# Glossary & Foundations

This folder is the vocabulary layer for the rest of the curriculum. Use it to remove ambiguity early, especially when multiple modules reuse terms like embedding, fine-tuning, evaluation, retrieval, alignment, and quantization in different contexts.

## Start Here

- [01_GLOSSARY.md](01_GLOSSARY.md)

## How To Use This Folder

- Read it once quickly before starting the course.
- Revisit it whenever a later phase introduces jargon faster than you can comfortably absorb it.
- Treat it as a reference, not a phase you need to "finish perfectly" before moving on.

## Best Times To Come Back

- Before [05-embeddings/](../05-embeddings/)
- Before [08-rag/](../08-rag/)
- Before [12-llm-finetuning/](../12-llm-finetuning/)
- Before [19-ai-safety-redteaming/](../19-ai-safety-redteaming/)

## Suggested Improvement Path

As the repo grows, this folder should keep absorbing the most overloaded terms from newer LLM and MLOps modules so beginners do not need to infer definitions from context.

## What Comes Next

After a first pass through the glossary:

- Go back to [00-course-setup/README.md](../00-course-setup/README.md) if you are still orienting yourself.
- Continue to [01-python/README.md](../01-python/README.md) if programming fundamentals are still shaky.
- Otherwise return to the [master study guide](../docs/MASTER_STUDY_GUIDE.md) and continue with your current phase.
