Chatbot Development and Integration Flashcards

What is a 'webhook' in the context of chatbot development?

Answer: An HTTP callback that delivers real-time event data from a messaging platform to the bot's backend

Webhooks allow messaging platforms like Facebook Messenger or Slack to push user messages to the bot server in real time.

Which protocol is most commonly used for chatbot API communication?

Answer: REST over HTTP/HTTPS

RESTful HTTP APIs are the standard for chatbot backend communication due to their simplicity, scalability, and wide platform support.

What is the purpose of an 'NLU engine' in a chatbot architecture?

Answer: To parse user text into structured intents and entities the bot logic can act on

The NLU engine is the component that transforms raw user text into machine-understandable structured data.

What does 'channel abstraction' allow in multi-platform chatbot development?

Answer: Writing business logic once and deploying to multiple channels like web, Slack, and WhatsApp without rewriting core code

Channel abstraction layers separate platform-specific rendering from core dialogue logic, enabling omnichannel deployment from a single codebase.

What is a 'middleware' component in a chatbot framework?

Answer: A processing layer that intercepts messages between input and output to add logic like logging or authentication

Middleware functions run on every message, enabling cross-cutting concerns like analytics, authentication, and message normalization.

Why is 'session management' critical in stateful chatbot development?

Answer: To maintain conversation context across multiple turns so the bot remembers what was discussed

Session management stores per-user conversation state so the bot can reference earlier information without asking users to repeat themselves.