# Termbase Basics

Termbases help ensure consistent terminology across your translations.

### What is a Termbase?

A termbase is a database of terms with their translations:

| Source (EN)      | Target (NL)     | Domain | Notes           |
| ---------------- | --------------- | ------ | --------------- |
| software         | software        | IT     | Don't translate |
| click            | klikken         | IT     | Verb            |
| machine learning | machinaal leren | AI     | Official term   |

### Why Use Termbases?

1. **Consistency**: Same term = same translation every time
2. **Efficiency**: Don't look up the same term twice
3. **Quality**: Use approved terminology
4. **Client requirements**: Follow style guides

### Termbase Features in Supervertaler

#### Automatic Highlighting

Terms from active termbases are highlighted in the source text:

* Green background by default
* Hover to see the translation
* Higher priority = darker shade

#### Multiple Termbases

Maintain separate termbases for:

* Different clients
* Different domains (legal, medical, IT)
* Different projects

#### Priority Levels

Assign priority (1-10) to terms:

* Priority 1 (highest): Must be used
* Priority 5: Standard terms
* Priority 10: Optional/suggestions

#### Forbidden Terms

Mark terms as "forbidden" to flag text that should NOT be translated or should be avoided.

### Creating Your First Termbase

1. Go to the **Termbases** tab
2. Click **+ Create Termbase**
3. Enter a name (e.g., "Client ABC Terminology")
4. Choose source and target languages
5. Click **Create**

### Adding Terms

#### Manually

1. Click on your termbase
2. Click **+ Add Term**
3. Enter source term, target term
4. Optionally add domain, notes, priority
5. Click **Save**

#### From Selection

1. Select text in the source column
2. Right-click → **Add to Termbase**
3. Enter the target translation
4. Choose which termbase to add to

#### Import from File

1. Go to the **Termbases** tab
2. Click **Import**
3. Select a TSV file (tab-separated: source, target, domain, notes)
4. Watch the progress dialog

### Termbase Settings

#### Activation

Termbases must be activated to show matches:

* ✅ **Read**: Terms are highlighted and shown in lookups
* ✅ **Write**: New terms can be added during translation

#### Highlight Style

Choose how terms appear in the grid:

* **Background**: Green background shading
* **Dotted Underline**: Subtle underline
* **Semibold**: Bold text

Go to **Settings → View Settings → Termbase Highlight Style**.

***

### See Also

* [Creating Termbases](/help/termbases/creating.md)
* [Importing Terms](/help/termbases/importing.md)
* [Term Highlighting](/help/termbases/highlighting.md)
* [TermLens (Inline Terminology)](/help/termbases/termlens.md)
* [Term Extraction](/help/termbases/extraction.md)


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://supervertaler.gitbook.io/help/termbases/basics.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.