---
title: "Key Concepts"
description: "Core Vellum concepts — workspace, skills and tools, memory and context, channels, assistant identity, and glossary."
canonical_url: "https://www.vellum.ai/docs/key-concepts"
md_url: "https://www.vellum.ai/md/docs/key-concepts"
related:
  - "/docs"
  - "/docs/constitution"
  - "/docs/data-sharing"
  - "/docs/developer-guide"
  - "/docs/environments"
  - "/docs/extensibility"
  - "/docs/getting-started"
  - "/docs/glossary"
---

# Key Concepts

This is the "how does this thing actually work?" section. Not a wall of jargon. Not a system design interview. Just the mental models you need to understand what's happening under the hood so you can get the most out of your assistant.

[The WorkspaceYour assistant's brain is a folder. Here's what's in it.](/docs/key-concepts/the-workspace)

[→](/docs/key-concepts/the-workspace)

[Tools & SkillsWhat your assistant can do, and how it learns new tricks.](/docs/key-concepts/skills-and-tools)

[→](/docs/key-concepts/skills-and-tools)

[Memory & ContextHow it remembers you across conversations.](/docs/key-concepts/memory-and-context)

[→](/docs/key-concepts/memory-and-context)

[Model ProfilesPick which LLM runs each job, and override it when you need to.](/docs/key-concepts/model-profiles)

[→](/docs/key-concepts/model-profiles)

[ChannelsWhere you can talk to your assistant.](/docs/key-concepts/channels)

[→](/docs/key-concepts/channels)

[SchedulingHow your assistant gets things done on its own clock.](/docs/key-concepts/scheduling)

[→](/docs/key-concepts/scheduling)

[Web SearchHow your assistant looks things up online, and which provider does it.](/docs/key-concepts/web-search)

[→](/docs/key-concepts/web-search)

[OAuth IntegrationsConnect your assistant to Slack, Gmail, GitHub, Notion, and more.](/docs/key-concepts/oauth-integrations)

[→](/docs/key-concepts/oauth-integrations)

You don't have to read these in order. Jump to whatever's interesting.