Splunk product terminology

Splunk documentation provides standard terms and definitions for software, product combinations, and architecture, guiding users to select accurate terminology when writing about Splunk products.

Splunk docs use standard terms and definitions for Splunk software, certain combinations of Splunk software, and parts of Splunk product architecture. Follow these usage guidelines to choose the correct term when you write about Splunk software.

Splunk terminology

As a best practice, when considering what noun to use when referring to a Splunk product, always use the most specific and accurate term that is appropriate for the situation. Refer to the following table for examples of terms you can choose from:

Type of term Examples
Component or service
  • Search head

  • Deployment server

Product name
  • Splunk Enterprise

  • Splunk Cloud Platform

  • Splunk Observability Cloud

  • Splunk AppDynamics

  • Splunk Application Performance Monitoring

  • Splunk IT Service Intelligence (ITSI)

  • Splunk Enterprise Security (ES)

Product abbreviation
  • ITSI

  • ES

Product category
  • The Splunk platform

  • Splunk Observability

  • Apps and add-ons

A combination of Splunk products and categories Splunk software

Splunk terminology reference

The following table compiles the basic definitions and examples for commonly used terms in the Splunk lexicon. For product abbreviations, see Splunk product abbreviations.

Term Definition Guidance Examples
Splunk When used alone, refers only to the company, not to any product. See Splunk by itself. Splunk customer

Splunk has a mascot named Buttercup.

Splunk software Refers to any combination of Splunk Enterprise, Splunk Cloud Platform, any Splunk-supported apps and add-ons, and any other software produced by Splunk. See Splunk software. Splunk software extracts different kinds of knowledge from your data.
The Splunk platform Refers to both Splunk Enterprise and Splunk Cloud Platform. See The Splunk platform. Restart the Splunk platform.

Each Splunk platform instance requires a license.

Splunk Observability Refers to both the Splunk Observability Cloud and Splunk AppDynamics products, and is a category separate from the Splunk platform product offerings. See Splunk Observability. Splunk Observability provides transparent usage data with detailed reports on all monitored hosts, containers, and metrics.

Splunk by itself

When used alone, "Splunk" refers only to the company, not to any product. When using the word "Splunk", follow these conventions:

  • Don't use "Splunk" in the possessive form, which can dilute the trademark. See Trademark attribution.
  • Don't use "Splunk" as a noun if you want to describe a product.
  • Don't use "Splunk" as a verb to describe an action.
  • Avoid using "Splunk" as a modifier by itself when you are referring to a specific instance where the Splunk platform is installed, Splunk platform deployments, or the environment in which the Splunk platform is running. See The Splunk platform.

The following examples are correct uses of "Splunk" by itself because they refer to the company and not to a specific product:

  • A Splunk customer
  • Splunk has a mascot named Buttercup.

Review the following table for examples of how to rewrite sentences that have the incorrect usage of "Splunk":

"" Do this "" Don't do this
Configure Splunk software. Configure your Splunk.
Restart the Splunk platform. Restart Splunk.
Run the Splunk universal forwarder. Run Splunk's universal forwarder.
Run the Splunk platform on your data. Splunk your data.
Access your Splunk platform instance. Access your Splunk instance.

Splunk software

Use "Splunk software" to refer to anything and everything the company offers. Use this term only when you are referring to a Splunk platform product and an app, or when either a Splunk platform product or an app can be the subject. Otherwise, aim to choose the most specific term for your situation.

When using the term "Splunk software", follow these conventions:

  • Don't capitalize the "s" in "software".
  • Don't include a definite article.
  • Don't use "Splunk software" in the possessive form, which can dilute the trademark. See Trademark attribution.

Review the following table for examples of correct usage:

"" Do this "" Don't do this
Splunk software
  • Splunk Software

  • The Splunk software

Splunk software processing properties Splunk software's processing properties