March 9, 2025
+ 12

Use the following list to determine how to spell, capitalize, and use specific words and terms in Couchbase Documentation.

For terms not covered here, see the Google Developer Style Guide’s Word List.

# | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Numbers & Symbols

.NET

Add a period at the start of the acronym. Follow the official capitalization as set by Microsoft. For more information, see Capitalization.

1; 1,000; 1,000,000

Write all numbers as numerals, regardless of size. Use commas to separate every group of three digits in a large number. For more information about how to format numbers, see the Google Developer Style Guide.

->

If you want a ->, this will be fine inside a code block. Outside of a code block, Antora/AsciiDoc will convert it to or →. To avoid this, escape the hyphen: \->

% (UI Only)

Never write out "percent" or "percentage" in the UI. Use the % symbol, and put it in brackets next to the name of the measurement. For example, Index Fragmentation (%).

A

Term Notes

a / an

See Articles (a, an, the).

about

When introducing a Links, use information about, not information on.

Access List

Use allowlist.

ACID Transactions

See Transactions.

adapter

Always use adapter, not adaptor.

ad hoc

Never add a hyphen to ad hoc. Use adhoc for the SQL++ parameter. Don’t use Italics.

admin

Don’t use. Write out administrator.

afterwards

Use afterwards, not afterward.

allowlist / denylist

Write out allowlist and denylist as one word. Don’t add a hyphen.

Amazon Cloud

Follow the official capitalization as set by Amazon. For more information, see Capitalization.

Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK)

Write out in full, capitalizing all nouns, for the first use on a page. Use Amazon MSK for short on subsequent uses.

Amazon MSK Kafka pipeline

Do not expand MSK when referring to a specific pipeline. Capitalize as shown. Do not capitalize "pipeline."

Amazon S3

Make sure to capitalize Amazon and the S in "S3."

amber

If you need to refer to traffic lights or a health warning color, use amber, not yellow.

Analytics Service

When referring to Couchbase Services, use title case.

APAC

Write as a proper acronym. For more information, see Capitalization.

API

Application Programming Interface. Don’t write out for first use on a page.

app / application

Use app for mobile applications. Use application for client software, such as Couchbase Server.

as of

Use only when referring to dates or time. If talking about a software version, use a phrase such as beginning with Couchbase Server n.n

AsciiDoc

Follow the official capitalization as set by Eclipse Foundation. For more information, see Capitalization.

autocomplete

Write as one word. Don’t add a hyphen.

auto-failover

Add the hyphen, unless using as part of a command name. Use automatically fails over or fails over automatically as the verb.

automatic schema discovery

Don’t add a hyphen. Don’t capitalize.

auto-sharding

Add the hyphen.

Availability Zone

Capitalize Availability and Zone.

AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM)

Do not write as just IAM when referring to Amazon Web Services Identity and Access Management. Write as AWS IAM after the first expanded use on a page. It is okay to use AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) for the first use.

B

Term Notes

backend

Use backend as the noun. Use back-end as the adjective.

backup

Use backup as the noun and the adjective. Use back up as the verb.

[Couchbase] Backup Manager

Follow the official capitalization as set by Couchbase. For more information, see Capitalization.

backward-compatible

Add the hyphen.

beta release

Use beta release before the product name. Use only Beta after the product name (Couchbase Server 5.0 Beta)

BI

bidirectional

Write as one word. Don’t add a hyphen.

big data

Write as two words. Don’t add a hyphen. Don’t capitalize.

Blacklist

Don’t use. See denylist.

Blocklist

Don’t use. See denylist.

blog

Don’t use weblog.

bootstrap

Write as one word. Don’t add a hyphen.

buckets

bytes

kB / MB / GB / TB / PB for decimal bytes. Use KiB / MiB / GiB for 1024, 1 048 576, 1 073 741 824, and so on.

C

Term Notes

C++

Antora will sometimes interpret ++ as markup instructions, and leave only C on the page. Follow asciidoctor recommendations and use {cpp}.

Compare and Swap (CAS)

Write out for the first use on a page. Capitalize as a proper product name.

cbbackupmgr

Follow the capitalization and spelling set in the code.

cbcollect

Follow the capitalization and spelling set in the code.

cbc

Follow the capitalization and spelling set in the code. Couchbase CLI tools that come with libcouchbase (LCB). Variety of binaries installed as /usr/bin/cbc*, for example, cbc-pillowfight, cbc-version

cbq

Follow the capitalization and spelling set in the code. Official product name for the query shell.

cbtransfer

Follow the capitalization and spelling set in the code.

CentOS

Follow the official capitalization as set by Red Hat. For more information, see Capitalization.

cheat sheet

Write as two words. Don’t add a hyphen.

checkpoint

Write as one word. Don’t add a hyphen.

cloud

Write in lowercase unless as part of a product name.

cloud native

Use cloud native as the noun. Use cloud-native as the adjective.

cluster

Preferred term, if referring to Couchbase Server or Couchbase Capella operational or Columnar. We no longer use database.

Cluster Manager

Follow the official capitalization as set by Couchbase. For more information, see Capitalization.

codebase

Write as one word. Don’t add a hyphen.

collection

Do not capitalize. Do not capitalize even when referring to a remote, external, or standalone collection.

command line

Use command line as the noun. Use command-line as the adjective.

config(s)

Don’t use. Use configuration as the noun. Use configure as the verb.

Confluent Cloud

Capitalize as a proper noun.

Confluent Cloud Kafka pipeline

Capitalize Confluent, Cloud, and Kafka as proper nouns. Do not capitalize "pipeline."

ConfigProviderBase

Follow the capitalization and spelling set in the code.

Couchbase

Follow the official capitalization as set by Couchbase. For more information, see Capitalization.

Couchbase Autonomous Operator (CAO)

Follow the official capitalization as set by Couchbase. For more information, see Capitalization.

Couchbase Capella

"Couchbase Cloud" or "Couchbase Managed Cloud" in legacy documentation. Use "operational cluster" if you need to specify which type of Capella instance, as opposed to Columnar. Write as Couchbase Capella + operational cluster for the first use on a page. Follow the official capitalization as set by Couchbase. For more information, see Capitalization.

Couchbase Cluster Connection Protocol (CCCP)

Write out for the first use on a page. Follow the official capitalization as set by Couchbase. For more information, see Capitalization.

Couchbase Columnar

Write as Capella Columnar Services for the first use on a page. Use just Columnar for any subsequent uses. Refer to specific instances of Columnar as clusters, as opposed to the Couchbase Capella operational clusters.

(the) Couchbase Data Platform

Write as data platform if not preceded by Couchbase. Follow the official capitalization as set by Couchbase. For more information, see Capitalization.

Couchbase Eventing Service

When referring to Couchbase Services, use title case.

Couchbase Functions

Follow the official capitalization as set by Couchbase. For more information, see Capitalization.

Couchbase Managed Cloud

Legacy term for Couchbase Capella. Follow the official capitalization as set by Couchbase. For more information, see Capitalization.

Couchbase Monitoring and Observability Stack (CMOS)

Follow the official capitalization as set by Couchbase. For more information, see Capitalization.

Couchbase Server n.n

Write as Couchbase Server n.n for the first use on a page. Use Server n.n afterwards. Don’t refer to as the Couchbase Server.

Couchbase Server Enterprise Edition

Write as Couchbase Server Enterprise Edition.

Couchstore

Follow the official capitalization as set by Couchbase. For more information, see Capitalization.

cross datacenter replication (XDCR)

Write out for the first use on a page. Don’t capitalize. Don’t add a hyphen.

curl

Write in all lowercase, including on the command line.

D

Term Notes

database

Do not capitalize when referring to a database in Capella Columnar. Do not use to refer to Capella operational clusters.

Database Change Protocol (DCP)

Write out for the first use on a page.

data center

Write as two words. Don’t add a hyphen.

datacenter replication

Write as two words. Don’t add a hyphen.

data-centric

Add the hyphen.

data-driven

Add the hyphen.

data definition language (DDL)

Don’t write out for the first use on a page.

data manipulation language (DML)

Don’t write out for the first use on a page.

data modeling

Write as two words. Don’t add a hyphen.

DataOps

Capitalize the D and O.

data provider

Do not use.

dataset

Write as one word. Don’t add a hyphen.

datasheet

Write as one word. Don’t add a hyphen.

Data Service

When referring to Couchbase Services, use title case.

data source

Do not capitalize. Do not use "data provider."

data store

Write as two words. Don’t add a hyphen.

data structure

Write as two words. Don’t add a hyphen.

decrypter

Use the American English spelling rule and use an "e."

deduplicate

Don’t add a hyphen.

denylist

Write out allowlist and denylist as one word. Don’t add a hyphen.

Deprecated

Use to indicate that a feature will be removed in a future release. Don’t use it to mean "removed" and specify that the feature will be removed.

design document

Don’t capitalize. Don’t add a hyphen.

DevOps

Capitalize the D and O.

different from

Use different from, not different to.

digitization

Use the American English spelling rule and use a "z."

disassociate

Preferred term. Do not use "dissociate" or "unassociate," when describing removing the association with a key.

Distributed Transactions

See transactions.

E

Term Notes

earlier/later

Use earlier/later to describe software versions. Don’t use older/newer or lower/higher.

e-commerce

Write as E-commerce if at the beginning of a sentence. Add the hyphen.

e.g.

Don’t use Latin abbreviations. Use for example, instead.

elastic-scale

Add the hyphen to use as an adjective.

Elasticsearch

Follow the official capitalization as set by Elastic. For more information, see Capitalization.

em dash (—)

See Dashes.

email

Don’t add a hyphen.

EMEA

Write as a proper acronym. For more information, see Capitalization.

encrypter

Use the American English spelling rule and use an "e."

end user

Use end user as the noun. Use end-user as the adjective.

Engagement Database

Capitalize as a proper product name.

ensure

Don’t use. Use make sure, instead.

e-payment

Add the hyphen. Don’t capitalize.

error-free

Add the hyphen.

etc.

Don’t use Latin abbreviations. Use and so on, instead.

Event-Condition-Action model

Add the hyphens. Capitalize Event, Condition, and Action.

Eventing Service

When referring to Couchbase Services, use title case.

eviction, ejection, expiration

  • Use eviction to refer to removing a record entirely from any system or cache. Items are evicted from ephemeral buckets when RAM is full.

  • Use ejection to refer to removing a record from one layer, but still keeping it in a system. Items are ejected from Couchstore or Magma buckets when they are removed from RAM, but still stored on disk.

  • Use expiration to refer to a record being deleted after a specific time period. Items are expired when their time to live (TTL) is greater than 0, and that time has passed.

external collection

Do not capitalize.

extract, transform, load (ETL) operations

Write out for the first use on a page.

F

Term Notes

failover

Write as one word for the noun. Write as two words for the verb.

FAQ

Write as a proper acronym. For more information, see Capitalization.

fewer

Use for countable nouns or to describe a noun that’s plural. For example, fewer clusters. Otherwise, use less.

filename

Write as one word. Don’t add a hyphen.

file system

Write as two words. Don’t add a hyphen.

fine-grained

Add the hyphen.

five nines

Add a hyphen to use as an adjective.

Function-as-a-Service (FaaS)

Write out for the first use on a page.

focused

Write with one "s."

ForestDB

Follow the official capitalization as set by Couchbase. For more information, see Capitalization.

FQDN

Fully-Qualified Domain Name. Write out for the first use on a page.

free-form

Add the hyphen.

full-stack

Add the hyphen to use as an adjective.

full-text indexes

Add the hyphen.

Full-Text Search (FTS)

Use Search Service. When referring to Couchbase Services, use title case.

G

Term Notes

geo-distributed

Add the hyphen.

geofencing

Don’t add a hyphen. Write as one word.

GitHub

Follow the official capitalization as set by GitHub. For more information, see Capitalization.

Global Secondary Indexes (GSI)

Write out for the first use on a page. Capitalize as a proper product name.

Google Cloud Platform

Follow the official capitalization as set by Google. For more information, see Capitalization.

GUID

Globally Unique Identifier. Write in all caps as an acronym. For more information, see Capitalization.

gzip

Follow the Google Developer Style Guide's guidance on how to refer to file type names.

H

Term Notes

hard-coded

Add the hyphen.

hard-wired

Add the hyphen.

hash key

Don’t add a hyphen. Don’t write as one word.

help desk

Don’t add a hyphen.

hostname

Write as one word.

HTML

Follow the official capitalization. For more information, see Capitalization.

hybrid cloud

Don’t add a hyphen.

hybrid transaction/analytical processing (HTAP)

Write out for the first use on a page.

hybrid operational and analytic processing (HOAP)

Write out for the first use on a page.

I

Term Notes

infrastructure as a service (IaaS)

Write out for the first use on a page.

i.e.

Don’t use Latin abbreviations. Use that is, instead.

indexes

Don’t use indices.

IndexScan

Write as one word. Capitalize Index and Scan.

industry standard

Don’t add a hyphen.

information about / information on

See about.

initargs

Write out in all lowercase as in the code.

in-memory

Add the hyphen.

install

Use install for the verb. Use installation for the noun.

instance

Do not use. See cluster.

intra-cluster replication

Add the hyphen.

Internet

Capitalize as a proper noun.

Internet of Things (IoT)

Write out for the first use on a page. Make sure to use a lowercase "o."

J

Term Notes

JAR

Follow the Google Developer Style Guide's guidance on how to refer to file type names.

Java

Follow the official capitalization. For more information, see Capitalization.

JavaScript

Follow the official capitalization. For more information, see Capitalization.

JIRA

Follow the official capitalization as set by Atlassian. For more information, see Capitalization.

joins

Don’t capitalize.

JSON

Follow the official capitalization. For more information, see Capitalization.

K

Term Notes

Kafka

Follow the official capitalization as set by Apache. For more information, see Capitalization.

keyspace

Don’t add a hyphen. Write as one word.

key-value

Add the hyphen.

KV Service

Use Data Service. When referring to Couchbase Services, use title case.

L

Term Notes

Last Write Wins (LWW)

Write out for the first use on a page.

less

Use less for items that are measured, can’t be easily quantified or counted, or mass singular nouns. For example, less trouble, less time, less effort. For nouns that can be counted, use fewer.

libcouchbase (LCB)

Write out for first use on a page.

LDAP

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol. Don’t write out for the first use on a page.

link

Do not use "data link." Do not capitalize.

livestream

Don’t add a hyphen or space.

log in

Use log in for the verb. Use log-in for the adjective. Use login for the noun.

low latency

Don’t add a hyphen.

low write latency

Don’t add a hyphen.

M

Term Notes

MapReduce

Don’t add a hyphen. Write as one word. Capitalize Map and Reduce.

MapReduce views

Use Views Service. When referring to Couchbase Services, use title case.

massively parallel processing (MPP)

Don’t add a hyphen. Write out for the first use on a page.

master/slave

Don’t use. See primary/secondary.

Memcached bucket

Only capitalize Memcached. Try to only use in legacy documentation.

memcached

Don’t capitalize if not referring to a Memcached bucket. Used to describe the distributed memory object caching system from Memcached in legacy documentation.

memory-optimized indexes (MOI)

Don’t capitalize. Add the hyphen between memory and optimized. Write out for the first use on a page.

metadata

Don’t add a hyphen.

microservices

Don’t add a hyphen.

microservices architecture

Don’t add a hyphen. Don’t capitalize.

microservices applications

Don’t add a hyphen. Don’t capitalize.

millisecond (ms)

Write the number of milliseconds with a space, as in 50 ms.

mission critical

Use mission critical as the noun. Use mission-critical as the adjective.

MongoDB™

Follow the official capitalization as set by MongoDB. Add the trademark symbol, ™. For more information, see Capitalization.

multichannel

Don’t add a hyphen.

multi-datacenter

Add the hyphen.

Multi-Dimensional Scaling (MDS)

Capitalize as a proper product name. Write out for the first use on a page. When used to refer to the capability, use multi-dimensional scaling.

multilingual

Don’t add a hyphen.

Multi-master

Don’t use. See primary/secondary.

multi-model

Add the hyphen.

multi-region

Add the hyphen.

multi-threaded

Add the hyphen.

N

Term Notes

N1QL

The old term for SQL++. Don’t use, except in legacy documentation.

nameservers

Don’t add a hyphen.

nginx

Follow the official capitalization. For more information, see Capitalization.

Node.js

Follow the official capitalization. For more information, see Capitalization.

nonpersistent

Don’t add a hyphen.

note that

Don’t use.

not-recently-used (NRU)

Write out for the first use on a page. Add the hyphen between each word.

npm

Node Package Manager. Follow the official capitalization. For more information, see Capitalization.

numReplicas

Use camelcase as set in the code.

nxdomain

Follow the official capitalization. For more information, see Capitalization.

O

Term Notes

OAuth

Capitalize the "O" and the "A".

Objective-C

Follow the official capitalization. For more information, see Capitalization.

offline

Don’t add a hyphen.

omnichannel

Don’t add a hyphen.

on demand

Use on demand as the noun. Use on-demand as the adjective.

one can

Don’t use. Address the user directly with "you."

online

Don’t add a hyphen.

on-premises

Use on premises as the noun. Use on-premises as the adjective.

on-site/off-site

Add a hyphen.

open source

Don’t add a hyphen.

operational cluster

Use when referring to a cluster on Couchbase Capella operational, as opposed to a Capella Columnar cluster.

opt-out

Add the hyphen.

Oxford comma

See Commas.

optimisticReplicationThreshold

Use camelcase as set in the code.

P

Term Notes

page

Use to refer to what a user moves to or accesses from a menu or tab in the UI. For more information, see Page.

parameterized

Use the American English spelling rule and use a "z."

passlist

Don’t use. See allow list.

peer to peer

Use peer to peer as the noun. Use peer-to-peer as the adjective.

PDF

Follow the Google Developer Style Guide's guidance on how to refer to file type names.

PLAIN authentication

Write "PLAIN" in all caps. Do not capitalize "authentication."

Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM)

Write out for the first use on a page.

plug in

Use plugin as the noun. Use plug-in as the adjective. Use plug in as the verb.

preload

Don’t add a hyphen.

primary/secondary

Use instead of master/slave.

Q

Term Notes

Query Editor

Capitalize as a proper product name.

query executor

Don’t capitalize.

Query History

Capitalize as a proper product name.

Query Monitor

Capitalize as a proper product name. To refer to the act of monitoring a query, use query monitoring.

query plan

Don’t capitalize.

query plan visualizer

Don’t capitalize.

Query Service

When referring to Couchbase Services, use title case.

query shell

Use the product name, CBQ.

Query Workbench

Capitalize as a proper product name.

quick links

Write as two separate words.

quotation marks

Don’t use quotation marks outside of code. Don’t use "fancy quotes" (“” ‘’) characters.

R

Term Notes

Rack Awareness (RA)

Write out for the first use on a page. Don’t write as Rack/Zone Awareness.

Read Committed

When referring to the isolation level for transactions, don’t add a hyphen. Capitalize Read and Committed.

Read-Your-Own-Writes (RYOW)

Write out for the first use on a page. Add hyphens between each word.

real time

Write as two separate words when used as a noun. Add the hyphen when used as an adjective.

rebalance

Write as all one word. Don’t add a hyphen.

refer to

Use see, instead.

reindexing

Write as all one word. Don’t add a hyphen.

remote collection

Do not capitalize.

repo

Don’t use. Write out the full word, repository.

retryable

Don’t write as retriable.

risk-free

Add the hyphen.

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Write out for the first use on a page. Capitalize the first letter of each word as a proper product name.

RxJava

Follow the official capitalization. For more information, see Capitalization.

S

Term Notes

schema-less

Add the hyphen. Don’t capitalize. You can also use flexible schema.

scope

Do not capitalize.

SCRAM-SHA-256 and SCRAM-SHA-512

Make sure to add the hyphens between each word. Write in all caps.

screenshot

Don’t add a hyphen.

SDK

Software Development Kit. Don’t write out for the first use on a page.

SDKs

Treat acronyms as regular words when making them plural. For more information, see the Google Developer Style Guide.

Search Service

When referring to Couchbase Services, use title case.

see

Use instead of refer to for introducing links.

Service Group

When referring to Service Groups, capitalize Service and Groups.

setup

Use setup as the noun. Use set-up as the adjective. Use set up as the verb.

sgcollect

Write as all one word in lowercase, as per the code for the sgcollect utility.

sign up

Use sign up as the verb. Use sign-up as the adjective.

single node

Use single node as the noun. Use single-node as the adjective.

Spark

Don’t specify as Apache Spark. Capitalize Spark and Datasets. Follow the official capitalization as set by Apache. For more information, see Capitalization.

SQL++

The Couchbase query language. Pronounced as sequel plus plus.

Write in documentation as a SQL++. For more information, see Articles (a, an, the).

standalone collection

Do not capitalize.

startup

Use startup as the noun.

Structured Streaming

Write out as Structured Streaming API for the first use on a page.

Storm

Don’t specify as Apache Storm. Follow the official capitalization as set by Apache. For more information, see Capitalization.

sub-clause

Add the hyphen. Don’t capitalize.

Sub-Document

Add the hyphen and capitalize Sub and Document.

sub-millisecond

Add the hyphen.

subqueries

Don’t add a hyphen.

sudo

Write in all lowercase as per the Linux command.

swappiness

T

Term Notes

TAP

tar

Follow the Google Developer Style Guide's guidance on how to refer to file type names.

targetNozzlePerNode

Use camelcase, as per the code.

tcpdump

The command-line packet analyzer. Follow the official capitalization as set by Tcpdump Team. For more information, see Capitalization.

THP

time series

Write as two words, in sentence case. Don’t capitalize, don’t add a hyphen.

time to live (TTL)

Don’t capitalize time to live. Spell out the acronym the first time you use it on a page.

touchpoint(s)

Write as one word. Don’t add a hyphen.

topology aware

Add the hyphen when used as an adjective.

towards

Use towards, not toward.

Transactions

Use Distributed ACID Transactions for the first use on a page. You can use Distributed Transactions or Transactions later on the page.

U

Term Notes

Ubuntu

Follow the official capitalization as set by Canonical. For more information, see Capitalization. Use the correct article: an, not a. For more information, see Articles (a, an, the).

under construction

Use as a banner on incomplete or in process pages. Don’t use wip or work in progress.

uninstall

Write as all one word. Don’t add a hyphen.

UNNEST

Capitalize SQL and SQL++ clauses. For more information, see Capitalization.

V

Term Notes

vBucket / vBuckets

Don’t capitalize the v. Capitalize Bucket.

vBucketMap

Don’t capitalize the v. Capitalize Bucket and Map.

vBucketServerMap

Don’t capitalize the v. Capitalize Bucket, Server, and Map.

Views Service

When referring to Couchbase Services, use title case.

virtualization

Use the American English spelling rule and use a "z."

vmstat

The virtual memory statistics reporter, which is built into Linux. Write in all lowercase.

VMware

Follow the official capitalization as set by VMware. For more information, see Capitalization.

W

Term Notes

warmup

Write as one word. Don’t add a hyphen.

web

Don’t use all capitals.

web page

Don’t use. Use page, instead. If you have to specify web page, don’t write as one word or add a hyphen.

Whitelist

See allowlist.

whitepaper

Write as all one word. Don’t add a hyphen.

Wi-Fi

Use the proper capitalization and add a hyphen. Don’t use wifi or WiFi.

wip

Don’t use. See under construction.

work in progress

Don’t use work in progress as a banner on incomplete or in process pages. Use under construction.

X

Term Notes

X.509

Capitalize the X, and don’t forget the period when referring to X.509 certificates.

XDCR

Cross Data Center Replication (XDCR). Spell out for the first use on a page.

XML

Use the formal name of the file type, as an XML file. Follow the Google Developer Style Guide's guidance on how to refer to file type names.

Y

Term Notes

yellow

See amber.

Z

Term Notes

Zendesk

Follow the official capitalization as set by Zendesk. For more information, see Capitalization.

zip

Follow the Google Developer Style Guide's guidance on how to refer to file type names.