FaV

Fav is an informal abbreviation for favorite, used across software, websites, and online services to denote items a user has marked for quick access or preference. It can function as a noun (a favorite item), a verb (to favorite something), or as a label in a user interface. The concept is distinct from simply storing all content; favorites are typically gathered in a dedicated list or section for easy retrieval later.

In web browsers and apps, favorites or bookmarks let users save URLs, documents, or other resources. Different platforms use different terminology: some call them Favorites (as in older Windows and some browsers), while others use Bookmarks. Icons for favorites are commonly a star or heart, reflecting the notion of marking items as preferred or important.

In social media and media players, favoriting or liking an item indicates appreciation or endorsement. Some services originally used “favorite” as the action and later shifted to “like” for a broader, more universal UI, while still preserving a favorites or liked-items concept in user data.

In programming and data formats, fields may be named fav or favorite, representing whether a user has marked an item as a favorite and, in some cases, counting how many users have done so. In web design, the term favicon (short for favorite icon) is related etymologically but refers to the small icon shown in browser tabs, not to user favorites.

Overall, fav is a widely understood shorthand for marking preferred content, reflecting a standard pattern of saving and prioritizing items for faster future access. See also favorites, bookmarks, like, and favicon.