# Prior glossary

> The words Prior uses, from area and backlog to sprint and streak, each with a short definition and a link to the page that explains it in full.

Source: https://priortasks.com/docs/getting-started/glossary/
Last updated: 2026-11-05

Terms are in alphabetical order. Each one links to the page that covers it.

- **Access key**: a private key that lets an app that cannot sign in through the browser reach your account. See [Access keys](https://priortasks.com/docs/integrations/access-keys/).
- **Area**: a part of your life or work, like Work or Studies, that groups projects. See [Areas and projects](https://priortasks.com/docs/projects/areas-and-projects/).
- **Assignee**: the project member responsible for a task in a shared project. See [Assign tasks](https://priortasks.com/docs/collaboration/assign-tasks/).
- **Backlog**: a status for tasks you do not plan to do soon. They stay off Today. See [Statuses and the Inbox](https://priortasks.com/docs/tasks/statuses-and-inbox/).
- **Burn chart**: a burn down or burn up chart that shows the work done and left in a sprint. See [Burn charts](https://priortasks.com/docs/agile/burn-charts/).
- **Calm mode**: the default way to use Prior, without XP, a pet or leagues. See [Calm or Game](https://priortasks.com/docs/game-mode/calm-or-game/).
- **Checklist**: an ordered list of up to 100 small steps inside one task. See [Checklists](https://priortasks.com/docs/tasks/checklists/).
- **Chest**: a reward from Game mode, earned by levelling up and other milestones. See [Chests and items](https://priortasks.com/docs/game-mode/chests-and-items/).
- **Command palette**: the search box opened with <kbd>Cmd</kbd> <kbd>K</kbd> or <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> <kbd>K</kbd> that finds anything and runs commands. See [The command palette](https://priortasks.com/docs/getting-started/command-palette/).
- **Cycle**: a period of time in a project, with a start and an end. In a Scrum project it is called a sprint. See [Cycles and sprints](https://priortasks.com/docs/agile/cycles-and-sprints/).
- **Deck**: a set of flashcards on one subject. A pack is a deck that holds other decks, such as one per chapter. See [Decks and packs](https://priortasks.com/docs/flashcards/decks-and-packs/).
- **Deep link**: an address starting with `prior://` that opens something in the app, like a task or a new task. See [Deep links](https://priortasks.com/docs/integrations/deep-links/).
- **Discover**: the short course inside Prior, made of chapters you start yourself. See [Learn Prior with Discover](https://priortasks.com/docs/getting-started/discover/).
- **Due date**: the day a task is due, with an optional time. See [Due dates and times](https://priortasks.com/docs/tasks/due-dates-and-times/).
- **Eisenhower matrix**: a grid that sorts tasks by importance and urgency. In Prior it is the Priority lens. See [The Eisenhower matrix](https://priortasks.com/docs/tasks/eisenhower-matrix/).
- **Focus session**: a Pomodoro timer around one task, on the Focus page. See [Focus timer](https://priortasks.com/docs/planning/focus-timer/).
- **FSRS**: the method that decides when a flashcard comes back to you, right before you would forget it. See [How scheduling works](https://priortasks.com/docs/flashcards/how-scheduling-works/).
- **Game mode**: the optional way to use Prior with XP, a pet and weekly leagues. See [Calm or Game](https://priortasks.com/docs/game-mode/calm-or-game/).
- **Habit**: a routine you check off on a schedule, with a streak. See [Create a habit](https://priortasks.com/docs/habits/create-a-habit/).
- **Inbox**: a task status for what you captured and have not sorted yet. The **Inbox** in the sidebar is your email. See [Statuses and the Inbox](https://priortasks.com/docs/tasks/statuses-and-inbox/).
- **Kanban**: a board with one column per stage of work. See [Kanban board](https://priortasks.com/docs/projects/kanban-board/).
- **League**: a weekly ranking of players by XP in Game mode. See [Leagues](https://priortasks.com/docs/game-mode/leagues/).
- **Local-first**: your work is saved on your device first and synced after. See [Offline use and sync](https://priortasks.com/docs/getting-started/offline-and-sync/).
- **MCP**: the standard that lets an AI assistant like Claude or ChatGPT work in your Prior account. See [Use Prior from your AI assistant](https://priortasks.com/docs/integrations/mcp/).
- **Milestone**: a checkpoint in a project, with an optional target date, that tasks can belong to. See [Milestones](https://priortasks.com/docs/projects/milestones/).
- **Note**: a document, personal or shared with a project. See [Notes overview](https://priortasks.com/docs/notes/notes-overview/).
- **Pet**: the companion you raise in Game mode as you complete tasks. See [Pets](https://priortasks.com/docs/game-mode/pets/).
- **Pinned project**: a project kept in the sidebar for quick access. See [Find your way around Prior](https://priortasks.com/docs/getting-started/navigation/).
- **Planned block**: a slot that automatic time blocking reserves for a task. See [Time blocking](https://priortasks.com/docs/planning/time-blocking/).
- **Planning poker**: a way for a team to estimate a story together, in secret, then compare. See [Planning poker](https://priortasks.com/docs/agile/planning-poker/).
- **Pomodoro**: a work rhythm of timed sessions and short breaks. See [Focus timer](https://priortasks.com/docs/planning/focus-timer/).
- **Prior AI**: the in-app assistant. It proposes changes and nothing happens until you confirm. See [The Prior AI assistant](https://priortasks.com/docs/prior-ai/assistant/).
- **Priority**: how much a task matters, from P1 (the most) to P4 (none). See [Priorities](https://priortasks.com/docs/tasks/priorities/).
- **Priority lens**: the page that shows your tasks in the four quadrants of the Eisenhower matrix. See [The Eisenhower matrix](https://priortasks.com/docs/tasks/eisenhower-matrix/).
- **Pro**: a paid plan that adds Prior AI, automatic time blocking and Scrum projects. See [Plans and pricing](https://priortasks.com/docs/account/plans-and-pricing/).
- **Project**: a finite outcome, like a trip or a website, that gathers tasks and notes. See [Create a project](https://priortasks.com/docs/projects/create-a-project/).
- **Quadrant**: one of the four boxes of the matrix: Do now, Schedule, Delegate and Later. See [The Eisenhower matrix](https://priortasks.com/docs/tasks/eisenhower-matrix/).
- **Quick add**: the one-line field that turns a sentence into a task. See [Quick capture](https://priortasks.com/docs/tasks/quick-capture/).
- **Recurring task**: a task that creates its next occurrence when you complete it. See [Recurring tasks](https://priortasks.com/docs/tasks/recurring-tasks/).
- **Reminder**: a notification at a time you choose for a task. See [Reminders](https://priortasks.com/docs/tasks/reminders/).
- **Review card**: a change proposed by Prior AI that only happens when you confirm it. See [Review cards](https://priortasks.com/docs/prior-ai/review-cards/).
- **Role**: what you can do in a shared project: owner, editor or viewer. See [Roles and permissions](https://priortasks.com/docs/collaboration/roles-and-permissions/).
- **Scrum** and **Scrumban**: ways to run an agile project, with story points and, for Scrum, sprints. Both are Pro features. See [Kanban, Scrum and Scrumban](https://priortasks.com/docs/agile/kanban-scrum-scrumban/).
- **Seat**: one paid place in a Team plan, assigned to a person by email. See [Team seats](https://priortasks.com/docs/account/team-seats/).
- **Share link**: a reusable link that lets people join a project as editor or viewer, after confirming. See [Share links](https://priortasks.com/docs/collaboration/share-links/).
- **Status**: where a task stands: Inbox, Backlog, Todo, In progress, Waiting or Done. See [Statuses and the Inbox](https://priortasks.com/docs/tasks/statuses-and-inbox/).
- **Story points**: the size of a task in a Scrum or Scrumban project, in steps of 0.5. See [Story points](https://priortasks.com/docs/agile/story-points/).
- **Streak**: the number of scheduled days in a row that you checked a habit. See [Habit history](https://priortasks.com/docs/habits/habit-history/).
- **Sub-task**: a task that belongs to another task, in the same project. See [Sub-tasks and dependencies](https://priortasks.com/docs/tasks/sub-tasks-and-dependencies/).
- **Sync**: how your devices stay up to date through your account. See [Offline use and sync](https://priortasks.com/docs/getting-started/offline-and-sync/).
- **Task**: one thing to do, with a title and any of the fields Prior offers. See [Create a task](https://priortasks.com/docs/tasks/create-a-task/).
- **Time blocking**: Prior placing your open tasks in the free hours of your calendar. See [Time blocking](https://priortasks.com/docs/planning/time-blocking/).
- **Today**: the page with the few things to do now. See [Use the Today page](https://priortasks.com/docs/getting-started/today-page/).
- **Waiting**: a status for a task that depends on someone else, with a follow-up date. See [Statuses and the Inbox](https://priortasks.com/docs/tasks/statuses-and-inbox/).
- **Wrapped**: a monthly recap of your work told as a short animated story. See [Prior Wrapped](https://priortasks.com/docs/planning/prior-wrapped/).
- **XP**: the points Game mode gives you for finishing tasks and checking habits. See [XP and levels](https://priortasks.com/docs/game-mode/xp-and-levels/).