Word list — B
backend
Section titled “backend”Verdict: style
Use backend.
- Alternatives: back end, back-end
Verdict: restricted
Don’t use as a placeholder name. Use a concrete example value or the real variable instead.
bare metal
Section titled “bare metal”Verdict: style
Use bare metal as two words for the noun. Hyphenate bare-metal as a modifier.
base64
Section titled “base64”Verdict: style
Use base64 lowercase as one word.
best effort
Section titled “best effort”Verdict: avoid
Be more specific. For example, use the phrase try to and state the specific goal.
Verdict: style · Form: noun, adjective
Use lowercase beta for the release stage.
big-endian
Section titled “big-endian”Verdict: style
Hyphenate big-endian, and use lowercase.
black box
Section titled “black box”Verdict: restricted
For monitoring and testing, use opaque-box or a more direct term instead.
- Alternatives: black-box
- Replacements: opaque-box
Black Friday
Section titled “Black Friday”Verdict: restricted
Only use for the US retail event. For the load pattern, use peak scale event.
- Replacements: peak scale event
black hat hacker
Section titled “black hat hacker”Verdict: avoid
Use malicious hacker instead.
- Replacements: malicious hacker
blackhat
Section titled “blackhat”Verdict: avoid
Use malicious, unethical, or illegal instead.
- Alternatives: black hat, black-hat
- Replacements: illegal, unethical, malicious
blacklist
Section titled “blacklist”Verdict: avoid
Use the noun blocklist or denylist instead of blacklist. Don’t use the verb forms. Instead, rewrite them as blocking or blocked.
- Alternatives: black list, black-list, blacklisted, black listed, black-listed, blacklisting, black listing, black-listing
- Replacements: blocklist, denylist, blocking, blocked
Verdict: restricted
If possible, avoid using blind to describe computer systems by using more direct terms. When referring to a person, use a term such as person who is visually impaired, or if applicable, screen reader user.
blue-green
Section titled “blue-green”Verdict: style
Hyphenate and lowercase blue-green for the deployment pattern.
Boolean
Section titled “Boolean”Verdict: style · Form: noun, adjective
Use boolean for the data type, and Boolean for mathematics and logic.
build cop
Section titled “build cop”Verdict: avoid
Use build monitor for the role instead.
- Alternatives: build sheriff
- Replacements: build monitor