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VS Code glossary

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Nick Trogh edited this page Mar 29, 2024 · 3 revisions

VS Code glossary

Terms and capitalization used in VS Code documentation.

In general, VS Code specific "things" are capitalized. These can be UI elements such as the "Command Palette" or features such as "Settings Sync". Not only does this help indicate that something is specific to VS Code, it also helps make the UI or feature "pop" in the text.

General software terms or UI elements are not capitalized. For example, "syntax highlighting" or "terminal" are general terms and not capitalized.

VS Code brand name

"Visual Studio Code" on first use in an article or blog post. "VS Code" on subsequent mentions.

Don't use "VSCode" or "Code".

VS Code UI terms

VS Code UI terms try to follow the naming and capitalization used in the VS Code UI.

  • Command Palette
  • Quick Pick
  • Activity Bar
  • Status Bar
  • Primary Side Bar
  • Secondary Side Bar
  • Panels (the region)
  • File Explorer view
  • Outline view
  • Timeline view
  • Search view
  • Source Control view
  • Run and Debug view
  • Extensions view
  • Output panel
  • Problems panel
  • Debug Console
  • Settings editor
  • Keyboard Shortcuts editor
  • Accessible View - not a view in the usual VS Code sense, accessibility-specific UI element
  • Command Center
  • Custom Layout Controls
  • Chat view, inline Chat, Quick Chat
  • Notifications area, instance is a "notification"
  • Zen mode

General terms

  • menu items
  • tool bar
  • editor
  • editor group
  • editor tabs
  • minimap
  • breadcrumbs
  • terminal, integrated terminal
  • audio cues
  • window
  • diff editor

VS Code feature terms

  • Settings Sync
  • Workspace Trust
  • Code Action
  • Quick Fix
  • Color Theme
  • File Icon Theme
  • Profiles, instance can be lower case "switch your profile".
  • Sticky Scroll
  • GitHub Copilot (Chat), subsequent Copilot (Chat)
  • GitHub Codespaces, instance is lowercase "codespace" as in "connect to your codespace".
  • VS Code for the Web, vscode.dev

General features

  • smart completions
  • syntax highlighting
  • semantic highlighting
  • display language (locale)

Visual Studio terms

  • IntelliSense
  • CodeLens
  • Tunnels
  • Marketplace
  • Language Pack
  • Extension Pack
  • Keymaps

Avoid "widget"

"widget" is an implementation term, prefer "control".

  • Find control
  • Search control
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