Vaping Glossary

Vaping Glossary

A comprehensive A-Z dictionary of common vaping terminology.

A

• Atomizer: The component of a vape device that contains the coil and wick, responsible for heating the e-liquid and turning it into vapor.
• All-in-One (AIO): A device where the tank and battery are integrated into a single unit.

B

• Battery: The power source of a vaping device. Can be internal (built-in) or external (removable, e.g., 18650 cells).
• Box Mod: A powerful, box-shaped vaping device that typically offers advanced features like variable wattage and temperature control.

C

• Coil: A wire (often wrapped in a spring shape) that heats up to vaporize e-liquid. It is surrounded by wicking material.
• Clearomizer: An older style of tank made of clear plastic or glass, allowing the user to see the e-liquid level.

D

• Direct-Lung (DL): An inhalation style where the user breathes the vapor directly into their lungs, similar to taking a deep breath. Usually associated with sub-ohm vaping.
• Drip Tip: The mouthpiece of a vape tank or atomizer.
• Dry Hit: An unpleasant burnt taste caused by the wicking material burning when there is insufficient e-liquid in the atomizer.

E

• E-Liquid / E-Juice: The fluid used in vaping devices, containing PG, VG, flavorings, and optionally nicotine.

F

• Freebase Nicotine: The standard form of nicotine used in most e-liquids, providing a noticeable throat hit.

M

• Mesh Coil: A type of coil that uses a mesh sheet instead of standard wire, providing a larger surface area for faster heating and enhanced flavor.
• Mouth-to-Lung (MTL): An inhalation style where vapor is drawn into the mouth first, then inhaled into the lungs, mimicking the draw of a traditional cigarette.
• Mech Mod (Mechanical Mod): An advanced, unregulated device that delivers raw battery power directly to the atomizer. Recommended only for experienced users due to lack of safety features.

N

• Nicotine Salt (Nic Salt): A type of nicotine that is smoother on the throat, allowing for higher concentrations without harshness. Best used in low-wattage devices.

O

• Ohm: The standard unit of electrical resistance. In vaping, it refers to the resistance of the coil.

P

• PG (Propylene Glycol): A thin, odorless liquid used as a base in e-liquid. It carries flavor well and provides a throat hit.
• Pod System: A compact vape device that uses pods (which contain the coil and e-liquid) instead of traditional tanks.
• Priming: The process of saturating a new coil with e-liquid before firing the device to prevent dry hits and burning.

R

• RDA (Rebuildable Dripping Atomizer): An advanced atomizer where users build their own coils and drip e-liquid directly onto the wick.
• RTA (Rebuildable Tank Atomizer): An advanced tank system that requires the user to build their own coils.

S

• Sub-Ohm: Vaping with a coil that has a resistance of less than 1.0 ohm. Typically produces larger vapor clouds and requires higher wattage.

T

• Tank: The component that holds the e-liquid and houses the atomizer/coil.
• Throat Hit: The sensation felt in the back of the throat when inhaling vapor with nicotine or high PG content.

V

• VG (Vegetable Glycerin): A thick, sweet liquid used as a base in e-liquid. It is responsible for producing dense vapor clouds.
• Vape Pen: A cylindrical, pen-shaped vaping device, usually consisting of a battery and a tank.

W

• Wattage: The amount of power flowing from the battery to the atomizer. Variable wattage devices allow users to adjust this for a customized experience.
• Wick: The material (usually organic cotton) that absorbs e-liquid and delivers it to the heated coil.