A Glossary of the Most Common Vaping Terms
This glossary is designed to cover the most common terms you’ll come across in the vaping community. Each term reflects a different aspect of the vast and varied world of vaping, from the components that make up the devices to the styles and techniques used by vapers worldwide.
Whether you’re a new vaper getting to know your device or an experienced enthusiast talking shop, these terms are the key to navigating the conversations and choices in vaping.
Atomizer
The heating element in a vape device that vaporizes the e-liquid. It’s often a coil made of wire and wicking material.
Box Mod
A type of vape device that tends to be box-shaped and allows users to customize settings like temperature and wattage.
Cartridge (Cart)
A pre-filled container of e-liquid or vape juice. It usually attaches to the battery of a vape pen.
Cloud Chasing
A hobby where vapers aim to produce the largest and most interesting clouds of vapor. Often involves using devices that can be highly customized.
Coil
This is the wire in an atomizer that heats up and vaporizes the e-liquid. It’s usually made from materials like kanthal, nickel, titanium, or stainless steel.
Drip Tip
A mouthpiece accessory that allows users to drip e-liquid directly onto the atomizer or coil.
Dry Hit
When the vape juice runs low or the wicking material isn’t fully saturated, resulting in a burnt taste.
E-Juice or E-Liquid
The liquid solution that is vaporized in the e-cigarette or vape device. It usually contains propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), flavorings, and nicotine.
Mouth to Lung (MTL)
A vaping style similar to smoking a traditional cigarette, involving drawing vapor into the mouth before inhaling it into the lungs.
Nicotine Salt (Nic Salt)
A type of nicotine found in e-juices that is more stable and less harsh, allowing for higher concentrations of nicotine in vaping products.
Ohm (Ω)
A unit of electrical resistance. In vaping, lower ohms mean more current and usually more vapor production.
Pod Mod
A compact vaping device that uses refillable or replaceable pods instead of a traditional tank or atomizer.
Priming
The process of saturating the wick with e-liquid before using a new coil to avoid dry hits.
RBA (Rebuildable Atomizer)
A type of atomizer that allows users to build their own coils and wicking systems.
Resistance
The amount of opposition to electrical current in the coil, measured in ohms. It affects how much heat the coil produces.
Steeping
The process of aging e-juice to improve its flavor. Much like aging wine, steeping allows the flavors to blend and mature.
Sub-Ohm
Vaping using a device whose coil has a resistance of less than one ohm. This usually produces more vapor and flavor.
Tank
The component that holds the e-juice in a vape device. It usually consists of a reservoir, a coil, and a wicking system.
Throat Hit
The sensation felt in the back of the throat when inhaling vapor, often desired by former smokers. It can vary in intensity based on the level of nicotine and the type of e-liquid used.
VG (Vegetable Glycerin)
A thick, sweet liquid used in e-juice. It produces more vapor and has a slightly sweet taste.
Wattage
The amount of power produced by the battery that heats the coil, measured in watts. Adjusting the wattage can change the temperature of the coil, affecting vapor production and flavor.
Wick
Material that absorbs e-liquid to be vaporized by the coil. Common materials include cotton, silica, or ceramic.
510 Thread
A standard type of threading on vape devices and atomizers. It’s the most common type of connection in the vaping world.
Direct Lung (DL)
A vaping style where the vapor is inhaled directly into the lungs, much like taking a deep breath. It’s popular for larger vapor production.
Juice Well
A part of the atomizer that holds extra e-liquid. It’s particularly common in RDA (Rebuildable Dripping Atomizer) setups.
Kanthal Wire
A type of resistance wire commonly used in building vape coils. It’s known for its durability and high melting point.
Mechanical Mod (Mech Mod)
A type of vaping device that contains no electronics and provides direct current from the battery to the coil. It’s popular among experienced vapers for its durability and power.
Nickel Wire (Ni200)
Often used in temperature-controlled vaping, this wire allows for consistent coil temperature.
Passthrough Charging
The ability to use a vape device while it’s charging.
RDA (Rebuildable Dripping Atomizer)
A type of rebuildable atomizer that doesn’t have a tank and requires the user to drip e-liquid onto the coil frequently.
RTA (Rebuildable Tank Atomizer)
Combines the customization of an RBA with the convenience of a tank, allowing users to build their own coils while still holding a significant amount of e-juice.
Squonking
A vaping style that involves a bottle of e-liquid integrated into the device, which allows you to feed e-liquid into the atomizer by squeezing the bottle.
Temperature Control (TC)
A feature on some mods that allows users to set a max coil temperature. It helps prevent dry hits and can provide a consistent vaping experience.
Vaper’s Tongue
A condition where, after vaping the same flavor for an extended period, the user becomes desensitized to the flavor and it seems less pronounced.
Vent Holes
Safety features in a battery or device that allow gases to escape if the battery overheats, preventing explosions.