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Glossary

Terms you will see in every OpenClaw guide.

Each term includes a plain English definition, a Hinglish explanation where useful, why it matters for OpenClaw, and the most common mistake beginners make with it.

Allowlist

A security list of approved identifiers (like User IDs or IP addresses) that are granted access to a system. Anyone not on the list is autom…

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API Key

A unique string of characters used to authenticate a user, developer, or calling program to an API (Application Programming Interface). It a…

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Bot Token

A unique authorization string issued by a messaging platform (like Telegram's BotFather) that allows a program to send and receive messages …

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Environment Variable (.env)

A dynamic value that affects the way running processes will behave on a computer. In OpenClaw, these are stored in a `.env` file and contain…

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Firewall (UFW)

A network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. UFW (Uncom…

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Localhost

A hostname that means 'this computer.' Its IP address is 127.0.0.1. When a program binds to localhost, it can only be accessed from the same…

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PM2

A process manager for Node.js applications. It runs programs in the background, automatically restarts them if they crash, and ensures they …

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Port

A numbered network endpoint (0–65535) that identifies a specific service on a server. When a program listens on a port, it accepts incoming …

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Reverse Proxy

A server that sits in front of one or more web servers (like OpenClaw Gateway), intercepting requests from clients and forwarding them to th…

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SSH

Secure Shell. An encrypted protocol for connecting to a remote server and running commands safely. SSH replaces older insecure methods like …

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SSH Tunnel

A method of creating an encrypted connection between your local computer and a remote server to securely forward network traffic. It allows …

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Tailscale

A zero-config VPN (Virtual Private Network) based on WireGuard. It creates a secure, private network between all your devices, no matter whe…

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VPS

Virtual Private Server. A remote computer in a data centre that you rent and control via SSH. It stays powered on 24/7 and has its own publi…

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Webhook

A method for one application to provide real-time data to another application as soon as an event happens, rather than forcing the second ap…

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