Glossary
Webfuse introduces a new way to interact with, and augment the web. This page compiles a compact overview of Webfuse key terminology.
General Concepts
Section titled “General Concepts”Web Augmentation
Section titled “Web Augmentation”Web Augmentation is the process of extending a web application with custom logic and UI. This is typically done by intercepting requests and responses, and modifying the content or behavior of the web application. Webfuse enables web augmentation through Extensions (individual) and Apps (provided).
Proxy Server
Section titled “Proxy Server”A Proxy Server is a server that acts as an intermediary between a client and a server. It can be used to modify requests and responses, or to provide additional functionality.
Forward Proxy
Section titled “Forward Proxy”A forward proxy is a proxy server that forwards requests to a server, they are generally installed on the network infrastructure of a company to filter out unwanted content or to provide additional functionality, irrespective of the origin server.
Reverse Proxy
Section titled “Reverse Proxy”A reverse proxy is a proxy server that intercepts all incoming requests and forwards them to the origin server. It can be used to provide additional functionality, or to provide a secure and private connection to the origin server.
Origin Server
Section titled “Origin Server”The origin server is the server that the proxy server forwards requests to. It is the server that the proxy server is protecting and the one that the user is trying to access.
Webfuse Concepts
Section titled “Webfuse Concepts”Studio
Section titled “Studio”Studio is the name of the web user interface of Webfuse. It comprises a dashboard, Space Settings, and Session UI including the Session Editor. Use it to manipulate Spaces, start Sessions, and manage your credentials, such as API keys.
A Space is a unique, customizable environment within Webfuse that acts as a container for Sessions. A Space is accessed via a Space URL (Slug), which can lead to an optional Landing Page and authentication settings.
Space Slug
Section titled “Space Slug”A Space Slug is the human-readable short name for a space, used in shareable URLs and embed links. It appears in public-facing links like: https://company.webfuse.com/+space-slug/
Space URL
Section titled “Space URL”A Space URL is the fully qualified URL that points to a specific Space. It consists of a static Webfuse part (host, etc.), and the individual Space Slug.
Space ID
Section titled “Space ID”A Space ID is the unique internal identifier of a Webfuse Space. It is used in API calls, SDK integrations (like the Widget API), and backend systems to reference and interact with a specific space. When opening a Space in Studio you can see the SpaceID in the URL as follows: https://webfuse.com/studio/spaces/space_id/
Session
Section titled “Session”A virtual web Session is a an augmented web application that runs within a Virtual Tab. It is a sandboxed browser context that is running the original web application loaded through Webfuse’s proxy infrastructure. One Session can have multiple Virtual Tabs each hosting their own virtual web Session with a different URL and their own Tab Owner. A Session starts after a participant has opened a Space, accepted the possible optional terms of service and has passed all identification requirements. Each Session has its own start time, and will continue to exist until it is ended which results in a certain duration.
Session Editor
Section titled “Session Editor”A Space Admin can open the Session Editor where it can be used to install Apps, Extensions or can be used to change the Session settings.
Custom Domain
Section titled “Custom Domain”A Custom Domain allows you to serve your Space using a domain you own (e.g. session.acme.com/+demo/) instead of the default Webfuse subdomain (e.g. acme.webfuse.com/+demo/). This enables first-party cookie support, bypasses iframe restrictions, and allows you to white-label the experience for your users.
Landing Page
Section titled “Landing Page”A Landing Page is an optional page which can be displayed when opening a Space. This page can show information regarding the space, collect user information or show terms of services and can be easily customized.
Start Page
Section titled “Start Page”One of those settings that can be changed, is the configuration of the Start Page. This is the specific URL to be opened at the start of a Session, it is also possible to set this to pre-defined HTML content to enable more freedom and customization.
A virtual Tab is a sandboxed browser context running inside a Session. Each tab represents an isolated web page, loaded through Webfuse’s proxy infrastructure, and rendered within the Session interface. Multiple tabs can exist simultaneously, and each tab has a Tab Owner who controls its content.
Extension
Section titled “Extension”An Extension refers to a custom JavaScript code module that can be loaded into a Session to extend functionality and customize the user experience. These modules follow the regular Browser Extension API loosely and can be provided by anyone.
Apps are additional modules of functionalities which can be added to a Space to change its functionality. They are provided and managed by the Webfuse Team. Think of functionality such as element masking, Session recording, or video calling.
Space Type
Section titled “Space Type”We identify 4 different space types which will define how the space will behave:
Solo Space
Section titled “Solo Space”Only one participant is allowed to enter a Session. Each user that opens a Space will be put into their own Session.
Shared Space
Section titled “Shared Space”A shared Session can be shared with multiple participants. We will enable the visual options within the UI to invite external users and the Virtual Tab will show who actually owns a certain tab.
Meeting Space
Section titled “Meeting Space”A meeting space is in essence a Shared Space, but the original Space Link will be converted into the Session Link. This makes it possible to plan Sessions ahead of time.
Assisted Space
Section titled “Assisted Space”Similar to a Shared Space, but Sessions will be Queued and can be answered to enable a support like flow.
Collaboration
Section titled “Collaboration”Participant Panel
Section titled “Participant Panel”The Participant Panel lists all Session participants and provides options to invite or remove participants. This is available for a Shared, Meeting or Assisted spaces.
Session Role
Section titled “Session Role”Within a Session we identify the following roles for participants:
Participant
Section titled “Participant”Any user who partakes in a Session is a participant.
Space Admin
Section titled “Space Admin”Any participant who has special Admin rights as defined on the Space membership list.
Tab Owner
Section titled “Tab Owner”Any participant who opens content within a virtual tab will be the Tab Owner for that specific Tab.
A special role which applies to a Shared Space, in such a Session a Host will always need to be present in order for the Session to be able to start.
Collaboration Modes
Section titled “Collaboration Modes”We offer two different collaboration modes how Shared Space can operate:
- In the Presenter Mode there will be one Host and he defines what other participants of the Session will be able to actively see. If during this mode, the Host leaves, the Session will end.
- In the Huddle ModeE there is no single host but each participant can freely change their view, they can see any of their own tabs or follow any of the other participants.
Communication Panel
Section titled “Communication Panel”An integrated chat and video conferencing tool that enables real-time communication between participants.
Session Lifetime
Section titled “Session Lifetime”A key feature of a Session is that it has an explicit lifetime. The Session starts as soon as the Session is created and ends either when the Session is explicitly ended or when there are no longer any active participants in the Session.
Active Participant
Section titled “Active Participant”An active participant is a participant that has a working network connection with Webfuse - if the user has no active connection for more than 30 seconds (this is configurable) - we will terminate the session. This is intended behavior to actually reduce extraneous costs to be incurred on your behalf.
Access Control
Section titled “Access Control”When opening a Space, we will go through a few steps before jumping into the Session. This is depicted below. After opening a Space, we check if we need to display a Landing Page, Is access restricted to certain members? Do users need to identify themselves? Can the user obtain Host Rights or does he need to be admitted and will the user end up in its own Session or a shared Meeting Space.
Integration
Section titled “Integration”Magic Link
Section titled “Magic Link”It allows you to define Session behavior (participant name, email, tabs, roles, permissions) and bypass Space authentication. Magic Links are encoded as a JSON Web Token (JWT) and signed using the Space REST Key and can be generated on demand without contacting the Webfuse server.
REST Key
Section titled “REST Key”A secret token used to interact with a specific Space via the REST API. It allows Session-level actions such as signing Magic Links, controlling Session behavior, and accessing webhooks. This key is scoped to a single Space. This Key should not be shared publicly!
Widget Key
Section titled “Widget Key”A unique public identifier assigned to each Space. It is used when initializing a Webfuse Space via the JavaScript Widget API. The widget key determines which Space should be loaded, and is required to embed Webfuse inside your own application or webpage.