What are the windows on a car called?
Reviewed by the Skyview Auto Glass technical team — NWRD-, ASE- and DINITROL-trained technicians · Updated November 2026
Quick answer
The front window is the windshield, the rear is the back glass or rear window, and the side doors carry front and rear door glass. Small fixed panes are vent glass and quarter glass. A glass panel in the roof is a sunroof or moonroof. Each uses laminated or tempered safety glass depending on its location.
Names of the windows on a car
| Window | Glass type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Laminated | Front window, carries the forward camera and sensors |
| Front door glass | Tempered | Rolls down in the door |
| Rear door glass | Tempered | Rolls down in the door on four-door vehicles |
| Vent glass | Tempered | Small fixed pane ahead of the door glass |
| Quarter glass | Tempered | Small pane behind the rear side door |
| Back glass | Tempered or laminated | Rear window, sometimes called the rear windshield |
| Sunroof or moonroof | Tempered or laminated | Glass panel in the roof |
What each window does
- The windshield blocks wind, rain, and debris and carries the forward camera and sensors.
- Door glass rolls down for ventilation and is the glass most often broken in a break-in.
- Vent and quarter glass are small fixed panes that improve the driver’s view around mirrors and pillars.
- The back glass seals the rear and may carry a defroster grid and a high-mount brake light.
- A sunroof or moonroof lets light and air in through the roof.
- Vent glass ahead of the front door helps the driver see the side mirror without turning.
- Quarter glass behind the rear door fills the last side opening on many sedans and SUVs.
Laminated versus tempered
The windshield is laminated — two glass layers with a plastic interlayer that cracks but stays whole. Side and back glass is usually tempered, which crumbles into small pieces. The difference matters when a pane breaks: laminated glass tends to stay in its frame, while tempered glass falls out. Our laminated vs tempered comparison explains how each one breaks.
More questions about car window names
What is the front window of a car called?
The windshield. It is laminated safety glass and carries the forward camera and sensors on most newer vehicles.
What is the small window on a car door called?
The small fixed pane ahead of the door glass is vent glass; the one behind the rear side door is quarter glass. Both are tempered.
What is the back window of a car called?
The back glass, or rear window. It is usually tempered, sometimes laminated, and may carry a defroster grid and a high-mount brake light.
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