Glossary — Trix Docs

Key Terms

This glossary defines the terminology used throughout Trix documentation. Click any term to jump to its definition.

API Key · Cluster · Embedding · Entity · Fact Hybrid Search · Knowledge Graph · MCP · Memory Priority · Relationship · Semantic Search · Session · Space

A secret token used to authenticate requests to the Trix API. API keys are prefixed with gdb_. Keys should be stored securely and never committed to version control. Environment-specific variants (gdb_prod_, gdb_test_, gdb_ci_) are planned — see ADR-142.

C

Cluster

A group of semantically related memories that Trix automatically identifies and organizes. Clusters help you understand themes and topics in your memory data without manual categorization. Each cluster has a name, description, and list of member memories.

Context Window

The amount of text an LLM can process in a single request. Trix helps you fit relevant memories into your LLM's context window using the --max-tokens option, which truncates or prioritizes memories to fit the specified limit.

E

Embedding

A numerical vector representation of text that captures its semantic meaning. Trix automatically generates embeddings for each memory, enabling semantic search. Embeddings are high-dimensional vectors where similar concepts are represented by vectors that are close together.

Entity

A named object (person, organization, location, product, etc.) automatically extracted from memories. Entities form the nodes in your knowledge graph. Each entity has a type, name, and list of associated memories.

Exponential Backoff

A retry strategy where wait times between attempts increase exponentially (e.g., 1s, 2s, 4s, 8s). This pattern is recommended when handling rate limit errors to avoid overwhelming the API.

F

Fact

An atomic piece of information extracted from a memory. Facts are structured with a subject, predicate, and object (e.g., "Alice works at Acme Corp"). Each fact has an importance score and category. Facts enable precise queries about specific information.

Forget

The operation to permanently delete a memory from Trix. In the CLI, use trix forget ID. In SDKs, use client.memories.delete(id). This action is irreversible.

H

Hybrid Search

A search mode that combines semantic search (vector similarity) with keyword matching (BM25). This approach provides the best of both worlds: understanding meaning while also matching exact terms. Hybrid search is the default mode in Trix v1.2+.

K

Knowledge Graph

A network of entities connected by relationships. Trix automatically builds a knowledge graph from your memories by extracting entities and their connections. You can traverse and query this graph to discover insights.

M

MCP (Model Context Protocol)

An open protocol for connecting AI assistants to external tools and data sources. Trix provides an MCP server that allows tools like Claude Desktop, Cursor, and Windsurf to access your memories directly.

Memory

The fundamental unit of storage in Trix. A memory is a piece of text that represents something you want to remember — a conversation, a fact, a document, or any other content. Each memory has an ID, content, embedding, priority score, and optional metadata (tags, source, session).

Metadata

Additional information attached to a memory beyond its content. Standard metadata includes tags, source, session, and timestamps. You can also add custom key-value pairs for your application's needs.

P

Priority

A score (0-10) indicating a memory's importance. Higher priority memories appear first in search results and are less likely to be pruned. Priority can be set manually or adjusted automatically through reinforcement and decay. Use trix reinforce to boost priority and trix weaken to reduce it.

Priority Decay

Automatic reduction of a memory's priority over time or based on access patterns. This helps keep active memories prominent while allowing unused memories to fade. Decay rates are configurable per space.

R

Rate Limit

A restriction on how many API requests can be made in a given time window. Rate limits vary by plan and endpoint. When exceeded, the API returns a 429 status code with a retry_after value.

Recall

The operation to search for and retrieve memories. In the CLI, use trix recall "query". In SDKs, use client.memories.list(q=query). Recall uses hybrid search by default.

Reinforce

The operation to increase a memory's priority score. Reinforcing a memory makes it more likely to appear in search results and less likely to decay. Use when a memory has proven valuable.

Relationship

A typed connection between two memories or entities. Relationships form the edges in your knowledge graph. Each relationship has a source, target, type (e.g., "related_to", "caused_by", "contains"), and optional metadata.

Remember

The operation to store a new memory. In the CLI, use trix remember "content". In SDKs, use client.memories.create(content="content"). This triggers embedding generation and optional fact/entity extraction.

S

SDK (Software Development Kit)

A library that provides a convenient interface for interacting with the Trix API in a specific programming language. Official SDKs are available for Python (trixdb), TypeScript (@trixdb/client), and C# (Trix).

Semantic Search

A search technique that finds content based on meaning rather than exact keyword matches. Trix uses embeddings to compare the semantic similarity between your query and stored memories. This allows queries like "how to deploy" to match memories about "deployment instructions".

Session

An identifier that groups memories together, typically representing a user or conversation. Sessions provide memory isolation — memories in one session are not visible to queries in another. Use your application's user ID as the session identifier.

Space

A container for organizing memories with separate configurations. Spaces provide tenant isolation for multi-user applications. Each space has its own settings for clustering, decay, and access control. Think of spaces as separate databases within your Trix account.

T

Template

A reusable format for creating memories with consistent structure. Trix includes built-in templates (standup, meeting, idea, bug, todo) and you can create custom templates. Use trix remember --template NAME to create a memory from a template.

W

Weaken

The operation to decrease a memory's priority score. Weakening a memory makes it less likely to appear in search results and more likely to be pruned. Use when a memory is outdated or less relevant.

Webhook

A callback URL that Trix calls when specific events occur. You can subscribe to events like memory.created, memory.updated, and memory.deleted to trigger actions in your application without polling.

Abbreviations

Abbreviation	Full Form	Definition
API	Application Programming Interface	The HTTP endpoints for interacting with Trix programmatically
CLI	Command Line Interface	The `trix` command for terminal-based interaction
LLM	Large Language Model	AI models like GPT, Claude, Gemini, and Grok that Trix integrates with
MCP	Model Context Protocol	Protocol for connecting AI assistants to external tools
RAG	Retrieval-Augmented Generation	Pattern of using retrieved context to improve LLM responses
SDK	Software Development Kit	Client libraries for Python and TypeScript