Glossary

Appliance jargon, explained in plain language. We link to these terms from spec pages whenever they come up.

Air watts

A combined measure of suction and airflow used to rate cordless vacuum cleaning power.

Climate class

The ambient temperature range a refrigerator is designed and rated to operate in.

Decibel / noise class

How loud an appliance is rated in dB(A), plus its EU label noise-emission class.

ECO 40-60

The mandatory standard test programme EU energy labels for washing machines are based on.

Energy class (EU label)

The A to G letter rating on the mandatory EU energy label, A being the most efficient.

IP rating

A two-digit code describing how well a product resists dust and water ingress.

Place settings

The standard unit dishwasher manufacturers use to describe how much a machine can hold.

Pyrolytic (self-cleaning oven)

An oven self-cleaning mode that burns baked-on residue to ash at very high heat.

Technologies

Feature tags used on product pages. A tag is stored on a model only when the manufacturer page states it for that exact model.

Add-item pause

A running programme can be paused so forgotten items can be added through a door or hatch.

Air-fry mode

An air-frying cooking mode on the oven.

Auto shut-off

The appliance switches itself off when left idle; mirrors the auto shut-off spec.

Automatic detergent dosing

A built-in reservoir doses liquid detergent automatically for each load. It is listed as a technology and is stored once, in the technologies array.

Automatic detergent dosing (dishwasher)

The dishwasher stores detergent and dispenses the amount needed per programme.

Automatic door opening

The door opens by itself at the end of the programme to let steam out and improve drying.

Automatic milk system cleaning

The milk system rinses or cleans itself automatically.

Automatic programmes

Preset automatic cooking programmes; the count lives in the existing programme count spec.

Automatic sensor mode

A climate or odour sensor adjusts the fan automatically.

Bean-profile adaptation

The machine adapts grinding and brewing to the type of bean.

Brushless motor

The fan is driven by a brushless motor.

Catalytic cleaning

Catalytic liners in the cavity absorb grease during normal cooking.

Ceramic grinder

The grinder burrs are made of ceramic.

Cutlery drawer

A third rack in the form of a cutlery drawer or tray above the baskets.

Direct drive

The drum is driven directly by the motor without a belt. Only stored when the maker prints Direct Drive or Direct Motion.

Door alarm

An alarm that warns when the door is left open.

Drum clean reminder

The machine reminds you when to run a drum-cleaning programme.

Dual cooling

Separate cooling for the fridge and freezer compartments. MultiAirflow is a different feature and does not qualify.

Fast cooling

A function that cools the fridge compartment quickly, for example after loading groceries.

Fast freezing

A function that lowers the freezer temperature to freeze fresh food quickly.

Filter saturation indicator

An indicator that tells you when a grease or carbon filter needs cleaning or replacing.

Flexible cooking zone

Neighbouring zones can be combined into one large zone for big or oddly shaped cookware.

Full steam oven

A steam oven with a water tank and dedicated steam or combi-steam cooking modes. Never combined with steam-assist.

Full-hose leak protection

The maker states leak protection that covers the water inlet hose (a safety valve in the hose, usually with a base float), not only a float switch in the base.

Glass protection

A dedicated glass-care feature or programme that protects delicate glassware.

Heat-exchanger drying

The maker names a heat exchanger (Wärmetauscher) as the drying system.

Heat-pump drying

The dryer uses a heat-pump circuit that recovers heat instead of venting it, which uses far less energy than a condenser or vented dryer.

HEPA filter

A HEPA filter is fitted; mirrors the filtration spec.

Hob to hood link

The hob controls a compatible extractor hood, for example automatically or from the hob controls.

Holiday mode

An energy-saving mode for long absences.

Hydrolytic cleaning

Water and steam loosen residue so it can be wiped out. This is a cleaning aid and does not make the oven a steam oven.

Hygiene programme at 70 °C

A programme or option that washes at 70 °C is printed for this model.

Integrated extraction

A downdraft extractor built into the hob; mirrors the integrated extraction spec.

Intelligent heat control

Sensors regulate the air temperature to protect hair from extreme heat (Dyson).

Interior camera

A camera in the cavity shows the food on a display or in the app.

Interior light

A light inside the drum or the tub.

Inverter

Inverter power control delivers steady power at low settings; mirrors the inverter spec.

Inverter / brushless motor

A brushless or inverter-controlled drive motor, as opposed to a universal carbon-brush motor. The maker prints it as inverter, brushless or BLDC.

Inverter compressor

A variable-speed compressor that adjusts its output instead of switching fully on and off.

Ionic function

Negative ions reduce static and frizz; mirrors the ionic function spec.

Laser dust detection

A laser lights up fine dust on the floor so you can see what the vacuum picks up (Dyson).

Lidar navigation

A robot maps the room with a lidar laser sensor; mirrors the navigation spec.

Load sensor

The machine detects the weight or amount of laundry and adapts to it. This is not an AI tag unless the maker itself calls it AI.

LowFrost

Reduced frost build-up, as printed by Bosch and Siemens as LowFrost. It is not frost-free and is never mapped to the frost-free spec.

Meat probe

A core-temperature probe for precise roasting.

Microplastic filter

A filter that catches synthetic microfibres before the waste water leaves the machine.

Multi airflow

Cold air is distributed through several vents so the temperature is even across the compartment.

No Frost, freezer only

Only the freezer compartment is stated to be frost-free.

No Frost, fridge and freezer

Both the fridge and the freezer compartment defrost automatically, as stated for this model. Never combined with low-frost.

Obstacle-recognition camera

A camera with AI object recognition lets the robot steer around obstacles.

One-touch milk drinks

Milk drinks are prepared with one press while the machine handles the milk; mirrors the milk system spec.

Pan detection

The zone switches on only when cookware is detected on it.

Particle sensor

A piezo sensor counts dust particles and adapts suction to them.

Perimeter extraction

Air is drawn in along the edges of the hood instead of through a central filter surface.

Plumbed condensate drain

Condensed water can be led straight to a waste pipe, so no water tank has to be emptied.

Power boost

A temporary higher power level for fast heating.

Quick wash of 15 minutes or less

A wash programme of 15 minutes or shorter is printed for this model.

Reversing drum

The drum reverses its direction of rotation during drying so laundry tangles less.

Self-cleaning condenser

The condenser or heat exchanger cleans itself during use, so it needs no regular manual rinsing.

Self-cleaning mop

The robot or its dock rinses and cleans the mop pad automatically.

Self-emptying dock

A base station that empties the robot bin automatically; mirrors the auto-empty dock spec.

Sensor cooking

A sensor detects steam or temperature and ends or steers the programme automatically.

Sensor drying

Moisture sensors end the programme when the laundry reaches the target dryness.

Sensor-controlled cooking

A moisture or cooking sensor steers the baking or roasting result automatically.

Soil sensor

A turbidity or soil sensor measures how dirty the water is and adapts the programme to it.

Steam assist

Steam is added during baking. The steam function spec stays Yes for this and for a full steam oven, so this tag tells them apart.

Steam function

A steam function during or after the wash that relaxes creases or refreshes fabric.

Steam refresh

A steam refresh programme that freshens and de-creases dry laundry.

Thermostat

Holds a set temperature by cycling the heater on and off; mirrors the thermostat spec.

User profiles

Individual drink settings can be stored per user, in the machine or in the app.

Water dispenser, plumbed

A water dispenser fed from the household water supply. The water dispenser spec stays Yes for plumbed and tank models alike.

Water dispenser, tank

A water dispenser fed from an internal water tank. The water dispenser spec stays Yes for plumbed and tank models alike.

Water-jet zone

A dedicated wash zone with stronger water jets for heavily soiled items.

Wireless cooking probe

A wireless temperature probe that reports to the hob.

Woolmark wool cycle

The maker states that the wool programme is Woolmark Blue or Woolmark Gold approved.

Zeolite drying

Drying uses zeolite, a mineral that absorbs moisture and releases heat, for dry dishes at lower energy use.

Zero-degree fresh zone

A compartment kept close to 0 °C for meat, fish and produce.

Digital and AI features

Feature tags used on product pages. A tag is stored on a model only when the manufacturer page states it for that exact model.

AI adaptive programme

The maker states that an AI function adapts the programme to the load or the food. The word AI or KI must be printed for this model.

AI Energy Mode

A mode that uses AI to reduce energy use, as printed for this model.

Child lock

Locks the controls so that children cannot start or change the appliance; mirrors the child lock spec where a category has one.

Colour touch display

A touch-operated display or a TFT colour display is stated for this model.

Energy forecast

The app or display estimates the energy use or cost before a programme starts.

Food recognition

A camera recognises the dish or the food and sets or suggests the programme.

Recipe assistant

Guided cooking recipes in the app or on the appliance display.

Sabbath mode

A mode with automatic functions such as lights and displays switched off for Sabbath observance.

Programmes

Named programmes and modes. A programme is tagged on a model only when the manufacturer page lists it for that exact model.