A digital file designed, like a KB document, so people with visual, physical, cognitive, or hearing impairments can read and navigate it easily using assistive technology like screen readers.

Ensuring that the electronic tools like the KB editor, it's documents, help articles, live group space sites, and learning materials to meet federal accessibility standards so that individuals with disabilities can use them equally and independently.

A KB user with elevated permissions to manage users, groups, live site settings, workflows, and publishing privileges.

A field in the KB Admin tools edit image modal where authors can add a short written description embedded in the code of an image or graphic to explain what the visual item shows and why it matters.

The measurement and tracking of how KB consumers and search engines interact with your help documentation.

A bookmark tool used as a target in a KB document to let readers jump directly to a specific section or heading within a long document without needing to scroll. 

A bridge that allows other software programs to automatically search, read, write, or sync KB articles and data without using the human website interface.

A KB article that is removed from public search results and active viewing, but saved in a back-end storage list for reference or audits.

Lets you find text and keywords inside supported file attachments like PDFs and audio transcripts linked to KB documents, in addition to searching the main article text. 

The specific group of people intended to read, use, and benefit from KB articles.

The process of verifying a user's identity before granting access to internal, restricted, or customer-facing Knowledgebase information.

A KB user or role with permissions to create, edit, and publish documentation such as articles, guides, and FAQs.

The process of verifying a user's identity before granting access to internal, restricted, or customer-facing information. Authentication verifies who a user is (such as logging in with a password or email), authorization decides what files, categories, or administrative settings they can access.

The methods that make KB self-service information easy to find, simple to read, and accurate enough to solve a problem so a user can help themselves.

A secondary navigation trail at the upper left of a live KB page showing a user's hierarchical location within pre-defined topics.

A temporary storage location on your device where web browsers save website files like images, scripts, and stylesheets.

A set of published guides and rules that show KB users how to add written text to video.

Function as a specific collection or folder used to organize, tag, and sort KB documents, instructions, policies, and technical guides.

The structured process of controlling, updating, and maintaining shared information stored in your KB space over time.

The difference in luminance (brightness) between the text color and its background color. It is a fundamental element of web accessibility (specifically under the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or WCAG). The KB default group space CSS ensures that documentation, articles, and guides are easily readable for all users, including those with visual impairments like color blindness or low vision.

A systematic review and evaluation of all existing KB articles, guides, FAQs, and documents to check for accuracy, relevance, and quality.

A system of rules, roles, and workflows that controls how information in your KB is created, updated, reviewed, and retired.

The ongoing process of reviewing, updating, structuring, and deleting KB articles to ensure all stored information remains accurate, useful, and easy to find.

The specific person or group accountable for the accuracy, quality, relevance, and lifecycle of designated KB articles or documentation

A small text file that a web server sends to your web browser to remember information about your visit.

The KB Admin Tools include a built-in CSR and KEY generator page. This utility allows KB space administrators to securely generate a public-private key pair and an encoded CSR string directly within the dashboard.

A styling language used to control the visual presentation, layout, and branding of KB documents and websites.

A plain text file format used to store tabular data like tables or spreadsheets.

A centralized visual interface located in your KB Home Tab that displays key document count metrics, search data, and status reports about your KB articles in one place.

The system of rules, roles, and processes that keeps your KB site's information accurate, safe, and easy to find.

The hands-on practice of managing, organizing, and maintaining your KB group's content to ensure information remains accurate, trusted, and easy to find.

The process of gathering, converting, and indexing physical or digital files so content becomes searchable and readable within a centralized repository such as your KB Space.

A set of defined processes that help your KB Group obtain, organize, store and deliver information crucial to its operation in the most effective manner possible. The stages of a document’s lifecycle include: creation, publication (site access), categorizing (topics and/or audiences), keywords, metadata tagging, delivery or sharing, repurposing, review and reporting, archiving and / or deletion.

A label that shows where a KB article is in its lifecycle, such as Published, Pending Review, Draft, Archive, etc.

The main address of the support or help center site (e.g., ://wisc.edu).

An early, unfinished version of a KB article whose purpose is to let an author put down raw ideas before editing and revising.

External or rich multimedia content (such as videos, audio clips, interactive maps, or transcripts) placed directly inside a KB article so content consumers can view it on the page without leaving the site.

An integrated media tool (such as a video or audio player) placed directly inside a KB article so content consumers can view or listen to content without leaving the page.

Is a standard identifier attribute that uniquely identifies a person at a campus. At UW–Madison, an ePPN is always formatted as NetID@wisc.edu. It serves as a standardized, unique global identifier used to manage user authentication, login permissions, and visibility rules within the KB Admin Tools.

The KnowledgeBase separates content based on target audiences. Authors can check their document formatting using two specific views from the right side panel of the document editor. The External view previews the publicly accessible, user-facing version of your KB document.

Focuses on known-item seeking. When a user has a specific problem and searches or clicks through menus, high findability means the user reaches the correct solution quickly via your KB documents.

A font is a collection of characters, letters, numbers, and symbols displayed in a specific style and size. Your KB group space uses a predefined theme, and its typography is governed by the theme’s brand settings, which determine the default font styling.

An option that examines all words across every published KB document rather than just looking at titles or assigned keywords.

Is defined as a binary-encoded 2D raster data type image format that ordinarily uses the .gif extension. KB Authors can drag, copy, or upload non-animated .gif images directly into the text editor of their KB documentation.

A dedicated workspace for a campus unit, department, or IT group to create, store, manage, and collaborate on documents, as well as share documents with and receive documents from other Group spaces.

Refers to the visual layout that lets KB authors and administrators interact with the backend system using buttons, icons, and menus instead of text-based commands.

The logical, hierarchical order of title tags (from H1 to H6) that organizes a KB article like a table of contents.

The standard coding language used to structure content and give it meaning inside a knowledge base articles. It uses special markers called tags (like <p> for paragraphs or <h1> for headings) to tell the system and browser how to organize text, insert images, build tables, and create clickable links.

A clickable element in a KB article that lets users jump to related content, specific sections within the same page, or external web resources.

A design and content strategy that ensures KB articles can be found, read, and understood by people of all backgrounds, abilities, languages, and technical skill levels.

How KB documents, attachments, and keywords are discovered, compiled, and aggregated for search functionality.

The structural blueprint that organizes, structures, and labels KB content so users can find answers quickly and easily.

The KB separates content based on target audiences. Authors can check their document formatting using two specific views from the right side panel of the document editor. The Internal view is a preview of the restricted-access version of a KB document that is hidden from the general public and requires user authentication.

Serves as a vital network identifier utilized for security auditing, access control, and restriction monitoring. Example: Valid public UW-Madison IP addresses traditionally begin with 128.x.x.x, 146.x.x.x, or 144.x.x.x.

Security and access control feature used to restrict or permit visibility of specific KB documents based on a user's network location. Instead of relying solely on a NetID login, KB administrators can configure specific documents or entire group spaces to be accessible only when a user is connected to a recognized network within a designated block of consecutive IP addresses.

A JPEG is a graphic image file produced according to a standard from an ISO/IEC group of experts that develops and maintains standards for a suite of compression algorithms for computer image files. JPEGs usually have a .jpg or .jpeg file extension.

A specialized hyperlink that moves a reader directly to a specific section or heading within the same long, information-dense article rather than making them scroll down the KB document manually.

Backend management features in the KnowledgeBase System used by administrators and authors to create, organize, bulk-import, and control access to documentation.

A monthly meeting of KB administrators and authors led by the central UW KB Team. Attendees often see unreleased new features first and give direct feedback to help guide decisions for the KB platform.

A self-contained, searchable piece of digital content that explains how to solve a specific problem, use a feature, or understand a policy consisting of a title, summary, body, and keywords.

The core accessibility capability that allows users to search, browse, and operate all KB content and interactive features using only a keyboard, entirely without the use of a mouse or trackpad

Specific metadata tags and searchable terms assigned to a KB document to help organize content and match user search queries.

A KB document that provides instructions, answers, or troubleshooting steps to help users solve a specific problem or learn how to use a specific campus service.

The practice of creating, organizing, sharing, maintaining, and improving institutional knowledge.

A centralized library of online help articles, guides, protocols, how-tos, minutes, documentation and more

Refers to the main entry point or custom home page of a KB portal designed to welcome visitors and guide them to relevant documents, instructions, or support guides.

The configuration settings that control the visual presentation, structure, and branding elements of a group’s internal or external KB space.

A feature used within the KB Admin Tools document editor to dynamically hyperlink to a specific topic name or topic ID.

This function is a built-in feature within the KB Admin Tools that allows content creators and authors to see how an article or document will look to end-users before officially publishing it.

The active, public-facing (or production) or internal (restricted viewing) of your KB groups space where end-users view published articles, FAQs, and guides in real time.

A dynamic content strategy where KB help articles, guides, and troubleshooting steps remain perpetually current, accurate, and easy to understand.

Refers to any supplemental digital assets such as images, audio files, and video clips embedded within or attached to KB articles to helps explain complex ideas and supports different learning styles.

Authors can use the KB editor interface to seamlessly embed hyperlinked text and insert media objects like images or videos. When adding links, it includes strict guardrails to comply with content accessibility guidelines.

Structured data found at the bottom of your live document / or bottom of a document in the KB Admin Tools that describes, organizes, and provides context for your content.

The numbers and data points used to track how well your KB articles and self-service resources perform.

A security process that requires users to provide two or more different verification factors to prove their identity before gaining access to a KB space.

A structured list of links that help KB content consumers quickly find help articles, categories, and documentation.

A unique electronic username assigned by a university or institution to serve as your central login for digital and campus services.

A secure software application that stores, generates, and organizes your login credentials in an encrypted digital vault.

A static document file that is stored, linked, converted, or embedded to supply information to users. KB Users can attach PDF files directly into digital articles so readers may view or download forms, manuals, and guides without leaving the page.

Clear, concise writing that lets users find information, understand it the first time, and use it to solve a problem.

The KnowledgeBase, itself, is a web-based platform. It is a centralized, cloud-hosted software environment provided by the Division of Information Technology (DoIT).

An image format designed as an improved replacement for GIF. Like GIF, PNG uses lossless compression, meaning all image data is preserved when decompressed for viewing. PNG files typically use the .png extension.

The method your browser uses to load the page securely, typically https://.

The active lifecycle state of a KB article, announcement, or admin alert that makes it live and accessible to its intended audience.

A document that is visible to its intended audience after approval and release.

KB content creators using the Internal view/External view preview can test and review visual KB features like document Headers and Footers, custom HTML styles, or integrated features like the LinkTopic tool (which replaces system tags with the actual title of the linked KB document).

The specific ability for authorized users to securely log in and view, edit, or manage internal KB documentation and support articles from outside the institution's physical network or office environment.

An administrative and analytics tool that tracks content performance, user engagement, and organizational efficiency. Reports monitor the lifecycle of knowledge assets, including article creation, updates, reviews, approvals, and deletions, while measuring usage through views, reads, ratings, likes, and unique visitors. These insights help identify valuable content, track productivity, and optimize the knowledge base.

A design approach used in the KB System that automatically adjusts support articles, navigation menus, tables and search bars to fluidly fit any screen size or device.

A standardized web-based tool that allows campus developers to securely pull, share, or update KB data—such as technical help documents, user permissions, or site content—across external software applications.

A scheduled routine used to check, update, and verify that published KB articles remain accurate and useful.

A user role responsible for checking, editing, and approving articles to ensure accuracy and quality before they are published.

A built-in log that tracks every change, edit, and update made to a KB article over time.

A visual writing tool that lets you format KB articles like a standard word processor without using code. It is often called a WYSIWYG editor, which stands for "What You See Is What You Get".

A security framework that regulates access to KB content and functionality based on a user's assigned role, group membership, or administrative permissions. RBAC determines which document spaces, articles, and features a user can view, create, edit, approve, publish, or manage, helping ensure appropriate access, maintain content integrity, and support organizational security and compliance requirements.

A software application that converts digital text and visual elements on a screen into synthesized speech or a refreshable braille display.

An image of a computer or phone screen used in a KB article to show users what a specific menu, button, or error message looks like.

The practice of structuring, writing, and configuring KB articles so they can be easily discovered, indexed, and ranked by search engines.

The mechanism and configuration settings that determine how accurately and effectively a search engine matches a user’s query with the most helpful KB articles.

A non-human account used by applications, integrations, or automated processes.

Allows your users to access existing, high-quality content without your team having to recreate, copy, or maintain a duplicate version of the KB article. A KB administrator can request a document from another group or configure "Group Relations" to automate sharing. This links the content across separate KB spaces, maintaining a single source of truth.

Allows internal users to view every single document published on a specific KB site.

This command functions strictly on internal, authenticated KB sites. It does not display restricted documents to the public. Instead of typing keywords to filter by a topic, entering showalldocs into the search bar triggers the system to bypass standard search parameters and return a complete catalog of all live, published documents belonging to that site's repository. 

A command or page identifier that displays a complete list of all participating campus and institution partner sites sharing documents within the aggregate or unified system.

Used by internal site authors, editors, and administrators to immediately retrieve all of their favorited documents.

When managing an internal KB space, you can mark frequently used or regularly shared support documents as a "Favorite". This command bypasses the standard search algorithms and filters the down strictly to your personalized list of saved documents for easy access.

When applied, it returns only documents that have been shared by other groups, while filtering out any documents that are directly owned by the specific group whose KB site you are currently searching.

When applied, it returns only documents that have been shared by other groups, while filtering out any documents that are directly owned by the specific group whose KB site you are currently searching.

An authentication method that lets users log into your KB site using their existing institution credentials.

The structure of your KB group's live site content, often driven by the Topics map feature. The KB Admin Tools provides an integrated feature called topics.php, which acts as a dynamic Topics map for a specific live site.

The editable, human-readable portion of a web address that uniquely identifies a specific KB article, category, or the main home page.

While it functions visually, the KB editor generates clean markup behind the scenes. If you need advanced custom styling, you can toggle into Source Code Mode to directly view and edit the raw HTML.

A digital credential for institutions external to the University of Wisconsin-Madison that establishes an encrypted HTTPS connection and verifies the identity of a server or domain. Also known as a TLS (Transport Layer Security) certificate. It is used to ensure that visitors can access custom-branded KB site securely without seeing a browser warning instead of using the standard kb.wisc.edu address.

A digital, step-by-step guide that explains how to complete a specific, repeatable task correctly and consistently.

An authoritative person who creates, reviews, and updates accurate information on a specific subject for a KB space.

A notification setting that allows a user or administrator to track changes made to specific KB documents or group spaces. Users can subscribe to individual documents or categories to stay informed when edits, updates, or major revisions occur. When subscribed content changes, the system sends automated alerts or notifications to the subscriber.

A user-facing KB website that exists as a subdirectory under the main KB domain. For UW–Madison groups, subsites typically have URLs such as:

 https://kb.wisc.edu/your-site-name

A department, unit, or organization may publish their KB documents for end users to access. It serves as the public and/or internal website for that group's knowledge content.

An XML-based file format used to describe two-dimensional vector images. It is typically used as a clean, sharp graphic format for UI icons, diagrams, logos, flowcharts, and technical illustrations. Unlike pixel-based formats (like PNG or JPEG), SVGs use mathematical formulas, points, and lines to render images.

A descriptive keyword or short text label attached to a KB article to categorize, organize, and improve its search discoverability.

A controlled, hierarchical list of approved terms used by content creators and site owners to categorize, tag, and organize KB documents.

A pre-built structural framework or document layout that guides KB authors on how to organize, format, and write support articles. Instead of starting with a blank page, document creators use templates so every article shares a uniform design, standard headings, and required metadata.

TinyMCE is the UW KnowledgeBase's embedded rich-text editor used to help write, format, and structure support articles. It provides a WYSIWIG "What You See Is What You Get" interface, toolbar controls and an HTML Source mode to edit the raw HTML directly if custom styling is needed.

Act as a primary means of creating ease of navigation for KB end-users. They can be compiled to generate a visual Topic Tree or Site Map on both internal and external KB live sites.

A hierarchical organizational structure used to classify, store, and manage KB articles. Like folder directories on a computer, a topic tree maps out the relationship between broad concepts (parent categories) and specific sub-topics (child folders or articles) to provide an intuitive navigation structure for both KB administrators and end-users.

The written text version of an audio or video recording.

A security process that requires users to provide two distinct proofs of identity before they can access an account or system.

A single, centralized web portal that brings together information, documents, and support guides from different KB spaces into one easy-to-search place.

The specific web address used to locate and access an individual KB article, category page, or document.

A system that tracks, records, and manages changes to KB documents over time.

The KB Editor works like a standard word processor, similar to Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Use the editor toolbar to format content with bold text, italics, headings, tables, and bulleted lists. A live preview shows exactly how the content will appear to readers, so no manual coding is required.

Consists of international technical standards that dictate how web content should be built so that it is fully accessible to people with disabilities, including those who rely on screen readers, keyboard navigation, or specific color contrast settings. 

Designing help articles, search bars, and navigation menus so users with disabilities can access them.

A technology that uses radio waves to let devices connect to the internet and each other without using physical cables.

The structured, sequential path a KB article follows from draft, review, publication and eventual archival. For a user of KB Admin Tools, this workflow replaces informal email chains or manual reminders with automated rules that dictate how content is managed.

The embedded rich-text editor used by authors to write, format, and structure KB documents.

A zip file is a single archive file that bundles and compresses multiple files and folders together to save space and make sharing easier. A KB Administrator can include a zip file link inside a KB article to keep documents uncluttered by inserting a single hyperlink. This allows end-users visiting the KB to easily click the link and download the entire package of resources to their local machine in one clean step if they choose.