Key terms and what they mean
- Record
- A record is a discrete unit of information held within the Sildenford system. Each record belongs to a category and contains a defined set of fields. The content of those fields varies by category. Records are the basic building blocks of the information the system organises.
- Category
- A category is a labelled group of records that share a common type or subject. Categories exist to help users navigate to the kind of information they are looking for without reviewing everything in the system. The categories available to a user depend on the access level that has been confirmed for their account.
- Classification
- Classification is the process by which a record is assigned to a category. Within Sildenford, classification is applied when a record enters the system. Where AI-assisted processes are used to support classification, the system notes this within the relevant section of the interface. Classification decisions can be queried through the support team if a record appears to have been placed in an unexpected category.
- Index
- The index is the structural overview of all categories and the records within them. Navigating the index allows users to see what types of information are available at a glance before drilling down into a specific category. The index updates as records are added, amended, or removed from the system.
- Access level
- Access level refers to the set of categories and records that a specific user is permitted to view. Not all users have access to all categories. The access level for each user is determined during the enquiry review process and is described in the confirmation sent after a successful request.
- Enquiry
- An enquiry is a message submitted to the Sildenford support team through the enquiry form. Enquiries may relate to access requests, questions about the platform, support for existing users, or requests to review a specific record. Each enquiry is reviewed individually by the team.
- Metadata
- Metadata refers to information about a record rather than the primary content of the record itself. Within Sildenford, metadata typically includes the date the record was created or last updated, the category to which it belongs, and an indication of how the record was classified. Metadata is displayed alongside the record's main content in the interface.
- Contextual guidance
- Contextual guidance is explanatory text that appears alongside specific sections of the interface. It is intended to help users understand the content of a section without requiring them to navigate to a separate help resource. Contextual guidance is descriptive; it does not direct the user towards a particular course of action.
- Session
- A session refers to the period of active use within the Sildenford interface between logging in and ending the interaction. The system does not retain information entered during a session beyond what is submitted through the enquiry form.
About this page
This glossary is provided to help users understand the language used throughout the Sildenford interface and across this website. Terms are defined in plain language and reflect the way the system operates in practice.
Related pages
Understanding the interface
The following explains how the different elements of the Sildenford interface relate to each other and how to approach working with them for the first time.
Navigating between categories
The main navigation within the interface reflects the top-level categories available to your account. Selecting a category takes you to the index view for that category, where records are listed in order of relevance or date, depending on the category's configuration. You can return to the top-level navigation from any point within the interface.
Reading a record
Each record opens in a detailed view that displays the record's primary content alongside its metadata. Where a record includes references to related records, those references are displayed as part of the record's content. The detailed view does not modify the record; it is a read-only presentation of the information the system holds.
Understanding record currency
The currency of a record refers to how recently it was updated. Records within Sildenford display an update date in their metadata. Where a record has not been updated recently, this may simply reflect that the underlying information has not changed. If you are uncertain whether a record is current, the support team can advise on the update schedule for that category.
Working with contextual guidance
Some categories and individual records include contextual guidance notes. These notes appear as supplementary text within the interface and are intended to help users interpret what they are seeing. They are not instructions to take a particular action. If you find a contextual guidance note unclear or believe it does not accurately reflect the content it describes, please report this through the enquiry form.
If you need more information
This page covers the most common terms and interface concepts, but it does not cover every aspect of the system in detail. If you have a question about a specific term, a particular category, or the way a section of the interface behaves, the support team is the most direct route to an answer.
You can submit a question through the enquiry form or write directly to [email protected]. Please describe the term, section, or concept you are asking about as specifically as possible, so the team can provide a focused and useful response.
The Platform Overview and Capabilities pages also contain descriptions of how the system works that may complement what is covered here.