# About the Glossary & Definitions

The glossary is a set of terms and matching _Glossary Definitions_. While viewing a document, you can either select words or short phrases or enter a word or phrase into the glossary to search for approved _Glossary Definitions_ with matching values. Admins can <a href="/en/gr/520162/">configure a library of _Glossary Definitions_</a>
 in Vault and set up an approved external search engine.

## Searching the Glossary

While viewing a document, you can click the **Glossary** (<i class="fal fa-book-open"></i>) button in the toolbar to open the glossary. The glossary opens to the left of the document, in the same sidebar as the Filters and Bookmarks panels. Click the **Glossary** button to close the panel.

You can also press CTRL + G on Windows or CMD + G on a Mac to open and close the glossary.

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      <p><strong>Note</strong>: The glossary is unavailable in <em>Thumbnail</em> view, in read-only viewers, in the Vault Mobile app and mobile browsers, and in token-based or public viewers.</p>
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You can search the glossary in several ways:

  * You can manually enter and edit text in the _Search Glossary_ field.
  * In _View_ or _Annotate_ mode, you can hold down the _G_ key and select text.

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      <p><strong>Note</strong>: Glossary searches are limited to 256 characters.</p>
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Vault returns a maximum of five (5) results for each search and presents any available definitions in the language specified on your user profile. If there are no definitions in this language, Vault presents definitions in English.

When configured, Vault also displays applicable search results from the configured external search engine. To view the search results, click the external search link.

To copy a _Glossary Definition_, click the **Copy Definition** (<i class="fal fa-copy"></i>) button.

## Related Permissions

To search the glossary and copy _Glossary Definitions_, you must have the **View Content** permission on the document.