Glossary of Vape Terms

Here’s some common vape terms that will be useful as you read through our reviews and consider the technical aspects in vape technology discussions.

510 threading

The standard threading size for vape batteries accepting cannabis oil vape cartridges and other vape attachments that are 510 threaded on the male piece.


Refers to the amount of air passing through an atomizer and out the mouthpiece with each inhale. Greater airflow provides larger vapor hits with each inhale.


The part of a vaporizer that houses the heating element which makes contact with your cannabis oils and concentrates to produce vapor. There’s countless variations of atomizers using different materials and heating element styles.


The power source for the heating element in a vaporizer. Some vape batteries attach to cannabis oil vape cartridges while others may be fixed or integrated into a vaporizer device. The full assembly with the battery is typically referred to as a vape.


Refers to an atomizer fixed to a plastic or glass tank that’s often pre-filled with cannabis oil and connects to a separate battery; usually refers to disposable tanks that are pre-filled with cannabis oils and are widely available from cannabis dispensaries; There’s countless brands of vape cartridges on the market.


The part of an atomizer used to heat up cannabis or other concentrate product causing vaporization; the number of coils in an atomizer can vary and not all atomizers use coils but it is the most common heating element.


Method of heating which burns cannabis and causes smoke instead of vapor. If you smoke a bowl by lighting plant material on fire then you are causing combustion and inhaling smoke.


Method of heating where the heating element makes direct contact with the oil or cannabis concentrate.


Method of heating where the heating element does not make direct contact with the oil or cannabis concentrate; hot air produced by the heating element passes through the vaporizable product; considered more effective than conduction.

Dabbing (dabs)

The term “dab” is used interchangeably, referring to both a particular method of vaping as well as a dose of cannabis concentrated like a wax or shatter extract. Dabbing involves taking a dose of cannabis concentrate by applying it to a heated surface where it instantly vaporizes and is inhaled. Dabbing is like taking a shot of cannabis. Dabbing is an efficient way to intake a high dose of cannabis.

Dual coils/rods

Refers to an atomizer than contains two rods wrapped with coils; uses more battery power but produces more vapor than a single coil.

Fractional Distillation

Extraction method used to separate specific molecules such as cannabinoids like THC and CBD by heating them to their unique boiling points inside a vacuum. Distillate concentrates are visibly pure and clearer than oils produced by other extraction methods. Distillate concentrates can reach high potency levels above 90%. Also known as short-path or molecular distillation.

Heating element

Refers to the part of a vaporizer that heats up cannabis to produce vaporization; the heating element can vary in its design and construction.


Most commony used type of rechargeable battery in most vaporizers and portable electronics; great for being light weight, high energy density and low self-discharge.


Stands for milliampere hour which is a unit of measure representing a battery’s charge holding capacity; higher mAh numbers means less charging as the battery can hold more power; small and cheap vape pen batteries are usually around 200-300 mAh while more expensive and larger vaporizer batteries can be around 1000-2500 mAh


Stands for milligrams which is a typical unit of measure for the weight of cannabis oil and concentrate products; cannabis oil cartridges are most commonly sold pre-filled with 500 mg of oil


Standard unit of electrical resistance; lower numbers represent lower resistance; lower resistance allows the heating element to heat faster


Crystal or glass material commonly used for dab rig nails or as the rod instead of a wick that’s wrapped with coils in many atomizers.


Type of cannabis concentrate formed by extracting the resin glands from raw cannabis flower/bud by applying pressure and heat (usually with a rosin press or flat iron). The finished product is a sappy textured, unprocessed/solventless extract that yields pure cannabis flavors and quality.


This term can be somewhat misleading as it’s often used to describe concentrates which may have used solvents (ie. butane or CO2) at some point during the extraction process. All solvents are later removed in producing the finished product. The term can also be used to refer to concentrates that have never used solvents at any point during the extraction process such as a rosin press that uses only heat and pressure.


Refers to concentrates that do not use any kind of solvent during the extraction process such as extraction by rosin press or bubble ice hash. (See also solvent-free).

Vape Pen

Term usually used to refer to a vape battery connected to replaceable vape cartridges; can also be used to refer to a portable vaporizer that may not have a replaceable battery


Any device or combination of parts that use a method of heating a cannabis oil or product to its boiling point which gasses of as vapor without inducing combustion


The amount force that makes electricity move through a wire; higher voltage means higher temperatures.


Refers to a heating element that has an ohm resistance of less than 1.0; sub-ohm atomizers can produce larger vape clouds than atomizers with an ohm rating above 1.


Unit of measure referring to the rate of energy transfer from an electrical appliance.


Part of an atomizer used to deliver cannabis oil from the tank to the heating coil. Wicks can be made from silica, cotton or other materials.


A step in the process for refining cannabis concentrates that involves freezing an extract (cannabis crude oil) to separate plant fats from cannabinoids and other desirable molecules to be collected.

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