Definition · operations
evaluator
evaluator is a person, model, rule, or program that scores an output or run against set tests. You can spot evaluator 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 evaluator matter?
The evaluator shapes what the system optimizes for, so its blind spots and conflicts need their own tests. For evaluator, start with three checks: What signal proves the run worked? Can the run be replayed from its record? Which failure sends work back for repair? The answers should point to visible evidence, not a promise.
What does evaluator look like?
A rule checks invoice totals while a human reviewer judges whether the explanation is clear. This example makes evaluator 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 evaluator easy to confuse with?
An evaluator applies tests. A judge model is specifically a model used to compare or score outputs. The closest entries here are evaluation, observability, guardrail. Compare their definitions with evaluator before using the names as if they mean the same thing. That comparison keeps evaluator 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 evaluator?
We have not verified who first introduced evaluator. 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 evaluator?
Read evaluation first when evaluator 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 evaluator 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 signal proves the run worked?
- Can the run be replayed from its record?
- Which failure sends work back for repair?
Which source supports this definition of evaluator?
ACL Anthology supports this working definition of evaluator. 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 evaluator; the linked source remains the evidence to inspect when the wording or boundary matters.
source foundevaluatorChecked 2026-07-12→