Definition · foundations
sandbox
sandbox is a closed setting that limits what code or an agent can reach and change. You can spot sandbox 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 sandbox matter?
A sandbox limits what code or an agent can reach. It can contain damage when a run goes wrong. For sandbox, start with three checks: What can the system observe? What choice can it make? What changes after it acts? The answers should point to visible evidence, not a promise.
What does sandbox look like?
A coding agent runs tests in a temp folder with no access to secrets or live data. This example makes sandbox 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 sandbox easy to confuse with?
A sandbox limits the execution space. An approval gate controls whether a step may proceed. The closest entries here are rule-based environment, search graph, agent card. Compare their definitions with sandbox before using the names as if they mean the same thing. That comparison keeps sandbox 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 sandbox?
We have not verified who first introduced sandbox. 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 sandbox?
Read artificial intelligence (AI) first when sandbox 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 sandbox 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 can the system observe?
- What choice can it make?
- What changes after it acts?
Which source supports this definition of sandbox?
ACL Anthology supports this working definition of sandbox. 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 sandbox; the linked source remains the evidence to inspect when the wording or boundary matters.
source foundsandboxChecked 2026-07-12→