Clarifying Question

A clarifying question is a follow-up query posed by a system or interlocutor to resolve ambiguity, fill missing context, or confirm intent before acting on a user's request. In conversational interfaces, clarifying questions are a core mechanism of mixed-initiative interaction: rather than guessing from a vague query, the system asks a targeted multiple-choice or yes/no question. For accessibility this is particularly valuable for users with cognitive load constraints, aphasia, or limited technical vocabulary, who may struggle to formulate a precise initial query but can easily confirm a well-scoped option.