Vapes come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and types. Some are incredibly simple pieces of hardware with only three or four components, while others are more sophisticated. The following components of vapes represent the elements almost all vapes are made of, though you may not see them in a single vaping device.

Vape Battery

The vape battery is the core power component of a vape, whether disposable or rechargeable. In most cases, the battery isn't replaceable, simply rechargeable, but some manufacturers do offer the option to replace the battery, especially in vape mods. The capacity of vape batteries ranges from a few hundred mAH (for smaller, disposable vapes) to several thousand mAH (for vape mods), though 5,000 mAH is the common upper ceiling for battery capacity. It's one of the primary components of vapes.  

Vape Juice

Vape juice is the core substance/flavor component of a vape. It is the thing you vape, i.e., inhale in the form of a vapor. Vape juice, also called e-juice, can have a wide variety of formulations. It may or may not contain nicotine. Nicotine-based vape juice is ideal for vapers that are trying to quit smoking. Both nicotine-based vapes and zero-nicotine vapes contain propylene glycol that acts as a base and helps in the production of vapor, vegetable glycerin that acts as an emulsifier and facilitates the mixing of all the other ingredients, and flavoring. Most vape juices have minimal water content though water vapes contain up to 30% of water. CBD vapes contain elements derived from marijuana plants, primarily THC, though not in the oil form. It’s important to note that substandard vape juices where you don’t have clarification about the ingredients can be quite dangerous.

Vape Atomizer/Heating Element

The third core component of vapes that draws power from the vape battery and turns vape juice into a vapor that can be inhaled by the user is the heating element. In most cases, it's an atomizer, also called a clearomizer, if the container holding the vape juice is transparent. The mechanism for "transporting" vape juice to the heating element may differ slightly, but the heating process usually leverages two internal components: A coil and a wick. A wick absorbs or soaks in the vape juice, and it's usually made of cotton. But when the vape juice has an oily base, a ceramic wick is used. The coil is basically a low-resistance metal that heats up when current passes through it. It's in direct contact with the wick and turns the vape juice in the wick into a vapor to be inhaled.

Vape Tank/Vape Container

Vape tanks and vape containers can be considered two different components of vapes. Vape container or vape juice container is a blanket term that can mean any container that holds the vape juice within the body of the vape. It may be an irreplaceable and non-refillable container for disposable vapes or a replaceable container for refillable vapes. Vape tanks, on the other hand, are components that are made up of more than just a vape juice storage container. They may also have a dipping mechanism and atomizer/heating element built in. The entire vape container can be fixed on top of a vape mod.

Vape Carts/Vape Cartridge  

Vape carts or vape cartridges are often used interchangeably with vape tanks, but the two are not the same. Vape carts are less modifiable compared to tanks and typically smaller in size, like half or one-fourth of a typical 2 ml tank.

Vape Mod

A vape mod is not an individual component of a vape but rather the part of a vape kit that holds the vape battery and other electrical controls. It's fitted with a tank to make a complete vape. These mods usually have larger batteries compared to most disposable and even rechargeable vapes or even vape pods. They also allow users to decide how much power (in watts) to convey to the tank with the atomizer.

Vape Controls

Most vapes nowadays are equipped with certain controls. The most rudimentary control components of vapes are typically the power button or the sensor that turns on power when you suck on the mouthpiece. More sophisticated vape controls allow you to adjust the power and airflow.

Vape Screen/Display/Indicators

The most basic vape indicators are for displaying the discharged status of the batteries. More comprehensive displays might indicate how much charging is left, how many puffs you have left, how much current is flowing through the coils, and what is the current resistance of the heating coil.

Vape Pen

Vape pens can refer to the body of the vapes, typically disposable vapes with sleek designs that are also called e-cigarettes. The pen contains all the components of vape (battery, vape juice, and heating element) necessary for it to work. It's the housing component of a wide array of vapes.

These are some of the most commonly found components of vapes. However, the list is constantly expanding. Newer vapes may enter the market with more sophisticated designs and a wider range of components.