Length or duration?

Question

I'm writing a web application in which you can make bookings. When configuring a booking I need to know for how long the session will be. I'm wondering if the best word is length or duration?

Length: [100 minutes]

or

Duration: [100 minutes]

Or is there perhaps a better alternative?

Thanks!

Barmar · Accepted Answer

Either word can be used in this context, and they'll be understood perfectly well. Duration is more specific to lengths of time, so it might be more appropriate. On the other hand, length is a more familiar word; using duration makes it seem more proper or technical.

Correct answer by Barmar on May 6, 2021

Misti · Answer

Opinion: Length be used to define distance or size ( length very commonly refers to physical size i.e., the length, width, and depth of an object) whereas duration measures time period.

Length is also used to define time period, as in: 
How long have you been waiting?

So, while length may be used for either, duration should not be used for distance.

James Waldby - jwpat7 · Answer

Although you didn't ask about it, the previous answer correctly notes that duration isn't used for distance; from en.wiktionary, duration means “An amount of time or a particular time interval” and “The time taken for the current situation to end, especially the current war”, plus a technical finance meaning (“A measure of the sensitivity of the price of a financial asset...”).

While you can use either of duration or length (see below), a shorter word you might consider is term. From en.wiktionary, sense 11 is “Duration of a set length”.

Besides length's primary sense “The measurement of distance along the longest dimension of an object”, en.wiktionary mentions senses “duration” and (figuratively) “Total extent”.

Length or duration?

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