# Glossary > Short definitions of software and business-system terms. Source: https://www.al-arjan.com/en/glossary · العربية: https://www.al-arjan.com/ar/glossary.md ### AI agent Software that understands a natural-language request, then decides and uses real tools to complete the task inside systems, within set permissions. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/services/ai-agents) ### Chatbot Software that replies to messages automatically on WhatsApp, a website or elsewhere, via menus or AI. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/services/chatbots) ### LLM — Large language model An AI model trained on huge amounts of text that understands and generates language, such as Claude, Gemini and GPT. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/ai) ### RAG — Retrieval-augmented generation A method that makes a model answer from your documents and data by retrieving relevant passages first, reducing fabricated answers. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/rag-explained) ### Hallucination A confident but incorrect answer a model produces when it lacks reliable information. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/rag-explained) ### Embedding Turning text into numbers representing meaning, so similar-meaning text can be found, not just matching words. ### Vector database A database storing embeddings and searching them fast — the backbone of RAG systems. ### Tool calling An agent’s ability to run specific functions like searching stock or creating a booking, rather than only talking. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/ai-agent-vs-chatbot) ### Human handoff Passing a conversation from bot to staff with a summary when human judgement is needed or the customer asks. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/ai-agent-guardrails) ### Guardrails Rules and permissions stopping an agent exceeding its task or performing sensitive actions without approval. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/ai-agent-guardrails) ### Prompt The text instructing a model: its role, rules, tone and the information it works from. ### Prompt injection An attempt to trick a model with instructions hidden in a message or document to bypass its rules. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/ai-agent-guardrails) ### ERP — Enterprise resource planning A single system combining finance, inventory, purchasing, sales and HR in one database, so each transaction is recorded once and appears across departments. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/services/erp) ### CRM — Customer relationship management A system holding customer data, conversations, quotes and follow-ups in one place, helping sales teams never lose a lead. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/services/crm) ### POS — Point of sale A system that records a sale as it happens, prints the receipt, deducts stock and updates the books. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/services/pos-accounting) ### HRMS — Human resources management system A system managing employee records, attendance, leave, payroll and appraisals. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/services/hr-payroll) ### HIS — Hospital information system A system linking reception, medical records, lab, radiology, pharmacy and billing in a hospital. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/solutions/hospital-management) ### LIS — Laboratory information system A system managing test orders, sample barcodes, results, reference ranges and result delivery. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/solutions/lab-management) ### EMR — Electronic medical record A digital version of a patient’s file with history, diagnoses, prescriptions and results. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/solutions/clinic-management) ### SIS — Student information system A system managing student enrolment, attendance, grades and fees in schools and universities. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/solutions/school-management) ### MVP — Minimum viable product The smallest product version that solves the user’s core problem well enough to use and learn from. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/mvp-guide) ### PWA — Progressive web app A website that behaves like an app: installable from the browser, fast, and partly usable offline. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/pwa-vs-native) ### Flutter Google’s framework for building iOS, Android and web apps from one Dart codebase. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/flutter-vs-native) ### Native development Building a separate app per OS in its own language — Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/flutter-vs-native) ### API — Application programming interface A structured way for systems and apps to exchange data. ### Backend The invisible part of an app: the database, logic and APIs the app relies on. ### Admin panel A web interface where the business manages the app’s content, orders, users and reports. ### UI/UX — User interface / user experience UI is how the interface looks; UX is the logic of the experience and how easily tasks get done. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/services/ui-ux) ### RTL — Right-to-left The writing direction of Arabic and Kurdish; interfaces must be laid out mirrored from English. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/arabic-ui-design) ### Offline-first Designing an app to work on local data and sync with the server when internet is available. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/offline-pos) ### Synchronisation Moving changes between device and server, or between branches, so data matches. ### SLA — Service level agreement A written commitment to response and resolution times per incident severity. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/services/cloud-support) ### 3-2-1 backup rule Three copies of data, on two different media, one of them off-site. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/data-backup) ### Cloud hosting Running a system on a provider’s servers rented by usage instead of buying hardware. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/cloud-vs-onprem) ### On-premise Running a system on servers the organisation owns on its premises. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/cloud-vs-onprem) ### 2FA — Two-factor authentication Requiring a second proof (such as a phone code) in addition to the password at login. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/software-security-basics) ### Audit trail A log showing who viewed or changed which data, and when. ### FEFO — First expiry, first out A stock rule issuing the batch closest to expiry before others. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/pharmacy-expiry) ### Landed cost An imported item’s cost after adding freight, duties, transport and clearance. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/solutions/inventory-management) ### Cycle counting Counting small parts of stock regularly instead of one full annual count that halts work. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/inventory-discrepancies) ### BOQ — Bill of quantities A list of a construction project’s items, quantities and rates, used for progress and payment certificates. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/solutions/construction-management) ### Payment gateway A service connecting an app or store to electronic payment methods and confirming transactions. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/iraq-payment-gateways) ### COD — Cash on delivery Paying for an order in cash to the courier on delivery — still common in Iraq. ### SEO — Search engine optimisation Improving a site and its content to appear in Google results when customers search. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/seo-iraq-guide) ### AEO — Answer engine optimisation Optimising content to be quoted by ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google’s AI answers. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/ai-search-visibility) ### llms.txt A text file at the site root summarising the company and key pages for AI models. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/ai-search-visibility) ### Structured data (schema) Code annotations telling search engines what content is: a business, service, FAQ or article. ### Core Web Vitals Google’s metrics for content load speed, layout stability and responsiveness. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/website-speed) ### GBP — Google Business Profile Your company’s listing on Google Maps and local search, with address, hours and reviews. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/google-business-profile-iraq) ### WhatsApp Business API A service letting systems send automatic WhatsApp messages and route chats to staff. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/whatsapp-business-api) ### Electronic archiving Turning paper documents into indexed digital files searchable quickly, with permissions. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/solutions/document-archiving) ### SaaS — Software as a service Software used online via a recurring subscription instead of buying and installing it. [More](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/custom-vs-ready-software) --- Contact Al-Arjan: +964 773 545 2792 (phone & WhatsApp, 24/7) — [Request a quote](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/quote)