Terms of Service (also Terms of Use or Terms and Conditions) is a legal document stating the rules, rights and responsibilities that apply when someone uses a website, app or service.
Why it matters
They set expectations on acceptable use, payments, cancellation, liability limits and how disputes are handled. Clear terms protect both parties and help resolve disagreements. What is enforceable varies by country, so this is a definition, not legal advice. Terms are usually presented at sign-up or checkout and often paired with a privacy policy. Many sites record when and which version a user accepted.
Example
A sign-up form includes a checkbox: I agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, with links. The terms explain that accounts may be suspended for abuse, that subscriptions renew monthly and how to cancel.
Common mistakes
- Copying another company's terms without checking they fit your service.
- Hiding the link where users cannot find it.
- Never updating terms when the service changes.
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This page is general information written by our editorial team and updated when documentation changes. Servers and providers differ, so test changes safely first. See our editorial policy and disclaimer.