AI skills glossary for beginners
Translated from Korean. View original
You do not need to memorize every unfamiliar AI term before starting. Distinguishing a request, the program doing the work, a repeatable method and a tool that connects material makes installation guides easier to read. Explore common terms through meeting-note examples, then choose a relevant exercise.
What do prompt and agent mean?
A prompt is a request or instruction given to AI. ‘Extract action items from this note’ is a prompt; it does not have to be long or use a special format.
An agent is a term for a program that receives a goal, carries out needed steps and uses tools. It might read a file, organize its contents and save a result. Its actual capabilities depend on the tools and permissions provided.
How are skills and plugins different?
A skill packages a repeatable work method and related material, such as the steps for dividing meeting notes into decisions and action items. SKILL.md is a common filename for those instructions.
A plugin packages features for installation and management. Depending on the app, it may contain skills, tool connections or automation settings. First check whether the app supports the plugin you want to install.
Are MCP, server and connector the same?
MCP is a protocol AI apps use to connect to external tools or data. An MCP server provides capabilities according to that protocol, such as searching documents in an external service.
Connector is often a product term for a service connection. Not every connector works the same way, so do not assume it is identical to an MCP server based on its name alone.
What are context and tokens?
Context means the conversation, instructions and material the AI refers to when answering. Even with the same file, prior conditions can change the response. In a long conversation it can help to restate needed conditions briefly.
Tokens are units a model uses to process input and output. They do not always match words or characters, so document length alone does not determine exact usage. Check the value shown by your tool.
Which exercise should I try first?
If attachments are unfamiliar, start by providing one file and asking for it to be organized. If you repeat the same criteria often, try creating your first SKILL.md. If an installed feature is missing, check its current stage in the troubleshooting guide.
Measure progress by whether you created and checked a result with your own material, not by how many tools you installed. Even one note is a good start if it teaches you how to request the same task next time.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Must I study development terminology first? A. You can look up terms as they appear in your work. Distinguishing files, folders and paths helps with installation instructions.
Q. The same word means slightly different things across products. A. That is true, especially for plugins and connectors. Learn the concept, then check the product's official guide for actual usage.