# Glossary

*The words PromptMason uses, each explained in a line or two, with a link to the guide that covers it.*

Online version: https://promptmason.ai/docs/glossary

The terms PromptMason uses, in alphabetical order. Each links to the guide that covers it.

- **AI agent:** an AI app on your PC, such as Claude Desktop, Cursor or Claude Code, that you connect to PromptMason so it can search and use your blocks and prompts. See [Connect an AI agent through MCP](https://promptmason.ai/docs/connect-ai-agent).
- **AI assist:** a button in the editor that asks an AI model to rewrite the block, static prompt or document you're editing. You accept or discard the suggestion. See [Improve text with AI assist](https://promptmason.ai/docs/ai-assist).
- **AI provider:** a company whose AI models PromptMason can use with your own API key: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini or xAI (Grok), or your own OpenAI-compatible server. See [Set up AI](https://promptmason.ai/docs/ai-setup).
- **API key:** a private code from an AI provider that lets PromptMason use your account with them. Any charges go to that account. Keys are stored encrypted on your PC and never exported. See [Set up AI](https://promptmason.ai/docs/ai-setup).
- **API token:** a private code an AI agent uses to reach your library. Agents you add under **Connect an AI agent** in Settings use it automatically; you only handle it when you set up an agent by hand. See [Control what connected apps can do](https://promptmason.ai/docs/agent-access).
- **App Lock:** a password that PromptMason asks for when it opens and, if you choose, after a time away. It locks the screen; it isn't what keeps your library encrypted. See [Lock PromptMason with a password](https://promptmason.ai/docs/app-lock).
- **Approval code:** a code of letters and numbers, in groups of four, shown on a PC that asks to join a library, and on the PC that approves it. You check the two match before you approve. See [Approve a PC](https://promptmason.ai/docs/approve-device).
- **Approving PC:** the one PC on which a library's primary owner approves PCs, removes them and changes roles. See [The primary owner](https://promptmason.ai/docs/primary-owner).
- **Archive:** a place to put blocks and prompts you don't use now but want to keep. Archived items leave your lists but still count toward the Free plan, and an archived block still supplies its text to dynamic prompts. See [Archive, delete and restore](https://promptmason.ai/docs/archive-and-delete).
- **Ask me each time:** a setting on a variable. Instead of a fixed value, PromptMason asks you to type one, or pick one from a list you set up, each time you copy something that uses it, in **Fill in your values**. See [Variables](https://promptmason.ai/docs/variables).
- **Backup:** a copy of your personal library, and any team libraries you own, that PromptMason saves to a folder you choose, on a schedule, while it's open. Only you can open it. See [Backups](https://promptmason.ai/docs/backups).
- **Block:** a reusable piece of prompt text with a name and a type, such as "Act as a careful editor". You build prompts from blocks. See [Create and edit blocks](https://promptmason.ai/docs/blocks).
- **Block header:** a line such as `### ROLE: Support agent ###` that PromptMason writes above a block's text in a prompt when you tick **Include Name** or **Include Type**. See [Formatting, block headers and hidden notes](https://promptmason.ai/docs/text-formatting).
- **Block pack:** a set of ready-made blocks, prompts and variables you can add to your library, such as the Starter pack. Pack items carry the pack's name as a tag, such as `Starter pack`. See [Add a block pack](https://promptmason.ai/docs/block-packs).
- **Block type:** the kind of text a block holds. The built-in types are Role, Task, Context, Format and Constraints, and you can add your own. See [Block types, prompt types and defaults](https://promptmason.ai/docs/types-and-defaults).
- **Build:** the screen where you put blocks together into a prompt, on the **Canvas** tab, or write a document on the **Markdown** tab. See [Build a prompt](https://promptmason.ai/docs/build-prompt).
- **Canvas:** the tab on Build where you put blocks together into a prompt. The blocks sit in order as cards. The shortcut for opening Build is called **Go to Canvas**. See [Build a prompt](https://promptmason.ai/docs/build-prompt).
- **Chat:** the screen, shown as **Chat & Browse** in the sidebar, where you run your prompts with an AI model and read the results. See [Run prompts in Chat](https://promptmason.ai/docs/chat-basics).
- **Chrome extension:** an add-on for Chrome that lets you search your prompts and blocks and copy them on any website, while PromptMason is open. See [The Chrome extension](https://promptmason.ai/docs/chrome-extension).
- **Cloud provider:** an AI service reached over the internet with your own key, such as OpenAI or Anthropic. Text you send with AI assist, Evaluate or Chat goes to it, under its terms. See [Set up AI](https://promptmason.ai/docs/ai-setup) and [What AI features send, and where](https://promptmason.ai/docs/ai-privacy).
- **Code view:** the **Code** side of Build's **Visual** | **Code** switch, which shows a prompt's blocks as code you can copy or edit. See [Edit a prompt as code](https://promptmason.ai/docs/code-view).
- **Comment:** a note about a block, prompt or document, kept in the **Comments** panel. Comments are never part of the prompt's text. See [Comments](https://promptmason.ai/docs/comments).
- **Connected app:** an app outside PromptMason that can reach your library: an AI agent or the Chrome extension. You choose what they can do in **Settings → AI & connected apps**. See [Control what connected apps can do](https://promptmason.ai/docs/agent-access).
- **Default value:** a value a variable that asks each time fills in for you, which you can change before copying. See [Variables](https://promptmason.ai/docs/variables).
- **Document:** a Markdown file, such as a Skill for an AI tool, written on Build's **Markdown** tab. PromptMason keeps its text exactly as written, and it counts as a prompt on the Free plan. See [Markdown documents and Skills](https://promptmason.ai/docs/markdown-documents).
- **Dynamic prompt:** a prompt built from blocks that stays linked to them. When you edit a block, every dynamic prompt that uses it changes too. See [Static prompts, dynamic prompts and documents](https://promptmason.ai/docs/static-and-dynamic).
- **Editor:** a team library role. An editor uses and changes what's in the library. See [Team libraries](https://promptmason.ai/docs/team-libraries).
- **Embedded block:** a block that belongs to one prompt only. It isn't on the Blocks screen, and it doesn't count toward the Free plan. See [Library blocks and embedded blocks](https://promptmason.ai/docs/embedded-blocks).
- **Evaluate:** a button that asks an AI model to grade a block, prompt or document out of 10, or to check it for personal, financial or confidential details. See [Evaluate a block, prompt or document](https://promptmason.ai/docs/evaluate).
- **Expected output:** a result an AI tool gave for a block, prompt or document, kept with it, with the tool and model that gave it and an optional file. See [Expected output](https://promptmason.ai/docs/expected-output).
- **Explorer:** the screen that shows blocks and prompts side by side, in their folders, to move, copy, file and delete them. See [Explorer](https://promptmason.ai/docs/explorer).
- **Extension token:** a private code that lets the Chrome extension reach your library. You paste it into the extension once. See [The Chrome extension](https://promptmason.ai/docs/chrome-extension).
- **Favorite:** a block, prompt or document you marked with a heart, so you can filter for it. Shown only when the Favorites & ratings feature is on. See [Tags, favorites and ratings](https://promptmason.ai/docs/tags-favorites-ratings).
- **Feature switch:** a switch in **Settings → Features** that shows or hides an optional part of PromptMason. Hiding a feature never deletes anything. See [Show or hide features](https://promptmason.ai/docs/features).
- **Folder:** a way to group blocks and prompts in a library. Items not in a folder are at the top of the library, shown as **My Files** in your personal library. See [Folders, moving and copying](https://promptmason.ai/docs/folders).
- **Free and Pro:** PromptMason's two plans. Both have every feature. Free holds up to 25 blocks and 15 prompts; Pro has no limit. See [Plans and limits](https://promptmason.ai/docs/plans).
- **Hidden note:** text written as `{{! like this }}` inside a block or prompt. You see it while editing, but it's left out wherever the text is previewed or copied. See [Formatting, block headers and hidden notes](https://promptmason.ai/docs/text-formatting).
- **Home:** a start page with a search across everything you've saved, and widgets you arrange. Shown when the Home dashboard feature is on. See [The Home screen](https://promptmason.ai/docs/home).
- **Kind:** whether a prompt is **Static**, **Dynamic** or **Markdown** (a document). It's set by how you made the item, and the app has no button to change it. Not the same as Type. See [Static prompts, dynamic prompts and documents](https://promptmason.ai/docs/static-and-dynamic).
- **License key:** the code that turns on Pro on a PC. You get it when you buy Pro; you paste it in **Settings → Plan** and click **Activate**. You don't need one for your first 14 days of Pro. See [Your trial and license key](https://promptmason.ai/docs/license).
- **Library:** where your blocks, prompts, folders and variables live. See [Personal and team libraries](https://promptmason.ai/docs/libraries).
- **Library block:** a block saved on the Blocks screen that any prompt can use. Editing it changes every prompt that uses it. See [Library blocks and embedded blocks](https://promptmason.ai/docs/embedded-blocks).
- **Local model:** an AI model that runs on your PC. Once downloaded, it works offline and sends none of your text anywhere. It's free on every plan. See [Free, private AI on your PC](https://promptmason.ai/docs/local-model).
- **MCP (Model Context Protocol):** an open standard that lets AI apps use tools other programs provide. PromptMason has an MCP server built in, so AI apps such as Claude Desktop, Cursor and Claude Code can search and use your library. See [PromptMason's built-in MCP server](https://promptmason.ai/docs/mcp-server).
- **Notifications:** the panel that opens from the bell in the top-right corner, with things to do and things you might want to know. See [Notifications](https://promptmason.ai/docs/notifications).
- **Owner:** a team library role. An owner also exports the library, backs it up and restores deleted items. See [Team libraries](https://promptmason.ai/docs/team-libraries).
- **Paused:** what happens when you're on the Free plan with more than 25 blocks or more than 15 prompts, for example after your 14 days of Pro end. You can read and delete, but not edit, create or copy, until you're within the limits or on Pro. See [When your library is paused](https://promptmason.ai/docs/paused-library).
- **Personal library:** your own library, named **Personal**. Everyone has one. You can sync it to your other PCs. See [Use your library on a second PC](https://promptmason.ai/docs/second-pc).
- **Primary owner:** the one owner of a team library who approves PCs, removes people, changes roles and changes the library's settings. See [The primary owner](https://promptmason.ai/docs/primary-owner).
- **Prompt:** the text you paste into an AI tool, or run in Chat. A prompt is static, dynamic or a Markdown document. See [Copy and use a prompt](https://promptmason.ai/docs/use-prompts).
- **Rating:** one to five stars you give a block, prompt or document, to filter and sort by. Shown only when the Favorites & ratings feature is on. See [Tags, favorites and ratings](https://promptmason.ai/docs/tags-favorites-ratings).
- **Reader:** a team library role. A reader uses what's in the library but can't change it. See [Team libraries](https://promptmason.ai/docs/team-libraries).
- **Recently deleted:** a tab on the **Archive** screen that holds deleted blocks and prompts for 30 days, after which they're gone for good. Items there don't count toward the Free plan. See [Archive, delete and restore](https://promptmason.ai/docs/archive-and-delete).
- **Recovery kit:** a file plus a code that together hold a spare copy of your keys. You only need it if you lose every PC you use PromptMason on, or forget your App Lock password. See [Your recovery kit](https://promptmason.ai/docs/recovery-kit).
- **Skill:** a set of instructions for an AI tool, usually written as a Markdown document. **Skill** is also one of the built-in prompt types, and the type a new document starts with. See [Markdown documents and Skills](https://promptmason.ai/docs/markdown-documents).
- **Static prompt:** a prompt whose text is fixed. Changes to blocks don't affect it. You write one on the Prompts screen, or save one from Build with **Save as Static**. See [Static prompts, dynamic prompts and documents](https://promptmason.ai/docs/static-and-dynamic).
- **Sync:** how a library stays the same on several PCs, through a folder in cloud storage you already use. See [Use your library on a second PC](https://promptmason.ai/docs/second-pc) and [Sync problems](https://promptmason.ai/docs/sync-problems).
- **Tag:** a label you add to blocks, prompts and documents, to filter and find them. See [Tags, favorites and ratings](https://promptmason.ai/docs/tags-favorites-ratings).
- **Team library:** a library shared with other people through a folder in the cloud storage your team already uses. Every member's PC keeps a copy. See [Team libraries](https://promptmason.ai/docs/team-libraries).
- **Token (AI):** the unit AI models count text in. A token is about three quarters of a word. Cloud AI providers charge by the token. See [Chat and context](https://promptmason.ai/docs/chat).
- **Trial:** the 14 days of Pro every download starts with, with no key. It is not a third plan. Afterwards PromptMason moves to the Free plan; nothing is deleted. See [Your trial and license key](https://promptmason.ai/docs/license).
- **Type:** a label you pick for a prompt or document under **Properties**: User Prompt, System Prompt, Skill or one you add. Not the same as Kind. See [Block types, prompt types and defaults](https://promptmason.ai/docs/types-and-defaults).
- **Variable:** a named value, such as your company name, written as `{{name}}` in a block or prompt and filled in when you copy. See [Variables](https://promptmason.ai/docs/variables).
- **Version:** a saved copy of a block, prompt or document from an earlier save. You can see earlier versions and restore one. See [Version history](https://promptmason.ai/docs/version-history).
- **Web tab:** a website, such as Claude or ChatGPT, open in a tab on the Chat screen, signed in with your own account. See [Web tabs](https://promptmason.ai/docs/web-tabs).

## Want a hand?

Paste this prompt into Claude, ChatGPT or another AI assistant, together with this guide, to be walked through it step by step:

> Explain what these PromptMason terms mean in plain words, with an example of each: block, embedded block, dynamic prompt, static prompt, variable and library.