Vaping glossary A–Z
Definitions of the terms used on product listings and in our guides. Each entry explains what the term means in practice rather than only what it stands for.
A
- Airflow
- How much air is drawn through a device on each puff. Tighter airflow suits mouth-to-lung vaping; more open airflow suits direct-to-lung vaping. Some devices have an adjustable airflow ring.
- Atomiser
- The part of a device that heats e-liquid into vapour. In a pod kit the atomiser is usually built into the pod; in a tank it is a replaceable coil.
- Auto-draw
- A device that fires when you inhale rather than when you press a button. Also described as inhale-activated or draw-activated.
B
- Battery
- The cell that powers a device. Reusable kits normally use a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery charged over USB-C.
C
- Coil
- A resistance wire and wicking material that heats e-liquid. Coils are consumable and are replaced when flavour drops off or a burnt taste appears.
D
- DTL
- Direct-to-lung. Inhaling vapour straight into the lungs through open airflow, usually with lower nicotine strengths and higher-VG e-liquid.
E
- E-liquid
- The liquid a device vaporises. It normally contains propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, flavourings and, in most products, nicotine.
F
- Freebase nicotine
- Nicotine in its unmodified form. At higher strengths it is generally described as harsher on the throat than nicotine salt.
M
- mAh
- Milliamp hours, a measure of battery capacity. A higher figure means more stored charge, though real-world use depends on the device and how it is used.
- MTL
- Mouth-to-lung. Drawing vapour into the mouth first, then inhaling. Suits tighter airflow, higher-resistance coils and 50/50 or nicotine-salt e-liquid.
N
- Nicotine salt
- Nicotine combined with an acid, commonly benzoic acid. It is widely used in prefilled pods and 10ml salt e-liquids at higher strengths.
O
- Ohm
- The unit of electrical resistance, written with the symbol for ohms. Higher-resistance coils are typical for mouth-to-lung vaping; lower resistance is used for direct-to-lung.
P
- PG
- Propylene glycol. A thin carrier liquid that carries flavour well and gives more throat sensation than vegetable glycerine.
- Pod
- The removable part of a pod kit that holds e-liquid. Pods are either prefilled and sealed, or refillable and topped up by the user.
- Prefilled pod
- A sealed pod supplied already filled with e-liquid. It is fitted to a compatible device and replaced when empty.
R
- Refillable pod
- A pod you fill yourself from a bottle of e-liquid, usually with a replaceable or built-in coil.
T
- TPD
- The Tobacco Products Directive, the framework behind UK rules such as the 2ml tank limit, the 10ml bottle limit and the 20mg/ml nicotine strength limit.
V
- VG
- Vegetable glycerine. A thicker carrier liquid that produces more vapour and a smoother inhale than propylene glycol.
W
- Wattage
- The power a device sends to the coil. Some devices are fixed-output; others let you adjust wattage within the range the coil supports.