Virtual Try-On Glossary: Terms Every Fashion Retailer Should Know

This virtual try-on glossary defines the terms fashion retailers meet when they compare try-on and sizing tools, from "virtual try-on" itself to "API key" and "app embed". Each entry is short, in plain language, and links to a deeper guide where one exists.

If you are new to the topic, start with the guide to a virtual fitting room for clothing websites, then use this page as a reference when a vendor uses a word you do not know.

What do the core try-on terms mean?

Virtual try-on. Software that shows a shopper how a garment or accessory would look on them, usually from a photo or a camera. With ZeDaq.ai, the shopper uploads one photo and sees the store's real garment on their body.

Virtual fitting room. A broader name for tools that help shoppers judge how clothes will look or fit online. Some are visual, some only suggest a size. The article on the difference between a fitting room and try-on explains the split.

Live-camera try-on. A try-on that works on the shopper's camera feed in real time. ZeDaq.ai offers this for eyewear.

Render. The finished image a try-on tool produces. One try-on usually creates one render.

Garment image. The product photo the tool uses as the source for the clothing. Clean, front-facing photos on a plain background are easiest to work with.

What do the sizing terms mean?

Size recommendation. A suggested size label for the shopper, such as "M" or "UK 12". It tells the shopper what to order, not how it looks.

Body scan. Measuring a person from a photo. In ZeDaq.ai, a 30-second scan uses one photo plus the shopper's height.

Pose detection. Software that finds body points, such as shoulders, hips and knees, in a photo. These points are used to estimate measurements.

Size chart. A table that links body measurements to size labels. Merchants enter their own in the ZeDaq.ai dashboard or Shopify app, with one chart per garment type.

Garment type. The category of a product: tops, outerwear, dresses or bottoms. Each type uses different measurements, so each gets its own chart.

Fallback chart. A generic chart used when a store has not added its own. ZeDaq.ai uses a generic UK, US, EU and AU chart for this.

Between sizes. A shopper whose measurements fall across two size ranges. ZeDaq.ai recommends the store's size that covers the largest relevant measurement.

Fit note. A short line on the product page, such as "runs small", that sets expectations. Good fit notes work well with a chart, as the guide to writing size guides explains.

What do the technical terms mean?

Widget. A small piece of code you add to a product page that shows a button. ZeDaq.ai's widget is a script tag that works on WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, BigCommerce and custom sites, and adds "Try it on" and "Find my size".

Script tag. A line of HTML that loads code from another server. You paste it into your product template.

API. A way for one program to talk to another. ZeDaq.ai has a REST API, so developers can request a try-on from their own code. See the API reference.

API key. A secret code that identifies your store when it calls an API. Keep it private. For the widget, the key is locked to your store's domain so it cannot be used elsewhere.

Domain lock. A setting that only lets a key work on named websites.

App embed. A Shopify feature that lets an app add code to your theme without editing theme files. You switch it on in the Theme Editor.

App block. A Shopify component you place in a section of a product page. See placing a try-on button in your theme for the idea in practice.

What do the business and contract terms mean?

Usage limit. The number of try-ons or measurements your plan includes each month. After that, you upgrade or wait for the next month.

Free trial. A period to test a paid plan before paying. Every ZeDaq.ai paid plan has a 3-day free trial with no card required.

Data retention. How long a vendor keeps shoppers' photos and measurements. Ask every vendor for their policy in writing.

Lock-in. Terms that make it hard to leave a vendor, such as long minimum periods. The guide on contract terms to check before you sign covers what to look for.

Return rate. The share of orders sent back. Fit is only one reason shoppers return clothes, so measure your own rate before and after any change.

Which terms are easy to confuse?

Pair	Difference
Try-on vs size recommendation	Try-on shows how it looks. A size recommendation says which size to buy.
Widget vs app	A widget is a script you paste. A Shopify app installs through the App Store.
API vs widget	An API is for developers building their own interface. A widget is a ready-made button.
Size chart vs fit note	The chart gives numbers. The fit note explains how the garment wears.

Before you choose a tool, also check how it performs across different people. The guide on skin tone and body type testing explains what to look for.

FAQs

Is virtual try-on the same as augmented reality?

Not always. Augmented reality places digital items over a live camera view. Many try-on tools, including ZeDaq.ai for clothing, work from an uploaded photo.

Do I need a developer to use these tools?

Not for Shopify, where you install an app and switch on an embed. For other platforms you paste one script tag, and for custom builds you can use the API.

Does try-on work for every skin tone and body type?

That is a fair question to ask any vendor, and the best answer is to test the tool on a range of people before you commit.

Where can I find a term that is not listed here?

Ask the vendor to define it in plain words, and be cautious if they cannot. A good vendor can explain every term on their site.