Jira Project Admin Issue: Cloud UI uses ‘Spaces,’ and help documents use 'Projects.'

[Jim Gilliam]

In Jira Cloud, the UI consistently uses the term “Space.” However, Atlassian’s help documentation refers to the same thing as a “Project,” with little to no explanation of the difference (or lack thereof).

This is especially frustrating as a Jira and Confluence admin. Admins are expected to follow help instructions closely when configuring and managing the platform, but those instructions don’t match what we actually see in the Cloud interface. When the docs say “project” and the UI only shows “spaces,” it immediately creates confusion and slows things down.

This isn’t about personal preference or wording style:

• The UI says “space.”
• The docs say “project”.
• Admins are left reconciling the contradiction while trying to get actual work done.
• We also end up correcting (or being corrected by) others based on whichever source they trust more.

To me, the particular word choice is a foundational Jira concept. Having the UI and documentation out of sync feels careless and creates unnecessary friction and confusion for admins.

Ask:
Please either align the help documentation with the current Jira Cloud UI terminology, or clearly explain how “Project” and “Space” relate to each other and which term administrators should rely on when following help topics.

This kind of mismatch really shouldn’t be something admins have to explain away.

[Trudy Claspill]

Hello @Jim Gilliam 

As a user community we don't have access to update Atlassian's documentation.

I can tell you that Atlassian has been applying a terminology change. The original term was Project. The new term is Space. Atlassian implemented the term in the UI and is still working on updating documentation.

Within the Jira and JSM apps Project and Space are interchangeable.

[Arkadiusz Wroblewski]

Hello @Jim Gilliam 

I can understand your side, and I can also understand Atlassian’s side.

There are hundreds of knowledge base articles, and they also changed a lot of the naming just a few months ago while rolling out the new UI at the same time. That naturally makes things more confusing, especially when older articles, newer terms, and UI changes all overlap.