New to vaping? This glossary explains the terms and abbreviations you will see in our reviews and buying guides, in plain English.

A–Z of Vaping Terms

Airflow — the amount of air that flows through your device as you inhale. Adjustable airflow lets you switch between a tight, cigarette-like draw and a loose, airy one.

Box mod — a larger, box-shaped vape device with adjustable power settings, usually paired with a separate tank. Suited to experienced vapers.

Coil — the heating element inside your pod or tank. Coils wear out and need replacing every 1–3 weeks depending on use.

Direct-to-lung (DTL) — inhaling vapour straight into the lungs, like taking a deep breath. Produces bigger clouds; usually paired with low-nicotine e-liquid.

Disposable vape — a single-use, non-rechargeable vape. Banned from sale in the UK since June 2025 — see UK vaping laws.

Draw-activated — a device that fires automatically when you inhale, with no buttons to press. Common on beginner-friendly pod kits.

E-liquid (vape juice) — the liquid vapourised by your device, made from PG, VG, flavourings and usually nicotine.

Freebase nicotine — the standard form of nicotine in e-liquid. Harsher at high strengths than nic salts, so usually sold at 3–12mg/ml.

Mesh coil — a coil made from a mesh sheet rather than a wire, giving more even heating and generally better flavour.

Mouth-to-lung (MTL) — drawing vapour into the mouth first, then inhaling — the way most people smoke a cigarette. Best for beginners and ex-smokers.

Nic salts (nicotine salts) — a smoother form of nicotine that allows higher strengths (up to the UK legal limit of 20mg/ml) without harshness. Ideal for MTL pod kits.

Nic shot — a small bottle of high-strength nicotine added to nicotine-free shortfill e-liquid.

Ohm (Ω) — the unit of electrical resistance. Lower-ohm coils generally produce more vapour; higher-ohm coils suit MTL vaping.

Pod — the removable cartridge on a pod kit that holds e-liquid and usually contains the coil.

Prefilled pod — a sealed pod supplied already filled with e-liquid. Just click it in and vape; replace when empty.

Propylene glycol (PG) — one of the two base ingredients in e-liquid. Carries flavour well and gives a stronger throat hit. High-PG liquids suit MTL kits.

Refillable pod — a pod you fill yourself with bottled e-liquid. Cheaper to run and far more flavour choice than prefilled pods.

Restricted direct-to-lung (RDL) — a middle ground between MTL and DTL: a slightly restricted, flavourful direct inhale.

Shortfill — a larger bottle of nicotine-free e-liquid (usually 50ml or 100ml) with space to add a nic shot.

Sub-ohm — vaping with a coil resistance below 1.0 ohm. Produces more vapour; typically DTL with low-nicotine, high-VG liquid.

Throat hit — the sensation at the back of the throat when inhaling. Stronger with higher nicotine and higher PG.

TPD — the Tobacco Products Directive, the EU-derived regulations that still govern UK vaping: 20mg/ml max nicotine, 2ml max tanks, 10ml max bottles.

Vegetable glycerine (VG) — the second base ingredient in e-liquid. Thicker and slightly sweet; produces denser vapour. High-VG liquids suit sub-ohm kits.

Wattage — the power output of your device, measured in watts. Higher wattage generally means more vapour and warmer flavour.

Still Confused?

Read our Beginner’s Guide to Vaping for the full picture, or check the FAQ for quick answers.