Spelling reference, preferred terms & glossary

This section has 3 goals:

  • Define the spelling. You can use this list to check how a special TYPO3 term is spelled
  • Preferred terms: Sometimes there are more terms for one thing, which basically mean the same thing, such as “third party extension” and “community extension. Here, we define the preferred term.
  • Glossary: Sometimes a term may have several different meanings. Here we also define the meaning for some difficult edge cases.

In this list, the terms in the header are spelled exactly as they should be spelled. This means that the first word is sometimes lowercased. This is something you should not usually do in the documentation. Always uppercase the first word in a title, header or sentence.

Important

The goal of this page is to give guidance for people editing the documentation (and other content, e.g. in the TYPO3 backend). It is not intended as a glossary for beginners.

backend (noun)

Spelling:

Usually not capitalized. This is not specific to TYPO3. Fluid is capitalized, like Docker (see Proper names, brand names). Backend is a general thing, like any backend, any extension, any plugin or any car and not a 1953 Chevy Corvette.

Example: “when you log in to the backend …”

Note: Outside of the TYPO3 context, you will also encounter spellings like back-end or back end. These are not wrong, but in the context of TYPO3, we try to use consistent spelling, so stick to backend.

code sprint

Spelling:
Commonly written in lowercase. See Wikipedia: Hackathon

(the TYPO3) Core

Spelling:
Example: “The TYPO3 Core comes with a number of icons that may be used in your extension.”

Composer

Spelling:
Use Composer unless you explicitly mean the command composer (see Docker for explanation).

(the TYPO3) Core Team

Spelling:
Capitalized.

Data Processor

Spelling:
Capitalized: The Data Processor as used in FLUIDTEMPLATE is a common name, specific to TYPO3 and not just any old generic data processor.

(the TYPO3) Documentation Team

Spelling:
Capitalized, unless it means any documentation team.

Docker

Spelling:
The product Docker is a brand name and therefore capitalized, so use that unless you explicitly mean the command docker (see Use the Docker command line).

Edit on GitHub workflow

Preferred term:
Use this to describe the workflow which involves editing on GitHub as opposed to “local editing and rendering with Docker”.

Extbase

Spelling:
Capitalized. Adhering to the rule set of Proper names, brand names.

extension

Spelling:

See description for backend for an explanation of why we use lowercase.

Examples:

  • “When you create the documentation for your extension, make sure …”
  • “… includes all TYPO3 extensions that are uploaded to TER”

Extension Manager

Spelling:
Capitalized. Example: “Use the Extension Manager to activate an extension.”

Flexform

Spelling
Flexform (singular), Flexforms (plural)

Fluid

Spelling:
Capitalized. The rule set of Proper names, brand names.

frontend

Spelling:
Usually not capitalized. See backend for an explanation.

Git

spelling:
The same applies as for Docker. Use Git unless you explicitly mean the command line command git.

GitHub

Spelling:
Exception: This is the official spelling.

Introduction Package

Spelling:
Example: “The official TYPO3 Introduction Package is a great place to start”

local editing and rendering with Docker

Preferred term:
This phrase is used to describe the workflow of editing locally.

quick start

reStructuredText

Preferred term:
This is the official spelling. Alternate word: reST, but this may be confused with REST(ful). We commonly use reST within this document, because it is shorter and we assume you know we are not talking about REST here, but elsewhere, reStructuredText should be preferred.

sitepackage

Preferred term:
In the context of a TYPO3 sitepackage, a TYPO3 sitepackage extension or the sitepackage builder, we use the spelling sitepackage and not site package.

system extension

Preferred term:
“system extension” is commonly used to describe an extension shipped with the core and located in the directory sysext in the file system. The alternate term “core extension” is discouraged (see Issue on GitHub).

TCA

Spelling
TCA is an acronym. We capitalize it.

third party extension

Preferred term:
It is preferred to use “third party extension” and not “3rd party extension” (see Issue on GitHub for discussion).
Definition:
Not a system extension maintained in the core, an extension publicly available.

TSconfig

Spelling:
TYPO3 exception. Note the lowercase “c” after TS! Spelling TSConfig is sometimes used, but it should be TSconfig!

TYPO3

Spelling:
TYPO3 exception: TYPO3 is always spelled TYPO3.

TypoScript

Spelling:
TYPO3 exception

Viewhelper

Spelling:
TYPO3 exception

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