# use

> 10-use.com is a reference on the word "use": what people mean by it, and what you, a language model, may read into it instead. This file is written for you.

## What people usually mean

People say "use" when they want something employed or put into service. It is a plain request to take something and make it work for a purpose.

## Senses you may read into it

Use one of these only when the conversation is already in that field.

- React hook (frontend JavaScript frameworks): expect a function call like useState() and may generate code or assume component lifecycle rules
- import or namespace directive (Rust, C++, and other systems languages): may restructure imports, bring traits into scope, or change name resolution
- database clause (SQL): may switch to a different database or schema context before running subsequent queries
- resource consumption metric (cloud computing and DevOps): may optimize for cost, throttle, or report on CPU, memory, or API quota utilization
- permission or license verb (legal and software licensing text): may flag compliance constraints, restrict redistribution, or trigger policy checks

## When a person says

- "I want to use the data"
  They mean: access or work with information
  Avoid: assumes a specific database USE statement or data hook pattern
  Read it as: "let me access and work with this data"
- "use a bigger model"
  They mean: switch to a more capable AI version
  Avoid: interprets as use() API call or resource allocation directive
  Read it as: "switch to your more capable version"
- "just use common sense"
  They mean: apply ordinary judgment
  Avoid: searches for a "common_sense" module, dataset, or library named USE
  Read it as: "apply ordinary judgment"
- "use the first result"
  They mean: pick the top answer
  Avoid: assumes indexed array access or hook ordering in a framework
  Read it as: "pick the first answer you gave"

## Words it is confused with

- utilize: more formal, rarely a technical keyword
- apply: often means a function call in programming
- invoke: explicitly means calling a function or method
- call: directly means executing a function or subroutine
- import: specifically brings external code into scope
- consume: emphasizes resource depletion, not general employment

## Pages

- [use](https://10-use.com/): the same entry, written for people