S
select
Speak to users’ cognitive processes instead of their tactile ones where possible. Use words like “choose” or “select” instead of “type” or “key”. We’d rather engage users’ minds than their hands, and this also speaks more universally to users accessing the web with touchscreens, speech-recognition software, or other user input devices.
settings
Use “settings” (instead of “options” or “preferences”) on all platforms, including desktop and mobile. With the 2021 Proton redesign, we made a decision to standardize to "settings" for all platforms (instead of our previous approach to follow platform conventions of "Options" for Windows/Linux and "Preferences" for macOS). Note: As of December 2022, we are still inconsistent in our application of this rule as all surfaces (like the about:pages) were not in scope.
sign in
Use “sign in to Firefox” or “log in to Firefox” when you are instructing a user to enter site credentials. Do not use “sign into” or “log into”.
site
Site is an acceptable term to refer to a website; see also website.
SUMO
Our internal name for support.mozilla.org; do not use in any user-facing communications.
sync
To synchronize information. Commonly referred to syncing data and preferences across devices with a Firefox account.
Usage example: "You’ll need to sign in to every installation of Firefox to sync your information."
Notes: Sentence case 'sync' unless it is the first word in a sentence. We no longer use ‘sync’ as a proper noun to describe a feature: Avoid “Firefox sync” where possible; variants are syncing, synced. Can also be used as a noun (but not a proper noun): “If you would like all of your profile data to be the same on all installations of Firefox, you can use a { -fxaccount-brand-name } to keep them in sync.” When referring more specifically to saving data to the cloud on one device, use “back up” instead: "Sign in to your account to back up your passwords, bookmarks, and history.” Always try to write around it to be more clear. E.g. Instead of "Open Sync settings" write "Go to Settings > Sync"
T
tablet
Use primarily to differentiate from a phone, otherwise use “mobile device” where possible.
Tab pickup
On desktop, it refers to the section in Firefox View where users can view their open Firefox tabs from other devices, prioritizing last active tabs. Always sentence case.
On the mobile homepage, tabs from other devices (aka synced tabs) are located beneath the “Jump back in” header. On iOS, this section is labeled, “Tab pickup.” On Android, no label is present.
tap and hold
Do not use. Use "touch and hold" instead.
theme
A type of browser add-on. See the Add-ons Terminology wiki entry for when to use which term.
toolbar
Do not use "awesomebar."
Top pick (of Firefox Suggest)
'Top pick' describes a type of Firefox Suggest recommendation that appears in the second position of the address bar drop-down, with rich UI to further highlight its appearance. The feature name, "Firefox Suggest", should be mentioned somewhere within the Top pick suggestion space, for example, besides the category title: Firefox Suggest — Top pick.
Top Sites
Always capitalized. Firefox by default provides shortcuts to most-recently and most-visited pages in the New Tab page. Top Sites are customizable and can be edited or removed.
Total Cookie Protection
Always capitalized. A feature of Enhanced Tracking Protection, Total Cookie Protection contains cookies to the site you're on, so trackers can't use them to follow you across sites. For legal reasons, we can't claim that this feature stops trackers from following you — but we can say that it stops them from using cookies to follow you.
touch and hold
mobile gesture that refers to touching an item on a screen and without lifting your finger until the item responds. Avoid long press (v.) or long-press (adj.) Do not use “tap and hold.”
Tracking Protection
Do not use as the name of a feature. The correct feature name is Enhanced Tracking Protection, always capitalized.
Turn on sync / Turn on syncing
Use "turn on sync" language instead of "set up sync." Set up feels like a lot of work.