# Refactor terms \`blacklist\` and \`whitelist\` to \`denylist\` and \`allowlist\`

**URL:** <https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/refactor-terms-blacklist-and-whitelist-to-denylist-and-allowlist/56613>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [July 17, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/refactor-terms-blacklist-and-whitelist-to-denylist-and-allowlist/56613 "2022-07-17T18:49:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jvanderen1](https://discourse-cdn.pi-hole.net/user_avatar/discourse.pi-hole.net/jvanderen1/32/31773_2.png) [@jvanderen1](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/jvanderen1)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/refactor-terms-blacklist-and-whitelist-to-denylist-and-allowlist/56613/1 "2022-07-17T18:49:03Z")

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## Issue

I was wondering if we would be open to taking some time to refactor out the terms `blacklist` and `whitelist` in favor of `denylist` and `allowlist` (or something similar)?

These terms are centuries old referring to "reputable" and "disreputable" people. I think it would be make ourselves look better as an open source community to find alternatives for these terms.

## Suggestion

As a suggestion, we could refactor everything all at or, or maybe parts of the code could be refactored on different intervals (depending on level of difficulty).

## Stretch Goal

It would be nice to identify other terms with similar history and refactor those as well. For example, instead of `master` branch, refactor it to the now de facto `main` branch.

## Closing Thoughts

Thanks for everything pihole has been able to accomplish! This truly is one of the best open source communities out of all the raspberry pi projects.

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**Author:** ![jfb](https://discourse-cdn.pi-hole.net/user_avatar/discourse.pi-hole.net/jfb/32/4332_2.png) [@jfb](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/jfb)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 7:02pm UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/refactor-terms-blacklist-and-whitelist-to-denylist-and-allowlist/56613/2 "2022-07-17T19:02:54Z")

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There is an open feature request here:

> [@Change blacklist and whitelist terminology](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/change-blacklist-and-whitelist-terminology/31657):
>
> Like the [UK NCSC says](https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/blog-post/terminology-its-not-black-and-white) the terminology of blacklists and whitelists suggests black is associated with 'forbidden' and other negativity. I propose Pi-hole terminology Blacklist and Whitelist is changed to e.g. Denylist and Allowlist or Blocklist and Allowlist.

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**Author:** ![jfb](https://discourse-cdn.pi-hole.net/user_avatar/discourse.pi-hole.net/jfb/32/4332_2.png) [@jfb](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/jfb)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2022, 7:02pm UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/refactor-terms-blacklist-and-whitelist-to-denylist-and-allowlist/56613/3 "2022-07-17T19:02:58Z")

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