Use "the Splunk platform" to refer to both Splunk Enterprise and Splunk Cloud Platform. You can use "the Splunk platform" either as a noun or as a modifier.

Before you use a general term like the Splunk platform, consider whether a specific component of the product, like the search head, the indexer cluster, Splunk Web, the data collection node, the deployment server, the forwarder, and so on, is more helpful for customers. See Splunk platform architecture components.

As a noun

When using "the Splunk platform" as a noun, follow these conventions:

• Include a definite article.
• Don't capitalize the "p" in "platform".
• Don't use "the Splunk platform" 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
the Splunk platform	The Splunk Platform Splunk platform
the searching capabilities of the Splunk platform	the Splunk platform's searching capabilities

As a modifier

You can use "the Splunk platform" or "Splunk platform" without a definite article as a modifier. 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.

Review the following table for examples of correct usage:

Do this	Don't do this
Restart the Splunk platform instance...	Restart the Splunk instance…
In a distributed Splunk platform deployment...	In a distributed Splunk deployment…
In your Splunk platform environment...	In your Splunk environment…

Splunk platform architecture components

Don't capitalize Splunk platform architecture components such as indexers, forwarders, search heads, license managers, and deployment servers. If you are unsure how to capitalize a Splunk term, see the Splexicon for the correct capitalization.