Terminology reference

Use these terms consistently in documentation, code and prompts. The current TypeScript contracts in types.ts define exact fields and optionality.

Core concepts

Term	Meaning	Common representation
AtomicClaim	A single verifiable assertion extracted from user input	AtomicClaim, atomicClaims
EvidenceItem	Information extracted from a source; it is not automatically a verified fact	EvidenceItem, evidenceItems, statement
EvidenceScope	Per-evidence metadata describing the source's methodology, time, geography or other relevant limits	EvidenceScope, evidenceScope
ClaimAssessmentBoundary	Evidence-emergent grouping of compatible EvidenceScopes, formed after research	ClaimAssessmentBoundary, claimBoundaries, claimBoundaryId
BoundaryFinding	A claim's assessment using evidence within one boundary	BoundaryFinding, boundaryFindings
Claim verdict	Assessment of an AtomicClaim, including evidence references and uncertainty	CBClaimVerdict, claimVerdicts
CoverageMatrix	Which claims have evidence in which boundaries, including recorded gaps	CoverageMatrix, coverageMatrix
VerdictNarrative	Explanation of the overall assessment, evidence, disagreements and limitations	VerdictNarrative, verdictNarrative
Background	Narrative background from the input; it does not create a separate analytical boundary	backgroundDetails

An EvidenceScope describes the conditions of an individual source's evidence. A ClaimAssessmentBoundary groups compatible evidence for assessment. Neither means an arbitrary topic, rhetorical viewpoint or predefined “context.” Missing source metadata must not be invented.

Evidence and verdict interpretation

Probative value (probativeValue) describes evidence quality for assessment. SourceType classifies the kind of source. Source reputation, evidence relevance and factual support are related but distinct judgments.

Truth percentage and confidence are different result fields. The seven-band scale expresses the truth assessment; confidence expresses support for that assessment. MIXED and UNVERIFIED must remain distinguishable. A retained verdict may carry publishable: false; clients must respect its qualification instead of treating the number alone as a publishable conclusion.

Contested means relevant documented counter-evidence exists. Doubted means an objection lacks that evidential basis. Unsupported objections, political disagreement and opinion alone must not reduce truth or confidence.

Contributor naming rules

• Use atomicClaim/atomicClaims for assertions, and claimBoundary/claimBoundaries/claimBoundaryId for boundaries.
• Call extracted material evidence or statements, not verified facts.
• Qualify “scope” as EvidenceScope; use the full ClaimAssessmentBoundary name when explaining the analytical frame.
• Keep evidence references, claim IDs and boundary IDs consistent with the current public schemas. Do not introduce names from removed pipelines into new code.
• Semantic classification remains LLM-owned and multilingual; structural validation remains deterministic.

See stage responsibilities, operative prompts and agent instructions for the operative rules.