with these intents

## C

[conversation HTTP/JSON webhook API](https://developers.google.com/assistant/actions/build/json)
:   An API for utilizing the HTTP message protocol to exchange data between
    Actions on Google and a fulfillment.

    - **Synonyms:** *conversation API, HTTP/JSON API*

[context](https://dialogflow.com/docs/concept-contexts)
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to a feature to manage conversational
    flows. Contexts represent the current state of the conversation and can be
    attached to intents in Dialogflow *[agents](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#agent)* .

    - **Related terms:** *[input context](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#input_context),
      [output context](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#output_context)*

conversation request
:   In-dialog requests that the user makes once the conversation with your
    fulfillment has started. In the conversation webhook format, these
    requests typically correspond to `actions.intent.TEXT` intents
    (representing a raw text response from the user).

conversation response
:   The response sent by your fulfillment to the Google Assistant, which converts
    the data payload into rendered speech and graphical user interface
    output, and relays
    this output to users.

custom Action
:   An Action where you define the Action's invocation grammar.

custom entity
:   A developer-defined *[entity](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#entity)* for
    domain-specific words and phrases.

## D

[default fallback intent](https://dialogflow.com/docs/intents#fallback_intents)
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to a generic
    *[fallback intent](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#fallback-intent)* that
    Dialogflow adds to newly created *[agents](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#agent)*
    by default.

[default welcome intent](https://dialogflow.com/docs/events#default_welcome_intent)
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to an intent that
    Dialogflow adds to newly created *[agents](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#agent)*
    by default that has a pre-defined Welcome *[event](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#event)*.

dialog
:   An exchange of *[user queries](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#user-query)* and
    corresponding responses returned by Actions on Google.

    - **Synonyms:** *conversation*

dialog turn
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to a single turn of a
    *[dialog](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#dialog)* ,
    which consists of a single *[user query](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#user-query)*
    and an agent's response.

[Dialogflow](https://dialogflow.com/)
:   Google's
    *[natural language understanding](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#natural-language-understanding)*
    developer tool for building conversational experiences for the Google Assistant.
    It uses machine learning to understand the intent and context of
    what a user says in order to respond in the most useful way.

[Dialogflow console](https://console.dialogflow.com/)
:   Web tool for creating and maintaining
    *[Dialogflow agents](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#agent)*.

## E

entity
:   Representation of a real world object that can be used in
    *[conversation requests](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#conversation-request)* and
    *[responses](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#conversation-response)* .
    Entities can be used within your training phrases to tell Dialogflow
    how to parse parameters from *[user queries](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#user-query)* .

    - **Related terms:** *[system entity](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#system-entity),
      [custom entity](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#custom-entity)*

[example mode](https://dialogflow.com/docs/intents/training-phrases#example_and_template_modes)
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to one of two ways to provide
    *[training phrases](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#training-phrase)* for an intent. In
    example mode, you provide training phrases in natural language
    (for instance, "What is the forecast for tomorrow?").

[event](https://dialogflow.com/docs/events#invoking_event_from_webhook)
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to a feature that allows an intent
    to be triggered programmatically rather than by a user query. Actions on Google sends
    special input events to Dialogflow (such as
    `GOOGLE_ASSISTANT_WELCOME` or `actions_intent_CANCEL`);
    you can enable intents in your *[agent](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#agent)* to be
    triggered by defining event names in the intents.

[explicit invocation](https://developers.google.com/actions/discovery/explicit)
:   An invocation where users use the Actions project name (for example,
    "Hey Google, talk to Movie Time").

    - **Related terms:** *[Action phrase](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#action-phrase)*

## F

[fallback intent](https://dialogflow.com/docs/intents#fallback_intents)
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to a special intent you define in your
    *[agent](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#agent)* that Dialogflow triggers when a
    *[user's query](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#user-query)* cannot be matched to any other
    intents.

    - **Related terms:** *[default fallback intent](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#default-fallback-intent)*

follow-up intent
:   When using Dialogflow, you can attach a follow-up intent to an intent
    when you expect some specific user input (for example, "yes", "no", or
    "cancel") after the parent intent's response. When Dialogflow receives
    one of these expected user inputs, it automatically triggers the
    corresponding follow-up intent.

fulfillment
:   A service, app, feed, conversation, or other logic that handles an
    intent and carries out the corresponding Action.

## G

[Google Assistant](https://assistant.google.com)
:   Google's personal virtual assistant that enables conversations between
    users and Google to get things done.

## I

[implicit invocation](https://developers.google.com/actions/discovery/implicit)
:   An invocation where users utter an
    *[Action phrase](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#action-phrase)* without an Actions
    project name (for example, "Hey Google, I want to buy movie tickets").

inline-editor
:   Editor in the *[Dialogflow console](https://console.dialogflow.com)*
    for implementing your fulfillment; Google deploys this code using
    Cloud Functions for Firebase.

intent
:   A goal or task that users want to do, such as ordering coffee or finding
    a piece of music. In Actions on Google, this is represented as a unique
    identifier and the corresponding
    *[user queries](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#user-query)* that can trigger the
    intent. When using Dialogflow, this refers to the intent mappings you
    define in your [agent](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#agent).

    - **Related terms:** *[event](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#event)*

[intent priority](https://dialogflow.com/docs/intents#intents_priority)
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to a feature that lets you assign
    different weights to intents for *[matching](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#match)*.
    If a user query can be matched to multiple intents, Dialogflow is more
    likely to trigger an intent if it has a higher priority.

input context
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to one of two ways you can specify
    a *[context](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#context)* in an intent. When an input context is
    attached to an intent, Dialogflow can trigger that intent when an
    intent with the corresponding *[output context](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#output-context)*
    was triggered in a previous *[dialog turn](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#dialog-turn)*.

[invocation](https://developers.google.com/actions/discovery/)
:   The act of starting an interaction with an Action by the user.

    - **Synonyms:** *triggering*
    - **Related terms:** *[explicit invocation](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#explicit-invocation),
      [implicit invocation](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#implicit-invocation)*

## M

match
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to how Dialogflow maps a
    *[user query](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#user-query)* to an intent in an
    *[agent](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#agent)*.

## N

natural language understanding
:   The capability of software to understand and parse user input. Developers
    can choose to use Dialogflow's NLU solution or their own NLU solutions
    when creating Actions.

## O

[output context](https://dialogflow.com/docs/contexts#output_contexts)
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to one of two ways you can specify
    a *[context](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#context)* in an intent. When Dialogflow
    triggers an intent with an output context, the context from the intent
    becomes active for a specified number of
    *[dialog turns](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#dialog-turns)* .

    - **Related terms:** *[input context](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#input-context)*

## P

[parameter](https://dialogflow.com/docs/actions-and-parameters#parameters)
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to a feature for capturing
    important words, phrases, or values in user queries. Dialogflow can
    identify *[entities](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#entity)* within your
    *[training phrases](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#training-phrase)* to extract the
    corresponding parameters from user queries at runtime. You can also define
    your own parameters by creating custom entities.

## S

[slot filling](https://dialogflow.com/docs/concepts/slot-filling)
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to a feature that allows you to
    automatically collect multiple required *[parameters](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#parameter)*
    within a single intent through a *[dialog](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#dialog)*. You
    need to set prompts for collecting the required parameters from the user.

[Small Talk](https://dialogflow.com/docs/small-talk)
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to a feature that gives an
    *[agent](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#agent)* the ability to handle casual
    conversation. Enabling this feature provides your agent with a list of
    customizable responses for various "small talk" questions.

[surface](https://developers.google.com/actions/assistant/surface-capabilities)
:   Any device that provides users with access to the Google Assistant,
    including Wear OS devices, Assistant-enabled headphones, Chromebooks,
    Android TV, Android phones and tablets, Smart displays and speakers,
    and iPhones.

system entity
:   A built-in *[entity](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#entity)* that Dialogflow knows
    about (for example, "color" and "date").

## T

[template mode](https://dialogflow.com/docs/intents#example_and_template_modes)
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to one of two ways to provide
    *[training phrases](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#training-phrase)* for an intent.
    Unlike *[example mode](https://dialogflow.com/docs/intents/training-phrases#example_and_template_modes)* , which uses natural
    language, *[training phrases](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#training-phrase)* in
    template mode use entity names to form phrases (for instance,
    "What is the @condition for @sys.date?").

[training](https://dialogflow.com/docs/training)
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to using Dialogflow's training
    algorithm to improve the ability of your *[agent](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#agent)*
    to perform *[matching](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#match)* . You can do this by updating
    *[training phrases](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#training-phrase)* for intents of
    that agent, either in the Intents page or in the
    *[training tool](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#training-tool)*, then saving the intents.

[training phrase](https://dialogflow.com/docs/training)
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to an example phrase that users
    might utter to express their intent. Dialogflow expands your training
    phrases to other similar user queries to improve
    *[matching](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#match)*.

[training tool](https://dialogflow.com/docs/training)
:   When using Dialogflow, this refers to Dialogflow's tool for
    training your *[agent](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#agent)* to perform
    *[matching](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#match)* as accurately as possible. You can
    use the tool to review conversation logs between users and your agent, add
    unmatched user queries to existing intents as training phrases, and to
    add or edit annotations.

    - **Related terms:** *[training phrase](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#training-phrase)*

## U

user query
:   Input that the user provides when interacting with a
    *[surface](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#surface)* .

    - **Synonyms:** *user input* , *user utterance*

## W

webhook
:   An HTTP callback that you can implement as
    *[fulfillment](https://developers.google.com/assistant/df-asdk/glossary#fulfillment)* for conversations.