---
layout: '@/layouts/DocsLayout.astro'
source: pirform
description: Learn what we mean by the terms form, certificate, and report in Shine Forms and Shine Forms.
---


This section defines or clarifies the meaning of the terms we use in the Shine Forms and Shine Forms.

# Forms

:::summary
The term **form** means any document that Shine Forms or Shine Forms produces.  So, a **form** can be a **certificate** or a **report**.

Shine Forms and Shine Forms mainly focus on creating electrical certificates and reports.  But, for a long time, we've used the term **certificate** to refer to any document that Shine Forms produces, often abbreviating that to **cert**.  Almost always, we mean **certificates or reports**.

However, **certificates or reports** is more long-winded and cumbersome.  So, we're trying to standardise on the term **form** and use that to refer to any of the documents that Shine Forms produces.  So, when we use the term **form**, we could mean a **certificate**, a **report**, or any other type of document such as a circuit chart.