Glossary
Use this glossary as a quick reference for Codex terms across the app, CLI, IDE extension, cloud, SDK, and related integrations.
<GlossaryTable
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{
key: "Agent",
href: "/codex",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, Cloud",
description:
"The Codex agent that reasons over context, uses tools, and completes a task.",
},
{
key: "AGENTS.md",
href: "/codex/agent-configuration/agents-md",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, Cloud",
description:
"Repository or user guidance file that gives Codex persistent instructions.",
},
{
key: "Analytics dashboard",
href: "/codex/enterprise/workspace-analytics",
appliesTo: "Enterprise",
description:
"Admin hub for ChatGPT workspace adoption and Codex-focused reporting.",
},
{
key: "API key sign-in",
href: "/codex/auth#sign-in-with-an-api-key",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description: "Authentication using an OpenAI API key.",
},
{
key: "Approval policy",
href: "/codex/agent-approvals-security#sandbox-and-approvals",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description: "Rules for when Codex must ask before taking an action.",
},
{
key: "Approval request",
href: "/codex/agent-approvals-security#automatic-approval-reviews",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description: "Codex asking to allow a restricted action.",
},
{
key: "Apps (configuration)",
href: "/codex/plugins",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"Compatibility name used by Codex configuration and app-server fields for connectors.",
},
{
key: "Appshot",
href: "/codex/appshots",
appliesTo: "Desktop app",
description:
"Snapshot of the frontmost app window sent to a Work or Codex task.",
},
{
key: "Auth cache",
href: "/codex/auth#login-caching",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description: "Locally stored login credentials reused by Codex.",
},
{
key: "Automatic approval review",
href: "/codex/agent-approvals-security#automatic-approval-reviews",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"Model-based review of eligible approval requests before they proceed.",
},
{
key: "Scheduled task",
href: "/codex/automations",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, Web",
description: "A scheduled or recurring task in ChatGPT.",
},
{
key: "Scheduled run",
href: "/codex/automations#managing-tasks",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, Web",
description:
"One execution of a scheduled task that may report findings or archive itself.",
},
{
key: "Computer Use in the browser",
href: "/codex/browser?surface=app#app-computer-use-in-the-browser",
appliesTo: "Desktop app",
description:
"Capability that lets ChatGPT operate the built-in browser directly.",
},
{
key: "Chat",
href: "/codex/projects#start-a-chat",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, Web, Mobile",
description:
"An ordinary ChatGPT conversation containing prompts and responses. Quick Chat opens this same conversation type.",
},
{
key: "ChatGPT sign-in",
href: "/codex/auth#sign-in-with-chatgpt",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, Cloud",
description:
"Authentication using a ChatGPT account and workspace permissions.",
},
{
key: "Chronicle",
href: "/codex/customization/chronicle",
appliesTo: "Desktop app",
description:
"Opt-in feature that builds memories from recent screen context.",
},
{
key: "Cloud",
href: "/codex/cloud",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, IDE extension, Web",
description:
"Mode where Codex works remotely in an OpenAI-managed environment.",
},
{
key: "Cloud environment",
href: "/codex/environments/cloud-environment",
appliesTo: "Cloud",
description: "Configured container setup used for Codex cloud tasks.",
},
{
key: "Cloud task",
href: "/codex/environments/cloud-environment#how-codex-cloud-tasks-run",
appliesTo: "Cloud",
description:
"A remotely executed Codex task that runs in a cloud environment.",
},
{
key: "Codex",
href: "/codex",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, Web, Cloud, SDK",
description: "OpenAI's coding agent for software development tasks.",
},
{
key: "ChatGPT desktop app",
href: "/codex/app",
appliesTo: "Desktop",
description:
"Desktop app with ChatGPT Work, Codex, and a separate Quick Chat window, including projects, file previews, scheduled tasks, and developer tools.",
},
{
key: "Codex app-server",
href: "/codex/app-server",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, IDE extension, SDK",
description:
"Local JSON-RPC server for embedding Codex threads, turns, approvals, history, and streamed events in custom clients.",
},
{
key: "Codex CLI",
href: "/codex/cli",
appliesTo: "Terminal",
description:
"Terminal client for running Codex interactively or in scripts.",
},
{
key: "Codex cloud",
href: "/codex/cloud",
appliesTo: "Web, Desktop app, IDE extension",
description:
"OpenAI-managed execution environment where Codex can work on repository tasks remotely.",
},
{
key: "codex exec",
href: "/codex/non-interactive-mode",
appliesTo: "CLI",
description:
"CLI command for running Codex non-interactively from scripts or CI.",
},
{
key: "Codex IDE extension",
href: "/codex/ide",
appliesTo: "IDE",
description:
"Editor integration for using Codex inside IDEs like VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Cursor, and Windsurf.",
},
{
key: "Codex SDK",
href: "/codex/codex-sdk",
appliesTo: "SDK",
description:
"Programmatic interface for building Codex-powered workflows or integrations.",
},
{
key: "Codex-managed worktree",
href: "/codex/environments/git-worktrees#codex-managed-and-permanent-worktrees",
appliesTo: "Desktop app",
description: "A temporary worktree Codex creates and manages for a task.",
},
{
key: "Compaction",
href: "/codex/prompting#context",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, Cloud",
description:
"Summarizing older context so long-running work can continue.",
},
{
key: "Compliance API",
href: "/codex/enterprise/compliance-api",
appliesTo: "Enterprise",
description:
"API for exporting supported ChatGPT workspace records and audit metadata.",
},
{
key: "Computer Use",
href: "/codex/computer-use",
appliesTo: "Desktop app",
description:
"Desktop capability that lets ChatGPT interact with other applications through the UI.",
},
{
key: "config.toml",
href: "/codex/config-file/config-reference#configtoml",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description: "Local Codex configuration files.",
},
{
key: "Connected host",
href: "/codex/remote-connections#what-comes-from-the-connected-host",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, Mobile",
description:
"Computer or development environment that provides files, tools, and shell access for Work or Codex tasks opened through Remote.",
},
{
key: "Connector",
href: "/codex/plugins",
appliesTo: "Desktop app (Work, Codex), Web (Work)",
description:
"Connector that lets Work or Codex access external services through a plugin.",
},
{
key: "Container cache",
href: "/codex/environments/cloud-environment#container-caching",
appliesTo: "Cloud",
description:
"Saved cloud container state reused to speed up future tasks.",
},
{
key: "Context",
href: "/codex/prompting#context",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, Cloud, SDK",
description:
"Information Codex can use while working, such as files, prior messages, tool output, and instructions.",
},
{
key: "Context window",
href: "/api/docs/guides/conversation-state#managing-the-context-window",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, Cloud, SDK",
description:
"The maximum amount of information the model can consider at once.",
},
{
key: "Custom agent",
href: "/codex/agent-configuration/subagents#custom-agents",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI",
description:
"User-defined agent role with its own instructions and settings.",
},
{
key: "Deny-read rule",
href: "/codex/permissions#deny-reads-with-exact-paths-or-globs",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, Enterprise",
description:
"Filesystem permission rule that prevents Codex from reading sensitive paths or glob matches.",
},
{
key: "Diff",
href: "/codex/code-review?surface=app#app-what-changes-it-shows",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, Git, Review",
description:
"Set of Git file changes shown for inspection, comments, staging, or reverting.",
},
{
key: "Domain allowlist",
href: "/codex/cloud/internet-access#domain-allowlist",
appliesTo: "Cloud",
description:
"Set of domains Codex cloud can reach when agent internet access is enabled.",
},
{
key: "Environment (local)",
href: "/codex/environments/local-environment",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, Worktree",
description:
"Desktop app configuration that tells Codex how to set up worktrees for a project.",
},
{
key: "Environment variable",
href: "/codex/environments/cloud-environment#environment-variables-and-secrets",
appliesTo: "Cloud, CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"Runtime configuration value available during task execution.",
},
{
key: "Ephemeral session",
href: "/codex/non-interactive-mode#basic-usage",
appliesTo: "CLI",
description:
"Non-interactive run that skips saving session state after it completes.",
},
{
key: "Fast mode",
href: "/codex/agent-configuration/speed#fast-mode",
appliesTo: "CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"Speed setting that makes supported models respond faster at a higher credit cost.",
},
{
key: "Filesystem permission",
href: "/codex/permissions#filesystem-permissions",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"Permission profile rule that grants or denies read and write access to paths.",
},
{
key: "Finding",
href: "/codex/automations#managing-tasks",
appliesTo: "Desktop app",
description: "A notable result or issue surfaced by a scheduled task.",
},
{
key: "Full access",
href: "/codex/sandboxing#configure-defaults",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description: "Mode where Codex runs without normal sandbox restrictions.",
},
{
key: "Git worktree",
href: "/codex/environments/git-worktrees#whats-a-worktree",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, Git",
description:
"A second checkout of the same repository for parallel branch work.",
},
{
key: "Handoff",
href: "/codex/environments/git-worktrees#working-between-local-and-worktree",
appliesTo: "Desktop app",
description: "Moving a task and its work between Local and Worktree.",
},
{
key: "Heartbeat",
href: "/codex/automations#schedule-work-from-a-task",
appliesTo: "Desktop app",
description:
"Shorthand for recurring scheduled work that returns ChatGPT to the same task.",
},
{
key: "Hook",
href: "/codex/hooks",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"A lifecycle handler that runs when a Codex event matches, such as tool use, permission requests, or when a turn stops.",
},
{
key: "Hook event",
href: "/codex/hooks#config-shape",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description: "Lifecycle point where configured hook handlers can run.",
},
{
key: "Hunk",
href: "/codex/code-review?surface=app#app-staging-and-reverting-files",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, Git, Review",
description:
"Contiguous section of a diff that can be staged, unstaged, or reverted independently.",
},
{
key: "Inline comment",
href: "/codex/code-review?surface=app#app-inline-comments-for-feedback",
appliesTo: "Desktop app",
description: "Line-specific feedback attached to a diff.",
},
{
key: "Live web search",
href: "/codex/config-file/config-basic#web-search-mode",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description: "Real-time web lookup for current information.",
},
{
key: "Local",
href: "/codex/environments/git-worktrees#working-between-local-and-worktree",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description: "Mode where Codex works on the user's computer.",
},
{
key: "Local task",
href: "/codex/environments/modes",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description: "A Work or Codex task that runs on the user's machine.",
},
{
key: "Maintenance script",
href: "/codex/environments/cloud-environment#container-caching",
appliesTo: "Cloud",
description: "Optional script run when a cached cloud container resumes.",
},
{
key: "Managed configuration",
href: "/codex/enterprise/managed-configuration",
appliesTo: "Enterprise",
description: "Organization-controlled Codex defaults and restrictions.",
},
{
key: "MCP",
href: "/codex/extend/mcp",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"Model Context Protocol, a standard for connecting Codex to external tools and context.",
},
{
key: "MCP resource",
href: "/codex/extend/mcp#supported-mcp-features",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"Readable context exposed by an MCP server for Codex to inspect.",
},
{
key: "MCP server",
href: "/codex/extend/mcp#supported-mcp-features",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description: "External tool or context provider exposed through MCP.",
},
{
key: "MCP tool",
href: "/codex/extend/mcp#supported-mcp-features",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"Action exposed by an MCP server that Codex can call during a task.",
},
{
key: "MDM",
href: "/codex/enterprise/managed-configuration#macos-managed-preferences-mdm",
appliesTo: "Enterprise",
description:
"Mobile device management tooling for distributing device profiles and managed Codex settings.",
},
{
key: "Memories",
href: "/codex/customization/memories",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description: "Locally stored context Codex can reuse across sessions.",
},
{
key: "Model",
href: "/codex/models",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, Cloud, SDK",
description: "The AI model Codex uses for reasoning and tool work.",
},
{
key: "Network access",
href: "/codex/agent-approvals-security#network-access",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, Cloud",
description:
"Permission for commands or environments to reach the internet.",
},
{
key: "Network policy",
href: "/codex/agent-approvals-security#network-policy",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"Domain-based allow and deny rules that constrain sandboxed outbound network traffic.",
},
{
key: "Non-interactive mode",
href: "/codex/non-interactive-mode",
appliesTo: "CLI",
description: "CLI mode for running Codex from scripts or CI.",
},
{
key: "Output schema",
href: "/codex/non-interactive-mode#create-structured-outputs-with-a-schema",
appliesTo: "CLI",
description:
"JSON Schema passed to codex exec to constrain the final response.",
},
{
key: "Permanent worktree",
href: "/codex/environments/git-worktrees#codex-managed-and-permanent-worktrees",
appliesTo: "Desktop app",
description: "A long-lived worktree kept as its own project.",
},
{
key: "Permission profile",
href: "/codex/permissions#define-and-select-a-profile",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"Named least-privilege policy that combines filesystem and network rules for local command execution.",
},
{
key: "Plan",
href: "/codex/learn/best-practices#plan-first-for-difficult-tasks",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, Cloud",
description: "Codex's proposed or tracked steps for completing a task.",
},
{
key: "Plugin",
href: "/codex/plugins",
appliesTo: "Desktop app (Work, Codex), Web (Work), CLI",
description:
"Installable bundle that can distribute skills, tools, and integrations.",
},
{
key: "Plugin manifest",
href: "/codex/build-plugins#plugin-structure",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, Plugins",
description:
"Plugin metadata file that identifies a plugin and points to bundled skills, apps, MCP servers, hooks, and metadata.",
},
{
key: "Prefix rule",
href: "/codex/agent-configuration/rules#understand-the-rules-language",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, Enterprise",
description:
"Command-rule pattern that allows, prompts for, or forbids matching command prefixes.",
},
{
key: "Profile",
href: "/codex/config-file/config-advanced#profiles",
appliesTo: "CLI, IDE extension",
description: "Named configuration preset for Codex.",
},
{
key: "Progressive disclosure",
href: "/codex/build-skills",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"Loading skill details only when needed to preserve context.",
},
{
key: "Project",
href: "/codex/projects",
appliesTo: "Desktop app",
description:
"A group of related chats or tasks and shared sources, or a local folder used for file-based work.",
},
{
key: "Prompt",
href: "/codex/prompting",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, Cloud, SDK",
description: "A question, instruction, or goal sent to ChatGPT or Codex.",
},
{
key: "Pull request review",
href: "/codex/code-review?surface=app#app-pull-request-reviews",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, GitHub",
description: "Codex review of changes or feedback on a pull request.",
},
{
key: "RBAC",
href: "/codex/enterprise/roles-and-workspace-permissions",
appliesTo: "Enterprise",
description: "Role-based access control for workspace permissions.",
},
{
key: "Read-only mode",
href: "/codex/sandboxing",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"Mode where Codex can inspect but not modify without approval.",
},
{
key: "Reasoning effort",
href: "/codex/config-file/config-basic#reasoning-effort",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, SDK",
description:
"Setting that controls how much reasoning budget a model uses.",
},
{
key: "Remote connection",
href: "/codex/remote-connections",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, Mobile",
description:
"Connection that lets you access Work or Codex tasks on another device through a connected host.",
},
{
key: "requirements.toml",
href: "/codex/config-file/config-reference#requirementstoml",
appliesTo: "Enterprise",
description: "Admin-enforced requirements file for managed Codex setups.",
},
{
key: "Review pane",
href: "/codex/code-review?surface=app",
appliesTo: "Desktop app",
description:
"Desktop app view for inspecting diffs, comments, and Git changes.",
},
{
key: "Rules",
href: "/codex/agent-configuration/rules",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"Policies that allow, prompt for, or deny command prefixes or permission exceptions.",
},
{
key: "Sandbox",
href: "/codex/sandboxing",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"Enforced boundary limiting what Codex commands can access or modify.",
},
{
key: "Sandbox mode",
href: "/codex/config-file/config-basic#sandbox-level",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"Configuration that defines Codex's filesystem and network limits.",
},
{
key: "Sandbox preset",
href: "/codex/codex-sdk#sandbox-presets",
appliesTo: "SDK",
description:
"SDK shorthand for common sandbox policies such as read-only, workspace-write, or full access.",
},
{
key: "Schedule",
href: "/codex/automations",
appliesTo: "Desktop app",
description: "The timing rule for a scheduled task.",
},
{
key: "Secret",
href: "/codex/environments/cloud-environment#environment-variables-and-secrets",
appliesTo: "Cloud",
description:
"Encrypted value available to setup scripts but removed before the agent phase.",
},
{
key: "Setup script",
href: "/codex/environments/local-environment#setup-scripts",
appliesTo: "Desktop app worktrees",
description:
"Script run before the agent starts to install dependencies or prepare tools.",
},
{
key: "Skill",
href: "/codex/build-skills",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"Reusable workflow package with instructions and optional scripts or references.",
},
{
key: "Skill invocation",
href: "/codex/build-skills#how-codex-uses-skills",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description: "Explicit or implicit activation of a skill.",
},
{
key: "Slash command",
href: "/codex/developer-commands?surface=cli",
appliesTo: "CLI",
description:
"Command entered with a leading slash to control or inspect a Codex CLI session.",
},
{
key: "Standalone scheduled task",
href: "/codex/automations",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, Web",
description:
"Scheduled task whose runs each start a new task and report findings in Triage.",
},
{
key: "STDIO MCP server",
href: "/codex/extend/mcp#stdio-servers",
appliesTo: "CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"MCP server launched as a local process by a configured command and arguments.",
},
{
key: "Streamable HTTP MCP server",
href: "/codex/extend/mcp#streamable-http-servers",
appliesTo: "CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"MCP server reached over HTTP, optionally with bearer token or OAuth authentication.",
},
{
key: "Subagent",
href: "/codex/agent-configuration/subagents",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI",
description: "Specialized child agent spawned to work on part of a task.",
},
{
key: "Subagent workflow",
href: "/codex/agent-configuration/subagents#core-terms",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI",
description:
"Workflow where Codex runs delegated agents in parallel and combines their results.",
},
{
key: "Task",
href: "/codex/projects",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, Web, Mobile, CLI, IDE extension, Cloud",
description:
"Durable unit of Work or Codex activity containing its context, messages, results, and actions.",
},
{
key: "Thread",
href: "/codex/app-server#threads",
appliesTo: "App-server, SDK",
description:
"Technical conversation object exposed by Codex app-server APIs and protocol fields.",
},
{
key: "Scheduled work",
href: "/codex/automations#schedule-work-from-a-task",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, Web",
description:
"Work scheduled from an existing task that returns to the same task context on each scheduled run.",
},
{
key: "Thread fork",
href: "/codex/app-server#start-or-resume-a-thread",
appliesTo: "App-server, SDK",
description:
"New thread branched from the stored history of an existing thread.",
},
{
key: "Turn",
href: "/codex/app-server#core-primitives",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension, Cloud, SDK",
description:
"One exchange in a chat or task, usually a user prompt plus the agent's response and actions.",
},
{
key: "Universal image",
href: "/codex/environments/cloud-environment#default-universal-image",
appliesTo: "Cloud",
description:
"Default Codex cloud container image with common tools preinstalled.",
},
{
key: "Web search cache",
href: "/codex/config-file/config-basic#web-search-mode",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description:
"Pre-indexed search results Codex can use without live browsing.",
},
{
key: "Work",
href: "/codex/get-started-with-work",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, Web",
description:
"ChatGPT Work is an agent for research, analysis, and creating documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and other finished work.",
},
{
key: "Worktree",
href: "/codex/environments/git-worktrees",
appliesTo: "Desktop app",
description:
"Mode where Codex isolates changes in a separate Git worktree.",
},
{
key: "Writable roots",
href: "/codex/agent-approvals-security#protected-paths-in-writable-roots",
appliesTo: "Desktop app, CLI, IDE extension",
description: "Directories Codex is allowed to modify.",
},
]}
/>