Overview
Context items are reusable pieces of information that you can reference in your Copilot conversations. They provide consistent data, instructions, or knowledge that the AI can use across multiple interactions, reducing repetition and ensuring accuracy.What Is Context?
Context items are stored pieces of information that can include:- Reference data: Company information, product details, guidelines
- Code snippets: Reusable code templates or examples
- Documentation: Technical specs, API documentation, procedures
- Instructions: Standard operating procedures, policies
- Templates: Message templates, response formats
- Knowledge: Domain expertise, best practices, FAQs
Why Use Context?
Consistency
- Same information used across all conversations
- No need to repeat common details
- Reduced errors from manual entry
Efficiency
- Reference complex information with simple mentions
- Avoid copying and pasting repeatedly
- Faster conversation setup
Knowledge Sharing
- Share context across your organization
- Onboard new team members faster
- Centralize important information
AI Enhancement
- Provide domain-specific knowledge
- Improve AI response accuracy
- Guide AI behavior consistently
Creating Context Items
Step 1: Navigate to Context
- Click Context in the main navigation
- Click + New Context button
- The context creation form appears
Step 2: Configure Basic Information
Context Name- Choose a descriptive, memorable name
- Use clear naming conventions
- Examples: “company-info”, “api-guidelines”, “brand-voice”
- Explain what the context contains
- Note when to use it
- Helpful for team members
Step 3: Add Content
Content Field- Enter your context information
- Can include:
- Plain text
- Markdown formatting
- Code snippets
- JSON data
- XML/YAML
- Documentation excerpts
Step 4: Set Metadata
Context Type- Select the appropriate type
- Helps with organization and filtering
- Examples: documentation, code, template, policy
- Add searchable tags
- Group related contexts
- Examples: “api”, “customer-support”, “development”
Step 5: Set Visibility
Private Context- Only you can see and use it
- Perfect for personal references
- Test before sharing
- Available to your entire organization
- Appears in everyone’s context list
- Great for team standards
Step 6: Save
- Click Save to create the context item
- It’s immediately available for use
- Reference it with
@context-namein Copilot
Using Context Items
In Copilot Conversations
Reference context items using mentions: Simple ReferenceHow Context Is Applied
When you mention a context item:- The AI receives the full context content
- It uses this information to inform responses
- It maintains consistency with the guidelines
- It references specific details as needed
Context in Agents
Agents can include context mentions in their instructions:Managing Context Items
Viewing Context
The Context page shows: My Contexts- Context items you created
- Private items
- Full edit/delete access
- Public items from your organization
- Created by team members
- View-only access
Searching Context
Use the search bar to find context items:- Search by name
- Search by description
- Search by tags
- Filter in real-time
Editing Context
- Find your context in “My Contexts”
- Click the Edit button
- Modify name, content, or settings
- Click Save Changes
- Immediately to new conversations
- Existing conversations may have old version
- Update agents that reference this context
Deleting Context
- Find your context in “My Contexts”
- Click the Delete button
- Confirm deletion
- Context is permanently removed
- No longer available for new mentions
- Agents referencing it may show warnings
- Existing conversations with it continue to work
Changing Visibility
Toggle between private and public:- Click the visibility toggle
- Confirm the change
- Context moves to appropriate section
- Available to others immediately
Context Best Practices
Naming Conventions
Use Clear Names- ✅ “customer-support-guidelines”
- ✅ “api-authentication-process”
- ✅ “brand-voice-standards”
- ❌ “context1”
- ❌ “my-stuff”
- ❌ “temp”
- Use lowercase with hyphens
- Include domain or purpose
- Keep names concise but descriptive
- Consistent with team conventions
Content Organization
Keep It Focused- One purpose per context item
- Break large contexts into smaller ones
- Example: Instead of “all-company-info”, create:
- “company-details”
- “contact-information”
- “office-locations”
- Markdown for readability
- Code blocks for snippets
- Lists for easier scanning
- Headers for organization
Maintenance
Regular Review- Monthly review of all contexts
- Update outdated information
- Remove unused contexts
- Consolidate duplicates
- Note major changes in descriptions
- Keep change log if critical
- Communicate updates to team
- Test changes before saving
- Verify information accuracy
- Check links and references
- Test context in conversations
- Get feedback from users
Common Context Types
Company Information
API Documentation
Process Guidelines
Brand Voice
Code Standards
Advanced Features
Dynamic Content
Include placeholders that get filled in:Nested References
Context items can reference other contexts:Conditional Guidelines
Include decision trees or conditional logic:Troubleshooting
Context Not Working
Context Not Applied- Verify mention syntax:
@context-name - Check context name spelling
- Ensure context exists and is accessible
- Try refreshing the context list
- Context might be too large
- Consider splitting into smaller contexts
- Verify full content was saved
- Check for formatting issues
Can’t Find Context
Missing from List- Check visibility settings
- Verify you have access
- Use search function
- Check spelling variations
- Clear search and try again
- Use partial name matching
- Check filters
- Refresh the page
Context Conflicts
Multiple Contexts with Similar Info- Consolidate duplicate contexts
- Use clear differentiation in names
- Add descriptive tags
- Document which to use when
Integration with Other Features
Context + Agents
- Agents reference contexts in instructions
- Ensures consistent agent behavior
- Provides domain knowledge
- Reduces agent instruction length
Context + Copilot
- Direct mentions in conversations
- Quick access to complex information
- Consistent responses across chats
- Reduced input required from users
Context + Applications
- Application-specific guidelines
- API usage templates
- Authentication instructions
- Error handling procedures
Next Steps
- Use context in Copilot conversations
- Reference context in agents for specialized behavior
- Monitor usage of your applications
- Configure settings for your workspace
