---
id: glossary
title: Glossary
slug: /glossary
description: Definitions of the terms used across Chatley — agent, workspace, knowledge base, structured outputs, DNC, transfer, and more.
---

The terms used throughout this documentation, in plain language.

### Agent

An AI voice agent: a configured persona with a voice, a set of instructions, and
usually a phone number. The thing that actually talks to a caller. See
[Agents](./agents.md).

### AI receptionist

An agent configured to answer inbound calls for a business — taking messages,
answering questions, and booking appointments.

### Attestation (DNC)

The acknowledgement you accept before an agent may place outbound calls,
confirming you are responsible for compliance with calling law. See
[Compliance](./compliance.md).

### Call transfer

Handing a live call to another number, such as Sales or Support. See
[Call transfer](./call-transfer.md).

### Campaign

A list of contacts an agent calls or texts in one run. See
[Campaigns](./outbound.md).

### DNC (Do Not Call)

A list of numbers that must not be called. Chatley checks every outbound call
against your account-wide list.

### Ikora

Chatley's own assistant for managing your account by asking, rather than
clicking. Formerly called Architect. See [Ikora](./architect.md).

### Inbound / outbound

**Inbound** is a call that comes to you. **Outbound** is a call your agent
places. They carry very different legal obligations — outbound is the regulated
direction.

### Knowledge base

Documents and web pages attached to an agent so it can answer from your material
rather than guessing. See [Knowledge base](./knowledge-base.md).

### Follow-up

An automatic series of texts, calls and emails that starts when something happens —
a new lead, a sent quote — and stops when the contact replies, books or answers. See
[Follow-ups](./follow-ups.md).

### Lead capture

Collecting contact details and intent, either from a hosted form or from the
call itself. See [Lead capture](./lead-capture.md).

### Live monitoring

Listening to a call in progress, whispering guidance to the agent, or taking the
call over yourself. See [Live monitoring](./live-monitoring.md).

### MCP (Model Context Protocol)

An open standard that lets an external AI assistant connect to Chatley and use
its tools. See [MCP server](./mcp/introduction.md).

### Needs review

The queue in [Calls](./calls.md) of high-risk calls and upset callers, until
someone marks them reviewed.

### Needs inspection

A quote the [Quote Agent](./quote-agent/overview.md) did not price — the job isn't on
your price list, something the customer said needs a look first, or the total is over
your limit. It comes to you without a price being given to the customer.

### Price list

Your rates, fees, items and the jobs you quote. The Quote Agent prices every quote
from it and never invents a number. See [Price list](./quote-agent/price-list.md).

### Quote Agent

An AI agent that prices jobs from your price list in your website chat, on a hosted
quote form and by phone, then sends each quote once you approve it. See
[Quote Agent](./quote-agent/overview.md).

### Call data (structured outputs)

Named fields you define and the agent fills during a call, returned as data
rather than prose. See [Call data](./structured-outputs.md).

### TCPA

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the principal US law governing outbound
calling. Obligations sit with you as the caller.

### Template

A reusable set of agent instructions you can start from or save. See
[Templates](./templates.md).

### Texting registration

The carrier approval US businesses need before they can send texts: a business
profile, then a texting campaign. See [Texting registration](./texting-registration.md).

### Transcript

The text of what was said on a call, produced automatically alongside the
recording.

### Two-party consent

A legal requirement in some jurisdictions that *every* participant consent
before a call is recorded. See [Call recording & consent](./legal/call-recording.md).

### Webhook

An HTTP callback Chatley sends to your systems when something happens, such as a
lead being captured. See [Webhooks](./webhooks.md).

### Workspace

A container for agents and their resources, and the unit of access control. See
[Workspaces](./admin/workspaces.md).