Cam site dictionary
Glossary
Definitions of live-cam terms, from tokens and tip menus to private shows, cam2cam, and interactive toys.
2257 record-keeping
A US record-keeping law that requires producers of adult content to verify and document that every performer is an adult.
4K cam
A broadcast sent at ultra-high resolution, offering roughly four times the detail of standard HD.
Account verification
The step of confirming a user's email, phone number, or identity to activate full account features.
Affiliate link
A tracked link that credits a referral, such as a review site, when a new user signs up or spends on a cam platform.
Affiliate program
A partnership a cam site offers to referral partners, paying a commission for traffic or sign-ups sent through tracked links.
Age verification
The process a site uses to confirm that a viewer or model meets the minimum legal age before allowing access.
Audio-only mode
A viewing mode that plays a room's sound without video, useful on slow connections.
Auto-refill
An optional setting that automatically purchases more tokens once a user's balance drops below a set amount.
Autoplay preview
A feature that automatically plays a short muted preview clip of a room when a viewer hovers over its thumbnail.
Bitrate
The amount of video data sent each second during a stream, measured in kilobits per second, which affects picture clarity.
Blacklist
A list of users, locations, or IP addresses a model or site has blocked from viewing or interacting.
Broadcaster
The person operating the camera and running the live stream in a cam room.
Buffering
A pause in playback while a device loads more video data before continuing the stream.
Cam model account
The registered profile a performer uses to broadcast, receive tips, and track earnings on a cam platform.
Cam site
A website that hosts live video broadcasts from performers and lets viewers watch, chat, and tip.
Cam2cam
Often shortened to C2C, a feature that lets a viewer share their own webcam feed with the model during a show.
Category tag
A label attached to a room, such as a physical trait or show style, used to help viewers filter search results.
Chargeback
A reversal of a card payment initiated by the cardholder's bank, often used to dispute an unrecognized or unauthorized charge.
Commission
The share of revenue an affiliate partner earns from users they refer to a cam site.
Comparison table
A side-by-side chart, such as those on CamsCue, that lines up features and pricing across multiple cam sites.
Content moderation
The process a platform uses to review broadcasts and messages for rule violations.
Countdown timer
An on-screen clock counting down to a scheduled event in the room, such as a goal deadline.
Cryptocurrency payment
A payment option that lets users buy tokens using cryptocurrency instead of a traditional card or bank transfer.
Dice game
An interactive game where a token payment triggers a virtual dice roll with a random result.
Discreet billing
A billing practice where a card statement shows a neutral company name instead of the cam site's name.
DMCA takedown
A legal request under US copyright law asking a site to remove content that was posted without the rights holder's permission.
Exclusive show
A show reserved for a single viewer or a small pre-arranged group, often booked in advance.
Fan club
A paid or free membership tier that gives loyal viewers perks such as a badge, discounts, or extra content from a model.
Favorite
A saved shortcut to a model's profile so a viewer can find them quickly later.
Follower
A user who has opted to be notified when a specific model starts broadcasting.
Frame rate
The number of individual images a video displays per second, which affects how smooth motion appears.
Free chat
A room mode where viewers can watch and chat without paying, though tipping is optional and encouraged.
Free trial credits
A small number of tokens a site gives new users to try paid features before making a purchase.
Geoblock
A restriction that prevents a site or a specific room from being viewed in certain countries or regions.
Gift card payment
A way to buy tokens using a prepaid gift card instead of a bank card, often used for added privacy.
Goal
A tip target a model sets for the room, often tied to a specific on-screen action, that is reached once enough tokens are tipped.
Group show
A paid session where multiple viewers pool tokens to watch the same show together, usually at a lower per-person cost than a private show.
HD stream
A broadcast sent at a resolution of 720p or higher, offering sharper detail than a standard-definition stream.
Independent model
A performer who broadcasts on their own, without a studio, and manages their own equipment and schedule.
Interactive toy
A wearable device connected to a room's tipping system so that tokens trigger a physical response in real time.
KYC
Short for Know Your Customer, the identity-check process platforms use to confirm who a user or model is before releasing funds or granting full access.
Lag
A noticeable delay or stutter in video or audio playback, often caused by a slow connection.
Lovense
A brand of app-connected interactive toys that models can wear so tips trigger vibrations or other physical feedback.
Lurker
A viewer who watches a room without chatting, tipping, or otherwise interacting.
Minimum payout threshold
The smallest earnings balance a model must reach before the platform will process a payout.
Mobile cam
A broadcast or site layout designed to work smoothly on a phone or tablet screen.
Model
The general term for a performer who broadcasts live on a cam site.
Multi-user chat
A chat room where several viewers can post messages and interact with each other alongside the model.
Mute
An action that hides a specific user's chat messages from view without removing them from the room.
New user bonus
A discount or extra tokens offered to a user on their first purchase.
OBS
Open Broadcaster Software, a free application many independent models use to manage their camera, overlays, and stream settings.
One-time purchase
A single, non-recurring token purchase or content buy.
Payout
The transfer of a model's earnings from the platform to their chosen payment method, usually on a set schedule.
Performer
Another common term for a person who hosts live broadcasts on a cam platform.
Performer consent
The requirement that every action or piece of content a model produces is voluntary and agreed to in advance.
Platform fee
The portion of tips and show payments a site retains before paying the remainder to the model.
Privacy policy
The document explaining how a site collects, uses, and protects a user's personal data.
Private show
A one-on-one paid session with a model, typically billed per minute, where other viewers cannot watch.
Public chat
The main text chat area of a cam room where all viewers can post messages.
Push notification
An alert sent to a user's device or browser when a followed model goes live or a message arrives.
PVT
A common abbreviation for a private show.
Rating score
A numeric or star-based summary score a review site assigns to a cam platform based on set criteria.
Recorded show
A previously broadcast show saved as a video file that a viewer can purchase or stream on demand.
Referral code
A unique code a new user can enter at sign-up to credit whoever referred them.
Room list
The directory page showing all currently live rooms on a site.
Room moderator
A trusted user given tools to manage chat, such as muting or removing disruptive viewers, on a model's behalf.
Room subject
The short status line a model posts at the top of their room describing the current activity or goal.
Search filter
A tool that lets users narrow room listings by criteria such as category, language, or online status.
Session timeout
A security setting that automatically logs a user out after a period of inactivity.
Site review
An independent write-up, such as those published on CamsCue, that evaluates a cam site's features, pricing, and user experience.
Spy show
A discounted option that lets a viewer watch an ongoing private show without being able to chat or interact with the model.
Stream latency
The delay between when an action happens on camera and when a viewer sees it on their screen.
Streaming platform
The overall service and infrastructure a cam site uses to deliver live video to viewers.
Studio
A business that manages multiple models, often providing equipment, a filming location, and technical support in exchange for a share of earnings.
Subscription billing
A recurring charge, billed on a set schedule, for an ongoing membership or content plan.
Terms of service
The legal agreement a user accepts when joining a site, outlining rules, rights, and responsibilities.
Text chat
The written message feed in a cam room that viewers use to talk with a model and each other.
Thumbnail preview
A small preview image or looping clip representing a live room in the room list.
Ticket show
A show where viewers pay a fixed token price for a ticket in advance, then everyone who bought one watches the same broadcast.
Tip
A voluntary payment sent to a performer, usually in tokens, as a way to show appreciation or request an action from a menu.
Tip alert
An on-screen notification that appears in a room when a viewer sends a tip.
Tip wall
A visual list or ticker in a room that displays recent tips and top tippers.
Tipper leaderboard
A ranked list showing which viewers have tipped the most in a room or over a given period.
Token
The on-site currency most cam sites use. You purchase tokens with real money, then spend them on tips, private shows, and menu items.
Token bundle
A package of tokens sold at a set price, with larger bundles typically costing less per token.
Token exchange rate
The rate at which real-world currency converts into a site's tokens, and tokens convert back into a model's earnings.
Top fan badge
A visible icon next to a username that marks them as one of a model's most generous supporters.
True private
A private show mode where the room is fully locked, meaning no other viewers can enter or watch, even as a spy.
Two-factor authentication
An extra login step, usually a code sent to a phone or app, used alongside a password to protect an account.
User ban
An action that blocks a specific viewer from entering a model's room or the platform.
Verified badge
An icon shown on a profile confirming the site has confirmed the model's identity and age.
Video resolution
The pixel dimensions of a video stream, which determine how sharp or detailed the picture appears.
Viewer
Any user watching a broadcast, whether in free chat or a paid show.
VR cam
A broadcast format designed to be viewed with a virtual reality headset for a more immersive angle.
Webcam
The camera device, built-in or external, that a model uses to broadcast live video.
Wheel of fortune
An interactive game where viewers pay tokens to spin a wheel for a randomized outcome the model then performs or reacts to.
Whitelist
A list of approved viewers, locations, or contacts that a model or site grants special access to.