Which UI terms are official standards?
Learn what the A1, A2, B, C, and D labels mean, from official standards to everyday names.
A1 · Rules in an official standard
A1 means a known standards group published rules that can be tested. The cited section must directly explain the term or its behavior. A WCAG, WAI-ARIA, WHATWG, or IETF document counts only for the part it truly covers.
- We record the source version, status, section, covered topics, scope, and check date.
- An official meaning does not make every color, shape, or interaction an official rule.
A2 · A formal document for a smaller scope
A2 is for published, versioned formal specifications with clear rules for checking an implementation. Their reach is smaller than a general standard. A document may be a draft, release candidate, or final version. CommonMark, a W3C Community Final Report, or a versioned protocol can still be exact. It may not be a W3C Recommendation or an industry-wide standard.
B · An official guide for one product or project
A platform or project guide is official only for its own area. Apple HIG can explain Apple design. Git documents can explain Git. Neither one sets a rule for every interface. Each page shows the exact scope beside the evidence label.
C · A common way people work
Some useful terms have no single owner or official test. Persona, design system, command palette, and unit test are examples. We explain the meaning most teams share and point out where teams use the term differently.
D · An everyday or Vibulary name
A style name or new phrase can still help people talk, even when it has no sharp boundary. We keep it in the full glossary, but leave it out of the standards-only list. Its page clearly says that it is not an official standard.