# SmartPOS Hub glossary - POS and app terms explained

> Plain-English definitions of every term used in the SmartPOS Hub docs - location, SKU, sub-unit, price group, pay term, ledger, Z Report, Scan & Go, KDS, module and more.

Source: https://docs.smartposhub.com/help/glossary/  
Last updated: 2026-10-30  
Product: SmartPOS Hub (https://smartposhub.com)

This glossary explains, in plain English, every point-of-sale and app term used in the SmartPOS Hub docs, from location, SKU and sub-unit to pay term, ledger, Z Report, Scan & Go and module switch. Each definition is one to three sentences and links to the guide where the term is used. Terms are grouped by topic.

## Account, plan and access

- **Plan** — your SmartPOS Hub subscription. It sets which modules you can use and your limits on locations, users, products and invoices. See it in **Settings › Package Subscription**. [Subscription and billing](https://docs.smartposhub.com/settings/subscription-and-billing/)
- **Free trial** — the starting period after sign-up, with no card needed. The Subscription page shows when it ends. [Sign up and choose a plan](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/sign-up-and-plan/)
- **Lifetime deal** — a one-time purchase that gives a plan with no renewals, activated with a code in **Settings › Redeem code**. [Subscription and billing](https://docs.smartposhub.com/settings/subscription-and-billing/#lifetime-deal-codes)
- **Module** — a set of screens for one job, such as Restaurant, Gym, Repair or Website. You switch on only the modules your business uses. [All modules](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/)
- **Module switch** — the on/off switch for a module in **Settings › Business Settings › Modules**, saved with **Update Settings**. Switching a module off hides it but keeps its data. [All modules](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/#switch-a-module-on-or-off)
- **Three gates** — plan, switch and permission. A feature appears only when all three are open. [All modules](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/#the-three-gates-plan-switch-permission)
- **User** — one person with their own login (username or e-mail and password). [Users and roles](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/users-and-roles/)
- **Role** — a named set of permissions, such as Cashier or Store manager, that you give to users. Managed in **User Management › Roles**. [Users and roles](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/users-and-roles/)
- **Permission** — one thing a role may do, such as "add sale", "view purchase price" or "use Offline POS". Ticked on the role form. [Users and roles](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/users-and-roles/)
- **Admin role** — the built-in role with every permission, including settings and users. Keep it for owners. [Users and roles](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/users-and-roles/)
- **Access locations** — the locations a user may work in, set on the user. With **All Locations** ticked they can also work in locations you add later. [Users and roles](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/users-and-roles/)
- **Two-step sign-in (2FA)** — a 6-digit code from an authenticator app, asked for after the password. [Account security](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/account-security/)
- **Recovery code** — a one-time backup code you save when you turn on two-step sign-in, used when you don't have your phone. [Account security](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/account-security/)
- **Business Settings** — the settings page with tabs for business details, tax, products, sale, POS, purchases, modules, e-mail, SMS and more. [Business settings reference](https://docs.smartposhub.com/settings/business-settings-overview/)
- **Recycle Bin** — where deleted products, contacts and other records wait, so you can restore them or delete them for good. [Recycle Bin](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/recycle-bin/)

## Locations and setup

- **Location** — a shop, branch, warehouse or kitchen in your business, added in **Settings › Business Locations**. Stock, prices, invoice numbers and staff access are kept per location. [Multiple locations](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/locations/)
- **Prebuilt (Import prebuilt)** — a button on setup lists (categories, brands, units, tax rates, roles, printers and more) that adds a ready-made starter list for your trade. [Import prebuilt](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/import-prebuilt/)
- **Product Library** — shared catalogs of ready-made products with names, barcodes, images and descriptions that you import in bulk and then price. [Product Library](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/product-library/)
- **Opening stock** — the stock you already had in each location when you started with SmartPOS Hub, with its unit cost. [Opening stock](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/opening-stock/)
- **Invoice scheme** — the numbering pattern of your invoices, such as a prefix and starting number, chosen per location. [Invoice and receipt settings](https://docs.smartposhub.com/settings/invoice-and-receipt-settings/)
- **Invoice layout** — how a receipt or invoice looks: logo, header, footer and which details it shows. [Invoice and receipt settings](https://docs.smartposhub.com/settings/invoice-and-receipt-settings/)
- **Tax rate / tax group** — a tax percentage (VAT, GST, sales tax) and a combination of several rates applied together. [Tax rates](https://docs.smartposhub.com/settings/tax-rates/)

## Products and catalog

- **SKU** — the stock-keeping unit: your own unique code for a product or variation. SmartPOS Hub can create it for you. [Barcodes and labels](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/barcodes-and-labels/)
- **Barcode** — the code a scanner reads. A product can have extra barcodes, for example the maker's barcode and your own. [Barcodes and labels](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/barcodes-and-labels/)
- **Single product** — a product with one price and one stock figure. [Add a product](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/add-products/)
- **Variable product / variation** — a product sold in versions such as sizes or colours. Each variation has its own SKU, price and stock. [Variable products](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/variable-products/)
- **Combo product** — a bundle of other products sold as one item; selling it takes stock from each item. [Combo and service products](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/combo-and-service-products/)
- **Service product** — something you sell without stock, such as labour or a fitting. [Combo and service products](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/combo-and-service-products/)
- **Unit / sub-unit** — the unit you count stock in (piece, kg) and a bigger or smaller pack of it, such as Box (12) = 12 pieces or a strip of 10 tablets. Stock is kept in the base unit. [Categories, brands and units](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/categories-brands-units/)
- **Category / brand** — groups for products: a three-level category tree and brand names with logos. [Categories, brands and units](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/categories-brands-units/)
- **Manage Stock?** — the product setting that says whether stock is counted. Untick it for services. [Add a product](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/add-products/)
- **Alert quantity** — the stock level at which a product shows as low stock. [Add a product](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/add-products/)
- **Selling price group (price group)** — an extra price list, such as wholesale or staff prices, that you pick on a sale or give to a customer. [Price groups](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/price-groups/)
- **Minimum selling price** — with **Sales price is minimum selling price** on, cashiers can't sell below the product's selling price. [Business settings reference](https://docs.smartposhub.com/settings/business-settings-overview/)
- **Warranty** — a warranty period attached to a product and printed on the invoice. [Categories, brands and units](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/categories-brands-units/)
- **Size chart** — a size guide for clothing, shoes or rings per product, category or brand. [Size charts](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/size-charts/)

## Selling

- **POS** — the point-of-sale screen for counter sales: scan or pick products, choose the customer, take payment. [POS overview](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/pos-overview/)
- **POS V1 / POS V2** — the classic POS screen and the newer full-screen one. Both sell the same way. [POS V2 and how it compares](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/pos-v2/)
- **Add Sale** — the full sales form for invoices you prepare at a desk rather than the counter. [Add a sale and invoices](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/add-sale-and-invoices/)
- **Walk-In Customer** — the default customer for anonymous counter sales. It can't buy on credit. [Credit sales](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/credit-and-partial-payments/)
- **Multiple Pay** — the POS payment window where you enter the amount paid, choose methods and split a payment. [Payment methods](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/payment-methods/)
- **Credit Sale** — the POS button that saves a sale with no payment, all of it due on the customer's account. [Credit sales](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/credit-and-partial-payments/)
- **Suspend (park)** — put a POS sale aside and come back to it later. [Quotations, drafts and orders](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/quotations-drafts-and-orders/)
- **Draft** — a sale saved for later that is not final yet. [Quotations, drafts and orders](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/quotations-drafts-and-orders/)
- **Quotation** — a price offer for a customer that you can turn into a sale. [Quotations, drafts and orders](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/quotations-drafts-and-orders/)
- **Sales order** — a customer's order recorded before you deliver and invoice it. [Quotations, drafts and orders](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/quotations-drafts-and-orders/)
- **Sell return** — taking items back from a sale, settled as a refund, store credit, gift card or exchange. [Returns and refunds](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/returns-and-refunds/)
- **Gift card** — a card with a value that customers pay with, also used to settle refunds. [Gift cards and store credit](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/gift-cards-and-store-credit/)
- **Store credit** — money the customer can spend at your shop, kept as their advance balance. [Gift cards and store credit](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/gift-cards-and-store-credit/)
- **Reward points** — points customers earn on purchases and redeem as a discount. [Reward points](https://docs.smartposhub.com/customers/reward-points/)
- **Overselling** — selling a product when the system shows zero stock. Allowed only when **Allow Overselling** is on. [Business settings reference](https://docs.smartposhub.com/settings/business-settings-overview/)
- **Max sales discount percent** — the largest discount a user may give on a sale, set on the user. [Users and roles](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/users-and-roles/)
- **Service staff** — the waiter, stylist or technician linked to a sale or an item, used for restaurant orders and commission. [Restaurant](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/restaurant/)
- **Commission agent** — a staff member or agent who earns a percentage of the sales linked to them. [Business settings reference](https://docs.smartposhub.com/settings/business-settings-overview/)
- **Payment link** — a link sent to the customer so they can pay an invoice online. [Payment methods](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/payment-methods/)
- **Cash register** — the till session of one cashier at one location, opened with the starting cash and closed with a count. [Cash register and closing](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/cash-register-and-closing/)
- **Z Report** — the end-of-day summary for a date and location: sales, returns, purchases, expenses and total sales in hand, under **Reports › Z Report**. [Cash register and closing](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/cash-register-and-closing/)
- **Customer display** — a second screen facing the customer that shows the items and total. [Screens & displays](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/screens-and-displays/)
- **Offline POS** — the POS that keeps selling without internet and syncs sales later. [Offline POS](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/offline-pos/)
- **Offline PIN** — the 4–6 digit PIN that unlocks Offline POS on a registered device. [Offline POS](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/offline-pos/)
- **Offline reference** — the temporary number an offline sale gets, such as OFF-WRH9-0001, until it syncs and gets its real invoice number. [Offline POS](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/offline-pos/)
- **Sync issue** — an offline sale that was recorded but needs a manager's check, for example a price or stock conflict. [Offline POS](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/offline-pos/#managing-devices-and-sync-issues)

## Credit, payments and balances

- **Total paid / sell due** — on every sale, how much was received and how much is still owed. [Credit sales](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/credit-and-partial-payments/)
- **Due** — the payment status of a sale with nothing paid yet. [Credit sales](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/credit-and-partial-payments/#how-credit-works-in-one-minute)
- **Partial** — the payment status of a sale with some money received and a balance left. [Credit sales](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/credit-and-partial-payments/#how-credit-works-in-one-minute)
- **Paid** — the payment status of a fully paid sale. [Credit sales](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/credit-and-partial-payments/#how-credit-works-in-one-minute)
- **Overdue** — a Due or Partial sale older than the customer's pay term. [Credit sales](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/credit-and-partial-payments/)
- **Balance due** — everything a customer still owes across their sales, bookings and opening balance, minus payments and returns. Negative means you owe them. [Credit limits and advances](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/customer-credit-limits-and-advances/)
- **Credit limit** — the most a customer may owe at once. A sale that would go above it is refused. [Credit limits and advances](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/customer-credit-limits-and-advances/)
- **Pay term** — how many days or months a customer (or you, with a supplier) has to pay. [Credit limits and advances](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/customer-credit-limits-and-advances/)
- **Advance (advance balance)** — money a customer paid you ahead, spent later with the payment method **Store credit (advance)**. [Credit limits and advances](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/customer-credit-limits-and-advances/#advance-balance-deposits-and-store-credit)
- **Opening balance** — what a customer or supplier already owed before you started with SmartPOS Hub. [Credit limits and advances](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/customer-credit-limits-and-advances/)
- **Ledger** — the full statement of a customer or supplier: every sale or purchase, payment and balance, with debit and credit, exportable as PDF. [Customer ledger](https://docs.smartposhub.com/customers/customer-ledger/)
- **Khata** — the local word in many South Asian shops for a customer's running credit account; in SmartPOS Hub it is the customer's credit sales and ledger. [Mart: customer credit (khata)](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/mart/step-6-customer-credit-khata/)
- **Payment account** — where money lands, such as the cash drawer or a bank account, so balances by account stay right. [Payment accounts](https://docs.smartposhub.com/reports/payment-accounts/)
- **Payment proof** — a bank-transfer receipt a customer uploads for an online order, which you approve. [Website orders](https://docs.smartposhub.com/online/website-orders/)
- **Supplier credit** — buying from a supplier now and paying later, in parts if needed. [Supplier payments and credit](https://docs.smartposhub.com/inventory/supplier-payments-and-credit/)

## Stock and purchasing

- **Purchase** — goods bought from a supplier. Stock goes up when the **Purchase Status** is **Received**. [Record a purchase](https://docs.smartposhub.com/inventory/purchases/)
- **Purchase order** — an order you send a supplier before the goods arrive, turned into a purchase on delivery. [Purchase orders](https://docs.smartposhub.com/inventory/purchase-orders/)
- **Stock transfer** — moving stock from one location to another. It arrives when the transfer is **Completed**. [Stock transfers](https://docs.smartposhub.com/inventory/stock-transfers/)
- **Stock adjustment** — a record of damaged, expired, lost or found stock that changes the quantity. [Stock adjustments](https://docs.smartposhub.com/inventory/stock-adjustments/)
- **Stock count** — counting the shelves with the Business app and updating the system to match. [Stock counts](https://docs.smartposhub.com/inventory/stock-counts/)
- **Lot number** — the supplier's lot or batch code for a delivery, kept with the stock. [IMEI, serial and lot numbers](https://docs.smartposhub.com/inventory/serial-imei-and-lots/)
- **Batch and expiry date** — the date a delivery expires, so you sell the oldest stock first and remove expired goods. [Expiry and batches](https://docs.smartposhub.com/inventory/expiry-and-batches/)
- **IMEI / serial number** — the unique number of one phone, laptop or appliance, recorded on purchase and sale. [IMEI, serial and lot numbers](https://docs.smartposhub.com/inventory/serial-imei-and-lots/)
- **Product stock history** — the list of every stock movement of a product, opened from the product's **Actions**. [Troubleshooting](https://docs.smartposhub.com/help/troubleshooting/#stock-numbers-look-wrong)

## Customers

- **Contact** — a customer or supplier record in **Contacts**. [Contacts](https://docs.smartposhub.com/customers/contacts/)
- **Customer group** — a group of customers that can share a price group or discount. [Customer groups](https://docs.smartposhub.com/customers/customer-groups/)
- **Lead** — a person who isn't a customer yet, from a website form, the newsletter, the Shopper app or added by hand, managed in **Contacts › Leads**. [Leads](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/leads/)
- **Recovery cart** — an online cart a shopper left without paying, which you can follow up. [Leads](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/leads/)
- **Customer portal** — a sign-in area where customers, suppliers or riders see their invoices, orders and deliveries. [Portal](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/portal/)

## Restaurant and services

- **KDS (kitchen display)** — the screen in the kitchen that shows orders as tickets with timers, which cooks start and bump when ready. [Restaurant](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/restaurant/)
- **Kitchen station** — one part of the kitchen (grill, drinks, desserts) with its own screen. [Screens & displays](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/screens-and-displays/)
- **Modifier** — an extra or option on an item, such as a topping, size or sauce, with its own price. [Modifiers](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/modifiers/)
- **Order option** — a detail the customer gives for an item, such as a prescription, engraving text, measurements or a cake message. [Order options](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/order-options/)
- **Open tab** — a table or bar bill kept open while guests order rounds, paid once at the end. [Open tabs](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/open-tabs/)
- **Table / floor plan** — the restaurant's tables laid out by area, used to place dine-in orders. [Restaurant](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/restaurant/)
- **Booking** — a table reservation or appointment on the calendar. [Bookings](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/bookings/)
- **Job sheet** — a repair job record: device, fault, estimate, status and parts. [Repair](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/repair/)

## Online, apps and devices

- **SmartPOS Hub (web app)** — the system you use in a browser for everything: POS, products, stock, reports, modules and settings. [Getting started](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/overview/)
- **SmartPOS Business** — the Android app for owners and staff, installed from [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smartposhub.business). [Business app overview](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-app/overview/)
- **SmartPOS Shopper** — the Android app for your customers, installed from [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smartposhub.shopper). [Shopper app for your store](https://docs.smartposhub.com/online/shopper-app-for-your-store/)
- **SmartPOS Connect** — an Android app that turns a shop phone into a caller popup and SMS gateway. It isn't on Google Play; contact support to get it. [Connect](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/connect/)
- **Store code** — the 6-character code customers type in the Shopper app to join your store. [Shopper app for your store](https://docs.smartposhub.com/online/shopper-app-for-your-store/)
- **Store card** — the member code a shopper shows in the Shopper app; the cashier scans it to pick the customer at the counter. It is valid for about 3 minutes, once. [Scanner and store cards](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-app/scanner/)
- **Scan & Go** — shoppers scan items into a cart in the Shopper app while they walk the store, then pay at the counter. [Scan & Go](https://docs.smartposhub.com/online/scan-and-go/)
- **Cart code** — the 6-character code of a Scan & Go cart that the cashier types or scans to load it into the POS. Valid for about 15 minutes, once. [Scan & Go](https://docs.smartposhub.com/online/scan-and-go/)
- **Online store** — your shop website with checkout, run from the **Website** menu. [Your online store](https://docs.smartposhub.com/online/online-store/)
- **Widget** — a piece of copy-and-paste code that shows your products, a buy button or chat on any other website. [Shop widgets](https://docs.smartposhub.com/online/widgets/)
- **Order link / table QR** — a direct link or QR code that opens your store, a product or a table's menu for ordering. [Order links and QR](https://docs.smartposhub.com/online/order-links-and-qr/)
- **App chat** — messages from customers in the Shopper app, answered from the Inbox or the Business app. [Chat with customers](https://docs.smartposhub.com/online/website-chat-and-app-chat/)
- **Genuine-app check** — the app's check that it was installed from Google Play and not changed; other copies are refused. [Devices and security](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-app/devices-and-security/)
- **Signed-in devices** — the phones signed in to SmartPOS Business, listed in **Settings › Mobile app**, where you can sign one out. [Devices and security](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-app/devices-and-security/)

## Reports and accounts

- **Profit and Loss** — income minus costs and expenses for a period and location. [Profit and loss](https://docs.smartposhub.com/reports/profit-and-loss/)
- **Expense** — money paid out that isn't stock, such as rent or electricity. [Expenses](https://docs.smartposhub.com/reports/expenses/)
- **Payment by Age** — a report of unpaid sales grouped by how late they are. [Credit limits and advances](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/customer-credit-limits-and-advances/)
- **Bookkeeping** — double-entry accounts kept up to date from sales, purchases and expenses. [Bookkeeping](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/bookkeeping/)

## Related pages

  - [FAQ](https://docs.smartposhub.com/help/faq/) — Short answers, grouped by topic.
  - [Troubleshooting](https://docs.smartposhub.com/help/troubleshooting/) — Fixes for common problems.
  - [All modules](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/) — Every module and how to turn it on.
  - [Contact support](https://docs.smartposhub.com/help/contact-support/) — Ask the SmartPOS Hub team.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between Due, Partial and Paid?

Due means nothing has been paid on the sale, Partial means part was paid and a balance is left, and Paid means the full total was received. SmartPOS Hub sets the status by itself every time a payment is recorded.

### What is the difference between a credit limit and a pay term?

The credit limit is the most a customer may owe at one time. The pay term is how long they have to pay a sale, for example 30 days; after that the sale counts as overdue.

### What is the difference between a variation and a sub-unit?

A variation is a different version of a product with its own SKU, price and stock, such as size M or colour red. A sub-unit is a bigger or smaller pack of the same item, such as a box of 12 pieces, and stock is kept in the base unit.

### What is a khata?

Khata is the word many shops in Pakistan and India use for a customer's running credit account. In SmartPOS Hub it is the customer's credit sales, payments and balance due, shown in their ledger.

### What is the difference between the Product Library and Import prebuilt?

The Product Library imports ready-made products with barcodes and images. Import prebuilt adds ready-made setup lists such as categories, brands, units, tax rates and roles.

### What are the three gates?

Plan, switch and permission. A feature appears only when your plan includes it, it is switched on in Business Settings › Modules, and your role has its permission.