Key terms
Key terms are AI-extracted values from your documents. Each document type has its own set of key terms, and Emma extracts a value for each key term from every document assigned to that type. The extracted values are shown in the Key terms tab of the Matrix.
For a general overview of the Matrix, see Matrix overview and Info tab.
Why key terms matter
Key terms turn a stack of unstructured contracts into a structured table — the same clause or data point, extracted consistently across every document. Typical uses include organising employment agreements by employee length of service, extracting key contractual provisions (governing law, notice periods, contract value) into structured tables for a schedule or report, or producing a portfolio-wide summary of rights and obligations without opening every file individually.
Viewing key terms
Open the Matrix, select a document type in the sidebar, then click the Key terms tab. Each key term appears as a column; each document is a row. The cell shows the AI-extracted value.
Double-click any cell to jump directly to the location in the document where that value was found.
Key term types
When creating a key term you choose a type that tells Emma what kind of value to extract:
Type | What it extracts |
|---|---|
Text summary | A short textual description or clause |
Single line text | A concise single-line value |
Date | A date found in the document |
Yes/No | A boolean answer (yes or no) |
Currency amount | A monetary value with currency |
Number | A numeric value |
Adding a key term
From the Matrix Key terms tab:
- Click the + icon at the right end of the column headers, or
- Open Manage key terms (settings icon in the toolbar) and click Add key term
From the Documents IRL view:
- Navigate to a document type → Key Terms tab → click Add key term
In the dialog, fill in:
- Name — what you want to extract (e.g. "Governing law")
- Type — the value type (see table above)
- Description — explain what to look for and where in the document it typically appears. Click the magic wand icon to generate a description automatically based on the name and document type.
Generating key terms with AI
Click Generate key terms (sparkle icon) in the toolbar or from the Manage key terms dialog. Emma will suggest up to five additional key terms relevant to the document type based on the documents in your data room.
Reordering key terms
Drag the grip handle on any key term card to reorder. The order is saved automatically.
Editing a key term
Hover over a key term column header in the Matrix and click the pencil icon. In the IRL Key Terms tab, click the pencil next to the key term name.
Deleting a key term
Hover over a key term column header in the Matrix and click the trash icon. In the IRL Key Terms tab, click the trash icon next to the key term name. Deleting a key term removes all extracted values for that term from the Matrix.
Compare key terms across documents
You can set a reference document and compare all other documents' key terms against it. For a full explanation, see the Comparing key terms article in this Matrix collection.
If you need additional help with key terms or encounter any other problem, don't hesitate to reach out through the chat bubble in the bottom right or contact [email protected].
Updated on: 23/07/2026
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