Glossary
AI search glossary.
The words in this field can get in the way. Here is what each one means, in a sentence or two.
Terms
- AI search
- Any search tool that writes a direct answer instead of only showing links. ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews are examples. Read the guide on AI search optimization.
- AI Overviews
- AI written summaries Google shows above regular results on many searches. They draw on pages in Google's index.
- AI Mode
- A conversational search mode inside Google for longer questions and follow ups.
- Answer engine
- A tool built to answer a question directly. Perplexity is a well known example. Read the guide on Answer engine optimization.
- Citation
- Two meanings. In local SEO, a mention of your name, address and phone on another site. In AI answers, a source the assistant links or credits.
- Entity
- A distinct thing a machine can recognize, such as your business. A clear entity has one name, address and description everywhere.
- GEO
- Generative engine optimization. Improving how a business appears in answers written by AI. Read the guide on Generative engine optimization.
- AEO
- Answer engine optimization. Writing content so AI tools can quote it as the answer. Read the guide on Answer engine optimization.
- LLM
- Large language model. The kind of AI behind ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. It predicts text based on patterns it learned.
- llms.txt
- A proposed text file summarizing a site for AI. Major AI engines have not confirmed they read it. Read the guide on llms.txt.
- Schema markup
- Code that labels facts on a page using the schema.org vocabulary, such as your business name, hours and services. Read the guide on Schema for local business.
- Structured data
- Information organized in a fixed format machines can read without guessing. Schema markup in JSON-LD is the common form on websites.
- Google Business Profile
- The listing that shows your business on Google Search and Maps, with your category, hours, service area, photos and reviews. AI tools read it often.
- NAP consistency
- Keeping your name, address and phone identical across your site, Google and directories.
- Local pack
- The map and short list of businesses Google shows for local searches.
- Prompt
- The question or instruction a person types into an AI tool. Small wording changes can change the answer.
- Visibility check
- Asking the same set of buyer questions across AI tools on a schedule and recording who is named and which sources are cited. Read the guide on AI visibility audit.
- Crawler
- Software that visits web pages to read them. GPTBot, ClaudeBot and PerplexityBot are AI crawlers.
- robots.txt
- A file at the root of a site that tells crawlers which pages they may visit. Blocking AI crawlers here can keep assistants from reading your site.
- E-E-A-T
- Experience, expertise, authoritativeness and trust. Google uses these ideas to judge content quality. They are good guides for AI visibility too.
- Zero click search
- A search where the person gets the answer on the results page or in the AI reply without visiting a website.
- AggregateRating
- A schema type that summarizes reviews into an average score and count. Use it only for reviews collected on your own site.
- Service area
- The towns or region where you travel to customers. Listing it accurately helps AI match you to local questions.