---
title: Glossary of Symbiant Terms
description: "Common words used in Symbiant and in this knowledge base. | Term | Meaning | | --- | --- | | **Action** | A task added to a record on the Reviews & Actions tab, with assignees and a due…"
url: "https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/glossary-of-symbiant-terms/"
updated: "2026-10-30"
category: User Basics
---

# Glossary of Symbiant Terms

Common words used in Symbiant and in this knowledge base.

| Term | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| **Action** | A task added to a record on the Reviews & Actions tab, with assignees and a due date. See [Reviews & Actions](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/reviews-actions/). |
| **Assignee** | A user given an action to complete. |
| **Attachment** | A file or web link added to a record. See [Adding an Attachment](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/adding-an-attachment/). |
| **Dashboard** | The screen a module opens on, with charts and the record grid. Also called the list view. |
| **Data Conflict** | A message shown when someone else changed the same field while you were editing. See [What Does "Data Conflict!" Mean?](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/what-does-data-conflict-mean/). |
| **Division** | Part of your organisation, such as *Company/UK/Sales*. Divisions control which records each user can see. |
| **Dropdown (lookup)** | A field where you pick from a list. Administrators manage the values from the items under each module in the left-hand menu. |
| **Element** | A chart or grid on a dashboard. |
| **Filter** | A way to narrow the records shown, using charts, the search box, the grid or the Filter Editor. See [Filtering Data](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/filtering-data/). |
| **Grid** | The table of records on a dashboard. |
| **History** | Earlier versions of your data, which you can view or report on. See [Database History & Restoring Historical Records](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/history/). |
| **Linked record** | A record in another module connected to this one, such as a control linked to an incident. See [Linking Records Between Modules](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/linking-records-between-modules/). |
| **Module** | An area of Symbiant for one kind of record, such as Incidents, Risks or Controls. |
| **Owner** | The user responsible for a record. |
| **Preset** | A saved filter or layout. See [Saving Filter and Layout Presets](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/saving-filter-and-layout-presets/). |
| **Reference** | A record's number, set automatically when it's first saved. |
| **Retraction** | Deleting a record. Deleted records can be restored for a time. See [Deleting a Record](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/deleting-a-record/). |
| **Review** | A dated review note on the Reviews & Actions tab. |
| **Role** | Controls what a user can see and do in each module. |
| **Save and Edit** | Saves a record but keeps it open. See [Saving a Record](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/saving-a-record-save-and-edit-cancel-undo/). |
| **Set up** | The administration area, opened from the bottom left. |
| **Status** | Where a record is in its workflow. See [Workflow Statuses Explained](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/workflow-statuses-explained/). |
| **View** | The layout of a module's dashboard and record screens, set by administrators. |

## Related Articles

- [Getting Started: Your First Login](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/getting-started-first-login/)
- [System Navigation Overview](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/system-navigation-overview/)