Glossary
This glossary provides a centralised reference for the technical terms, concepts, and tools used throughout KAIZEN.
Access Control Hierarchy
A hierarchical framework that determines how permissions are granted from the highest level (User Domain) down to individual resources (pages and API endpoints). It ensures users can only access features and data appropriate to their assigned roles and privileges.
AI Agent Builder
A tool to build and configure AI-driven agents within applications on the KAIZEN platform.
App Designer
A visual, drag-and-drop environment for creating frontend user interfaces with pre-built components and minimal coding.
Application Identity
A unique, machine-readable identifier for an application, often used in URLs and API paths.
BCrypt
A secure password hashing algorithm resistant to brute-force attacks, featuring an adaptive cost factor.
Bearer Token
An authorisation header format used to send JWT tokens in API requests (format: Bearer <token>).
BE
Backend. In KAIZEN, the backend encompasses server-side services, APIs, and data access logic built using Service Designer and Database Designer.
Block
A layout container that lives inside a section, used for managing content at a more detailed level and creating column-based layouts using a structured grid system.
BPMN
Business Process Model and Notation. A standard graphical notation for modelling business processes and workflows.
Breakpoint
A predefined screen width threshold used in responsive layout design to control how components and layouts adapt to different devices (PC, tablet, mobile). Breakpoints determine when the layout changes appearance or behaviour.
Canvas
The central workspace in App Designer where UI components are dragged and dropped to arrange the application's frontend and preview the responsive layout.
camelCase
A naming convention used for variables and data types where the first word is lowercase and subsequent words start with uppercase (e.g., invoiceAmount).
Cell
The smallest layout container in the hierarchy that lives inside a block, where actual UI components like text boxes, buttons, tables, and charts are placed.
Code Generation
The automated creation of frontend and backend source code based on visual designs and configurations in KAIZEN.
Component
A reusable UI element or building block that can be configured and placed on pages (e.g., buttons, forms, tables, charts).
Components Library
A collection of pre-built UI components that can be searched, dragged, and dropped onto the canvas as building blocks for the application frontend.
Component Tree
A hierarchical view showing the structure of UI components organised in a tree format within App Designer.
ConfigMap
A Kubernetes API object used to store non-confidential data in key-value pairs, such as configuration files, command-line arguments, and environment variables.
Context Path
The URL subdirectory where an application is hosted (e.g., /portal). Defaults to Application Identity if left blank.
Controller
A backend component that receives incoming HTTP requests, routes them to the appropriate business logic, and returns responses. Controllers serve as the entry points for a service's REST API. A single service can have multiple controllers to logically group related API endpoints.
CRUD
Create, read, update, and delete. The four basic operations for persistent data storage and management.
CSRF Token
Cross-Site Request Forgery token. A security mechanism used to protect against unauthorised form submissions.
DAO
Data access object. A class automatically generated from the physical data model that handles all database interactions (create, read, update, delete).
Dashboard
A comprehensive and interactive report created by combining chart components that transforms raw data into clear, actionable insights.
Database Designer
A KAIZEN tool that simplifies database schema creation and management, allowing developers to define tables, columns, and relationships visually without writing SQL.
Datasource
In KAIZEN, a datasource has two contexts: (1) In Service Designer, it represents a specific API endpoint — defined by a URL and HTTP method — that the frontend calls to retrieve, create, or update data. (2) In App Designer, it is a configured connection that links UI components to backend API endpoints or external data providers.
DMN
Decision Model and Notation. A standard for modelling and executing business decisions and business rules.
Domain Model
The essential blueprint for data in an application, defining the structure, relationships, and rules that govern all information the application manages.
Embedding
A high-dimensional numerical representation of data (text, images, or other content) that captures semantic meaning. Embeddings are used in AI and RAG systems to enable similarity searches and intelligent information retrieval.
Endpoint
A specific URL path and HTTP method combination where an API can be accessed to perform operations like retrieving or submitting data.
ER Diagram
Entity relationship diagram. A visual representation of database entities and their relationships.
Favicon
The small icon that appears in the browser tab representing an application.
FE
Frontend. In KAIZEN, the frontend encompasses user interfaces, pages, and visual components built using App Designer and Theme Designer.
Foreign Key
A database constraint that establishes relationships between tables by referencing the primary key of another table, enforcing referential integrity.
GenAI
Generative AI. Artificial intelligence capabilities integrated into the KAIZEN platform that can generate content, code, or intelligent responses.
Git Integration
Built-in version control capabilities allowing developers to create branches, commit code, and merge changes using Git.
Global Settings
A key-value store for advanced application-level configurations, allowing developers to define custom settings and constants that can be referenced throughout the application. Common uses include security token prefixes (e.g., CSRF_TOKEN_PREFIX), API endpoints, and other environment-specific values. Accessible through the Resources panel in App Designer.
Global Style
Preset configurations in Theme Designer for an application's appearance, including colour palette, corner radius, font, icon size, line weight, shadow, and overall size.
Hash
A one-way cryptographic function that converts input data into a fixed-size string, used as a password encryption option in KAIZEN.
i18n
Internationalisation. The process of designing applications to support multiple languages and regional settings. In App Designer, properties that support internationalisation display a globe icon 
for i18n setter that allows you to bind the property value to a localised copy entry instead of a hard-coded string. For more information, refer to i18n setter.
IAM
Identity and Access Management. A system for managing user authentication, authorisation, and access control to platform resources, implementing role-based access control.
JDBC
Java Database Connectivity. A Java API for connecting to and executing queries against databases.
Job Scheduler
A feature that enables scheduling and execution of tasks at specified times or intervals.
JWT
JSON Web Token. A compact, stateless authentication token containing user ID, roles/permissions, expiry timestamp, and digital signature, used for session management across microservices.
KAIZEN Digital Platform
A rapid low-code development stack that accelerates software application development with high flexibility and customisation, providing visual development tools across the full SDLC.
KAIZEN Gateway
A service through which every API request passes for JWT token validation and routing.
kebab-case
A naming convention used for URLs and CSS classes where words are separated by hyphens (e.g., user-registration-form).
Library
A collection of reusable code and resources (e.g., JavaScript or CSS) that can be imported into a project to provide pre-built functionalities.
Logical Data Model
The application's view of data as it moves within the application, especially through APIs, often using Value Objects to package related data.
Low-code
A development approach that uses visual tools and minimal hand-coding to build applications rapidly, transforming design into auto-generated code.
Main Application
The central container or shell of the system in a micro-frontend architecture, responsible for shared layout components, navigation, global state, and cross-cutting concerns. Also referred to as the host application.
Micro Application
An independent functional module that encapsulates a specific business domain with its own UI components, domain logic, lifecycle, and deployment pipeline. Also referred to as a feature module.
Micro-frontend
An architectural approach that structures projects into a central main application and multiple micro applications, enabling independent development and deployment of frontend modules.
Microservice
A small, independent backend service that handles a specific business function and can be developed, deployed, and scaled independently.
Module
A self-contained building block in a modular design that can be modified or upgraded independently without affecting other modules.
Natural Layout
The default page layout component in KAIZEN that automatically provides the foundational hierarchy of a section, a block, and a cell, serving as the starting point for building application pages.
Observability Hub
A centralised location within KAIZEN to monitor and understand application performance and health.
Package Path
A Java-style package namespace for the project, used for organising generated backend code (e.g., com.companyname.projectname).
Page
The foundation of an application in KAIZEN, serving as the canvas for designing the UI visually and containing all UI components and interactions. Pages have different types: Page for standard content, Action for globally persistent components, Banner for top-level sections, Menu Header for navigation grouping, and Footer for bottom-level sections.
Page Scan
A quality assurance tool that analyses pages for potential issues, performance problems, or best practice violations.
PascalCase
A naming convention used for pages and components where each word starts with a capital letter (e.g., UserRegistrationForm).
Physical Data Model
The technical specification of how data is actually stored and retrieved from a database, including tables, columns, data types, and constraints.
Plugin Panel
A panel in App Designer providing essential tools including the component library, datasource connections, and quality assurance tools like page scanning.
Preview Mode
A mode that allows testing and previewing applications before deployment, supporting features like virtual login with profiles.
Primary Key
A database constraint that uniquely identifies each record in a table, enforcing data integrity.
Privileges
Specific permissions required to access a page or resource, integrated with the IAM system to ensure only users with the correct roles can access it.
Profile
A configuration set that allows switching between different server environments (e.g., local development, UAT, or production).
Provider
A configured connection to an external REST API that a KAIZEN backend service calls as part of its business logic. Providers include environment-specific configurations (Env Config) that define connection settings such as base URL and security credentials for different environments (development, staging, production).
Project
A container in KAIZEN that holds one or more applications and synchronises shared services, database schemas, and Git configurations.
Publish
The action of finalising and deploying changes to make them active and visible in the application.
RAG
Retrieval Augmented Generation. An AI technique that enhances language model responses by retrieving relevant information from a knowledge base.
RBAC
Role-Based Access Control. An access control approach where permissions are mapped to roles rather than individual users, ensuring least privilege and segregation of duties.
Resources panel
A panel in App Designer that manages the application's lifecycle, organises pages, configures properties, manages profiles, and connects to external services or Git repositories.
Responsive Layout
A design approach that automatically adapts the application's interface to different screen sizes and devices (PC, tablet, or mobile) using a grid system and breakpoint settings.
REST API
Representational State Transfer Application Programming Interface. A standard approach for creating web service endpoints that use HTTP methods.
Revision
A version history entry that tracks changes made by team members to a project, with the option to revert to an earlier state.
SaaS
Software as a service. A cloud-based software delivery model where applications are hosted and accessed via the internet.
Salt
A unique random value generated when a user registers or updates a password, combined with the password during hashing to protect against cyber attacks.
SCrypt
A secure password hashing algorithm designed to be memory-intensive, available as a password encryption option in KAIZEN.
SDLC
Software Development Lifecycle. The complete process of planning, creating, testing, and deploying software from ideation to maintenance.
Section
The top-level layout container designed to organise major, distinct parts of a page, always taking up the full width (100%) of the screen.
Sequence Flow
In BPMN workflows, a connector that shows the flow and order of execution between tasks, events, and gateways. Sequence flows define which elements execute next in a process.
Service Designer
A KAIZEN tool that streamlines the creation and management of backend APIs, providing an interface to define endpoints, configure payload encoding, and connect application components.
Setter Plugin
A configuration panel in App Designer with tabs for Props, Styles, Events, and Advanced settings for individual UI components.
Slot
A placeholder in a component that accepts custom content or child elements. Slots allow developers to pass content into a component dynamically, providing flexibility in how component content is rendered. Properties that support slots can be switched between slot, i18n, or variable input modes.
Source Code Panel
A panel in App Designer providing direct access to the code level, where developers write frontend logic in JavaScript and bind it to UI events.
Standalone Application
An application architecture where all modules reside within a single codebase and share the same runtime and deployment lifecycle.
Studio Console
The main collaborative interface of KAIZEN where teams access design and development tools to manage projects and applications.
Switch Setter
A feature in App Designer that allows a component property to cycle between multiple input modes (for example, Array setter, Variable input, or Slot setter). Click the Switch Setter icon 
next to a property to switch between the available modes. For more information, refer to Switch Setter.
Subject
A contextual layer within the RBAC model that defines the scope in which roles and privileges apply. Subjects enable fine-grained access control by allowing permissions to be configured for specific functional areas, modules, or data entities, ensuring that privileges are only valid within the assigned scope.
Template
A pre-built page or application in KAIZEN that includes layouts, components, or basic logic, providing a starting point for reuse and customisation. You can also create your own templates through exporting.
Theme Designer
A KAIZEN tool that defines a consistent look and feel for applications, covering style customisation from global colour palettes to specific design elements like corner radius.
UAT
User Acceptance Testing. A testing phase or environment where end users validate that the system meets business requirements before production deployment.
User Domain
A logical grouping mechanism for Identity and Access Management (IAM) that controls which group of users have access to an application.
Vector Database
A database system optimised for storing and searching vector embeddings. Vector databases enable similarity searches based on semantic meaning, and are used in RAG and AI workflows to retrieve relevant information.
VO
Value Object. A data structure used in the logical data model to package related data into a single, cohesive unit for API requests and responses.
WAF
Web Application Firewall. A security system that monitors and filters HTTP traffic to protect web applications from attacks.
Workflow Designer
A KAIZEN tool that enables automation of business processes by designing and executing workflows with predefined steps, conditions, and visual flowchart-based logic.
Last updated on 20 May 2026