| Term | Meaning | Area |
|---|---|---|
| FYP / For You page | The main feed of videos TikTok recommends to each user. Also called the For You feed. | Algorithm |
| Algorithm | The system that decides which videos each person sees, based on what they watch, like and share. | Algorithm |
| For You feed eligibility | Whether a video can be recommended. Some content stays up but is not shown on the FYP. | Algorithm |
| Following feed | A feed with only videos from accounts you follow. | Algorithm |
| Friends feed | A feed with posts from mutual follows and contacts. | Algorithm |
| Shadowban | A user term for a sudden drop in reach without notice. TikTok calls this content not eligible for the FYP. | Algorithm |
| Going viral | When a video gets far more views than usual, fast. | Algorithm |
| Niche | The topic your account focuses on, like skincare or cooking. Helps TikTok find your audience. | Algorithm |
| TikTok SEO | Using words people search in captions, text and speech so your video shows up in TikTok search. | Algorithm |
| Views | How many times a video started playing. Replays count. | Analytics |
| Watch time | Total time people spent watching a video. | Analytics |
| Average watch time | Watch time divided by views. A key signal of how good a video is. | Analytics |
| Completion rate | Share of viewers who watched to the end. | Analytics |
| Retention | How many viewers are still watching at each second of the video. | Analytics |
| Engagement rate | (Likes + comments + shares + saves) ÷ views × 100. | Analytics |
| Saves | How many people bookmarked a video. Shown as the bookmark icon. | Analytics |
| Shares | How many times a video was sent or reposted. | Analytics |
| Reach | How many unique accounts saw a video. | Analytics |
| Traffic source | Where views came from: For You, Following, profile, search or sound. | Analytics |
| Hook | The first 1–3 seconds that make people stop scrolling. | Content |
| CTA | Call to action: telling viewers what to do next, like follow or tap the link. | Content |
| POV | Point of view. A format where the viewer is put in a scene. | Content |
| GRWM | Get ready with me: talking to camera while getting ready. | Content |
| Storytime | A video where the creator tells a personal story. | Content |
| Duet | A video posted side by side with another creator’s video. | Content |
| Stitch | A video that starts with a clip from someone else’s video, then your reply. | Content |
| Sound | The audio on a video. Tapping it shows every video using that sound. | Content |
| Original sound | Audio recorded by the creator, not taken from the music library. | Content |
| Trend | A sound, format or challenge many people copy at the same time. | Content |
| Photo mode / carousel | A post made of swipeable photos with music. | Content |
| Series | Paid collections of videos that viewers buy to unlock. | Monetization |
| Green screen | An effect that puts an image or video behind you. | Content |
| Text-to-speech | A feature that reads your on-screen text in a computer voice, like Jessie. | Content |
| Drafts | Unposted videos saved in your profile. | Content |
| Repost | Sharing another user’s video to your followers’ feeds. | Content |
| Creator Rewards Program | TikTok’s main pay program for videos over 1 minute. Needs 18+, 10K followers and 100K views in 30 days. | Monetization |
| RPM | Revenue per mille: what a creator earns per 1,000 qualified views. | Monetization |
| CPM | Cost per mille: what an advertiser pays per 1,000 impressions. | Monetization |
| Qualified views | Views that count toward Creator Rewards pay, mostly from the For You feed. | Monetization |
| Coins | Virtual currency viewers buy with money to send gifts. | Monetization |
| Gifts | Virtual items viewers send on LIVE or videos using coins. | Monetization |
| Diamonds | What creators receive from gifts. Can be cashed out. | Monetization |
| Subscriptions | Monthly paid memberships for perks like badges and subscriber-only content. | Monetization |
| Brand deal | Paid content made for a brand. | Monetization |
| Paid partnership label | The tag that marks a video as sponsored. Required for paid content. | Monetization |
| TikTok One | TikTok’s hub that connects brands with creators. Replaced Creator Marketplace. | Monetization |
| Affiliate | A creator who earns a commission on TikTok Shop sales from their videos or LIVE. | Monetization |
| Spark Ads | Ads that boost an organic post from your own or a creator’s account. | Ads |
| Promote | In-app tool to pay to boost one of your own videos. | Ads |
| TikTok Ads Manager | The platform for creating and managing paid ad campaigns. | Ads |
| In-Feed Ads | Ads that appear between videos on the For You feed. | Ads |
| TopView | An ad that shows first when someone opens the app. | Ads |
| Branded Hashtag Challenge | A paid campaign that asks users to post with a brand’s hashtag. | Ads |
| CTR | Click-through rate: clicks ÷ impressions × 100. | Ads |
| ROAS | Return on ad spend: revenue ÷ ad spend. | Ads |
| Pixel | Code on a website that tracks visits and sales from TikTok ads. | Ads |
| LIVE | Live streaming on TikTok. Usually needs 18+ and about 1,000 followers. | LIVE |
| Multi-guest LIVE | A LIVE where the host invites other users on screen. | LIVE |
| LIVE Match / battle | A timed contest between two hosts for gifts. | LIVE |
| Moderator | A user the host allows to manage comments during LIVE. | LIVE |
| Creator account | A personal account type with creator tools and analytics. | Account |
| Business account | An account type for brands, with the Commercial Music Library and business tools. | Account |
| Commercial Music Library | Sounds cleared for business accounts to use in posts and ads. | Account |
| Verified badge | The blue check on notable, authentic accounts. Free and by request. | Account |
| Account status | A page in Settings that shows warnings, violations and limits on your account. | Account |
| Strike | A mark for breaking the Community Guidelines. Strikes add up and can lead to a ban. | Account |
| Link in bio | A clickable website link on your profile. Availability depends on account type. | Account |
Program rules like Creator Rewards and LIVE limits are as of November 2026 and vary by country. Check TikTok Studio for yours.
How to use this glossary
Filter by area
Tap Algorithm, Analytics, Content, Monetization, Ads, LIVE or Account to see related terms together.
Search any word
Type a term or part of one, like “rate” or “LIVE”, to find it in names and meanings.
Use the calculators
Many terms, like RPM and engagement rate, have a free calculator in the related tools below.
Frequently asked questions
What does FYP mean on TikTok?
For You page: the main feed of videos TikTok picks for each user.
What is the difference between RPM and CPM?
RPM is what a creator earns per 1,000 views. CPM is what an advertiser pays per 1,000 ad impressions.
What are Spark Ads?
Ads that boost an existing organic TikTok post, keeping its likes, comments and the creator’s handle.
What do you need for the Creator Rewards Program?
As of 2026: 18+, 10,000 followers, 100,000 views in the last 30 days, videos over 1 minute and an eligible country.
Related free tools
→TikTok slang dictionaryWhat rizz, delulu and 6-7 mean.→TikTok RPM calculatorEarnings per 1,000 views.→TikTok engagement rate calculatorEngagement for any video or account.
Sources: TikTok monetization requirements in 2026 (PostFast) · How to tell if an account is verified (TikTok Help Center)