ID10x1F

ID10x1F is an informal term encountered in information technology communities to label a subset of human errors that lead to operational or security issues. The term is not part of formal taxonomy and is typically used in casual incident descriptions, chat discussions, or informal write-ups to indicate a fault originating from user action or misinterpretation rather than a system defect.

Etymology and usage notes suggest the term is a playful variation of the well-known IT slang “ID10T,” which uses alphanumeric substitution to spell out “IDIOT.” The addition of “x1F” appears to reference hexadecimal or ASCII notation, with 1F sometimes cited as a control code; in practice the exact meaning is informal and varies by community. There is no canonical definition, and the wording tends to drift with usage.

In practice, ID10x1F is used to classify incidents where misreading documentation, misconfiguring a system, or entering incorrect data leads to a problem that could have been avoided with clearer guidance. Examples cited in discussions include entering an incorrect parameter value, misinterpreting a feature flag, or applying a patch in the wrong sequence. The term is intended as light-hearted shorthand and is not appropriate for formal postmortems or professional documentation.

Impact and reception of the term are mixed. Some argue that it underscores the role of human factors and the need for better UX and documentation, while others contend that it risk stigmatizing users or oversimplifying fault attribution. Overall, ID10x1F remains a niche, informal label used in certain IT circles rather than a standardized concept. See also ID10T error and human factors in computing.