“ID” or “Id” on User Interface

Question

The QA manager where I work just informed me there is a bug in my desktop app due to the sign-on prompt being \"Operator Id\" when it should be \"Operator ID\". Her argument bei

Answer 1

As an UAUA (ultra-anal usability analyst), please use ID instead of Id.

Visually, it's more recognizable in English. Grammatically, "Id" is a word (rhymes with "squid") and the Freudian definition has been given above. We're never verbally asked to show "id", but "ID." I.D. is fine but passe, as the periods imply multiple words.

So.

Just use ID, okay?

OK.

Answer 2

How would you say it if you were reading out loud? I'd pronounce the two letters. ID is correct, analogous with similar abbreviations such as TV. (No dots, please, as the letters don't stand for anything.)

When I'm dealing with abbreviations like this, I like to format them in small block capitals, but that's just a personal taste. Capitals, anyway.

(But I probably would continue to use Id in the code itself.)

Answer 3

The 'D' doesn't stand for anything, so I've always considered it an abbreviation, not an acronym - and therefore I too use 'Id', not 'ID'.

I don't know about your qa's reasoning - words can have more than one meaning - this is not unusual in English :)

But it looks like the common usage is actually 'ID' (right or wrong :P), which is probably the format your users would expect.

Answer 4

User interface and code are very different beasts...

"ID" is the correct answer for a user interface.

In code, consistency is your friend. Whether you like it or not, go with what is already there elsewhere in the code. If it's not there, then read up and make a decision, or get with the team and work out a way to go that everyone can agree to. Consistency makes life so much easier.

Answer 5

There is a little OcD in all of us!

Anyway, the google style guide says this:

"ID: Not Id or id, except in string literals or enums. In some contexts, best to spell out as identifier or identification."

I'm going with that.

Microsoft is more vague, from what I could find.

Answer 6

I prefer Id because when used with other 2-letter text, it doesn't become a single all-caps word

Photovoltaics systems ... PVID (one word or 2?) PvId (much more clear).