Terminology
This page defines the core terms used throughout the platform documentation.
Device Model
| Term | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Hub | Central gateway that connects to all networks and the cloud | Zipato Box, Zipabox, cloud instance |
| Network | A communication protocol and the devices on it | Z-Wave network, Zigbee network, virtual network |
| Device | A physical or virtual device connected to a network | Light switch, thermostat, motion sensor |
| Endpoint | A logical, addressable part of a device. May map to a native protocol endpoint or be created internally by the platform | Z-Wave endpoint #0, Zigbee endpoint #1, KNX group 1/2/3 |
| Device Capability | A logical function of a device — a set of related attributes and actions describing one aspect of what the device can measure or control. A concept, not a stored layer; its normalized schema is a Cluster | On/off control, brightness control, energy metering |
| Cluster | The global, normalized schema of a Device Capability — defines which attributes and actions that capability supports. Shared across all devices that have the capability | OnOff cluster defines PowerState; LevelControl defines BrightnessLevel |
| Cluster Endpoint | Associates a Cluster with a specific Endpoint — represents the concrete capability of that device | OnOff cluster on Endpoint 0, LevelControl cluster on Endpoint 0 |
| Attribute | The schema definition of a single property on a Cluster (name, data type, read/write/report flags). Shared globally — not a value holder | PowerState, BrightnessLevel |
| AttributeValueDefinition | A concrete, addressable data point for a specific device — holds runtime configuration (TTL, unit, reported flag, hidden flag) | BrightnessLevel configuration for one specific device |
Capability vs. Cluster, in one line: a Device Capability is the idea of what a device can do; a Cluster is the normalized schema that describes that capability the same way for every device that has it.
For how these pieces are created and fit together, see Device Normalization.