Terminology: parts versus components - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Thiadmer
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 06, 2014, 01:13:49 pm
content: Hello everyone,I am Dutch (sorry about that) and I need a little advice about correct terminology for an English manual that I am writing: the distinction between the specification of a part/component and a single instance of such part/component.Or better said: if I have 5 resistors 2k2 1% 100mW 0805 on a PCB, what is the term to use for a single one of those 5 resistors? And what is the term to collectively refer to all resistors with that exact specification.Right now I am using "part" for the collective and "component" for an individual resistor. So in the example, I would have 5 components of a single part.If there exists better terminology, I'd gladly hear about it.Thanks in advance,Thiadmer

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2014, 02:55:19 pm
content: Ah, good one, this, which seems simple at first glance but gets tricky to explain.After writing a lengthy explanation as to why your definition isn't appropriate, I gave up and asked my SO (a copy editor) and then wrote a completely different, but still lengthy explanation.After which I realised that you definition (a descriptive thing - e.g. a BOM entry - is a part, and an instance of that description - e.g. R5 - is a component) is what makes sense to me.

author: Neilm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2014, 04:15:36 pm
content: I have written service guides in the past. In situations like this I would say is doesn't really matter what terms you use, just be consistent through out the manual. Where there is a possibility of confusion, a note at the start to say "The word part is used for the collective. The word component is used to describe the individual." can be used.As long as the term is consistent throughout the manual it will be understood

author: Thiadmer
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 06, 2014, 05:10:05 pm
content: @dunkemhighWow, thanks for the effort. And thank your colleague too.@NeilmThat actually calls for a glossary. (Since people rarely read a manual front to back, but usually open it at the page where they hope to find the solution to their immediate problem, they may miss a note somewhere in the text where the terms are first used.) I have done dozens of manuals, yet I have never done a glossary. Thanks for your insight.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2014, 07:54:37 pm
content: In electronics the word component implies "electronic component" and not the literal "any one of a set" that part does. So part is more appropriate and don't use them together to indicate quantities, part or parts (more than one) is best."Parts list""R101, CRT, Volume knob.""Parts (#123, 456, 789) are located on the main PCB, remove part #123 first.""R101, R102 and R103 are located on the main PCB, remove R101 first."Instead of part it's easier to use it's unique label or name, but be consistent.Components would only be used in a few situations like "component values" and even then you can leave it out. "Parts values" gets a bit confusing in this case."Check the component values of R101 and R102.""Check the values of R101 and R102."As a general rule I think the more you have to type the same thing the less you should use it.