Definition · context memory
episodic memory
episodic memory is the term for Memory of past events or runs: what happened, when, and under what conditions. You can spot episodic memory in practice when the record shows what the system observes, what choice it makes, and what changes next, without asking the reader to guess or trust a slogan.
157 definitions656 sourced recordsNamed source: ACL Anthology
Why does episodic memory matter?
Past events can help an agent avoid an old mistake. Each memory needs time and task context. For episodic memory, start with three checks: What is kept, and for how long? Who can write or retrieve it? How would bad data be found and removed? The answers should point to visible evidence, not a promise.
What does episodic memory look like?
A support agent recalls that this customer rejected a prior fix and tries the next approved step. This example makes episodic memory visible by naming the actor, the action, and the result in practice. It is an illustration for readers, not a claim that every product behaves this way.
What is episodic memory easy to confuse with?
Episodic memory stores past events. Semantic memory stores facts without one event frame. The closest entries here are context window, long-term memory, orchestration. Compare their definitions with episodic memory before using the names as if they mean the same thing. That comparison keeps episodic memory separate from nearby ideas without pretending the boundary is always perfect.
How certain is this definition?
This definition is provisional. ACL Anthology supports the version you see today, but a better or more direct source may change it. Open the cited page and check its date before you use this entry to choose a product, write a policy, set a safety control, or design a system.
Who introduced the term episodic memory?
We have not verified who first introduced episodic memory. The source supports a useful definition, but it may not be the earliest use. Until a dated primary record settles the question, we leave the origin open. A popular article or product page is not enough to name the person who coined a term.
What should you understand before episodic memory?
Read memory first when episodic memory depends on a more basic idea or mechanism. The link gives you a useful route through the glossary. It does not mean every author teaches the subject in this order, so follow the source when the sequence matters.
What should this term help you answer?
Use episodic memory to ask what an agent can observe, decide, change, remember, or hand off. The questions below turn the definition into a practical check. They are prompts for your own work, not claims made by the source, so change them to fit the system you are examining.
- What is kept, and for how long?
- Who can write or retrieve it?
- How would bad data be found and removed?
Which source supports this definition of episodic memory?
ACL Anthology supports this working definition of episodic memory. We checked the link on 2026-07-12. Open the original record for its context, methods, limits, and publication details. The short explanation here is a guide to episodic memory; the linked source remains the evidence to inspect when the wording or boundary matters.
source foundepisodic memoryChecked 2026-07-12→