UI vocabulary lookup

Find the name and purpose of common app and website controls.

Search plain-language examples to identify UI things, learn what they do, and describe what you see more clearly.

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Open the UI index Compare similar terms Browse every term A-Z

What you might say

"The thing you click to save" Button

Small hidden hint

Tooltip

Choose from a list

Dropdown

Easy to mix up

Tabs vs Accordion

Terminology translation

Everyday phrasing to UI term

"little popup hint" Tooltip "pull-down choice list" Dropdown "save thing" Button

Quick visual index

Account settings

Save your profile changes?

Buttons make actions clear with direct labels.

Save changesCancel

UI Components

Button

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A button is something a person selects to make an action happen.

CTAControlconfused with Dropdown

Related: Modal, Dropdown
Most relevant

UI Components

Dropdown

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A dropdown lets someone choose one option from a hidden list that opens on demand.

Select menuPickerconfused with Modal

Related: Button, Modal
A
?Explains a nearby control
...

UI Components

Tooltip

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A tooltip is a small note that appears near something to explain it briefly.

Hover textHelp tipconfused with Popup

Related: Button, Modal
Confirm changes

This focused box appears above the page.

Confirm

UI Components

Modal

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A focused box that appears above the page and asks someone to complete or dismiss a task.

DialogModal dialogconfused with Popup

Related: Button, Tooltip
OverviewDetailsHistory
Overview content

One selected panel appears in this space.

UI Components

Tabs

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Tabs let someone switch between related views that share the same space.

Tab barTab panelconfused with Accordion

Related: Accordion, Sidebar Navigation

UI Components

Checkbox

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A checkbox lets someone turn one option on or off, often as part of a group.

Check boxTick boxconfused with Toggle

Related: Toggle, Multi-Select, Form
Notifications
Public profile

UI Components

Toggle

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A toggle switches a setting between on and off.

SwitchToggle switchconfused with Checkbox

Related: Checkbox, Disabled State
Search productsS

UI Components

Search Bar

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A search bar is an input used to find matching content.

Search fieldSearch boxconfused with Text Input

Related: Searching, Text Input, Filtering

Browse paths

Jump by category or compare similar terms

Modal vs Popup

A modal is a focused dialog that blocks the page, while popup is a loose everyday word for many temporary overlays.

ModalPopup

Tabs vs Accordion

Tabs switch between sibling views, while an accordion expands and collapses sections on the same page.

TabsAccordion

Checkbox vs Toggle

A checkbox marks a choice, while a toggle switches a setting on or off, usually immediately.

CheckboxToggle

Search Bar vs Text Input

A search bar finds matching content, while a text input collects typed information.

Search BarText Input

UI Components

Recognizable interface pieces such as buttons, tabs, modals, tooltips, and navigation.

Actions & Behaviors

Names for what people do in software and how the interface reacts.

Layouts & Structure

Vocabulary for how screens are organized, grouped, and arranged.

Data & Content Types

Names for files, media, metadata, tags, categories, and structured information.

States & Feedback

Words for loading, success, errors, disabled controls, and other interface states.

Comparisons

Side-by-side explanations for terms that are easy to mix up.

All Terms

A fast A-Z reference index for scanning every term in the guide.