# What Is a Website Chatbot? How AI Chat Works

Source: https://insertchat.com/glossary/website-chatbot

> A website chatbot answers visitors’ questions in a chat window. Learn how AI chatbots differ from live chat and button bots, and what makes one useful.

A website chatbot is a chat window on a business’s website where an automated assistant answers visitors’ questions in real time. Modern AI chatbots answer in natural language from the business’s own pages and documents, collect contact details, book appointments, and hand the chat to a person when needed, at any hour and without a staffed live chat desk.

## How a website chatbot works

A short script added to your site loads the chat, usually as a bubble in a bottom corner, or embedded inside a page. When a visitor types, the assistant reads the message, searches the business’s [knowledge base](https://insertchat.com/glossary/knowledge-base), and replies. Website builders like WordPress, Shopify, Wix, and Webflow accept these scripts, often through a plugin or custom code block.

Three things separate a useful chatbot from an annoying one: answers specific to your business rather than generic AI text, an easy path to a person, and a team view of every conversation. Button-only bots that can’t handle typed questions, or AI bots that guess, both send visitors away.

## Example: a roofing company’s evening visitors

A roofing company’s website gets most of its visits in the evening, when homeowners are back from work. Its chatbot answers whether the company handles insurance claims, explains the inspection process from the company’s FAQ, accepts a photo of the damage, and books an inspection. The owner reviews the conversations with breakfast. This scenario is illustrative.

## InsertChat’s website chatbot

InsertChat’s [website chat](https://insertchat.com/product/website) answers from your pages, documents, and FAQs. Install it with the [WordPress plugin](https://insertchat.com/integration/wordpress) or paste the install code into Shopify, Wix, Webflow, WooCommerce, or any builder that accepts custom code. Visitors can ask questions, attach files, send voice messages, book appointments, and ask for a person.

The same assistant answers your phone, texts, email, and WhatsApp, and every chat lands in the shared inbox with the visitor’s landing page and referrer. Set the name, logo, colors, and tone to match your brand.

## What is the difference between a chatbot and live chat?

Live chat is staffed by people, so it only works when someone is available. A chatbot answers automatically. Many businesses combine them: the bot answers first and a person takes over when needed.

## Will a chatbot slow down my website?

A well-built widget loads its script asynchronously and has little effect on page speed. Test your key pages after installing.

## Do I need a developer to add a chatbot?

Usually not. Plugins and copy-and-paste install codes work on most website builders. A developer helps only with custom placements or sites that restrict scripts.

## Related terms

- [Iframe embedding](https://insertchat.com/glossary/iframe-embedding): Iframe embedding is placing one web page inside another using an HTML inline frame, so content hosted elsewhere, such as a chat window, map, or booking calendar, appears as part of your page.
- [Chat session](https://insertchat.com/glossary/chat-session): A chat session is a single conversation between a website visitor and a chatbot or support agent, from the first message until it is resolved or goes inactive.
- [White-label chatbot](https://insertchat.com/glossary/white-label-chatbot): A white-label chatbot is AI chat software that one company builds and another company rebrands and delivers to its own clients.
- [Lead capture](https://insertchat.com/glossary/lead-capture): Lead capture is recording a potential customer’s contact details and request when they first reach out, so the business can follow up and win the job.
- [Conversational AI](https://insertchat.com/glossary/conversational-ai): Conversational AI is technology that lets software hold a natural conversation with people by text or voice.

## Related InsertChat pages

- [AI chatbot for your website](https://insertchat.com/product/website)
- [WordPress plugin](https://insertchat.com/integration/wordpress)
- [Shopify installation](https://insertchat.com/integration/shopify)
- [AI receptionist for roofers](https://insertchat.com/industries/roofing)