What is the back window of a car called?
Reviewed by the Skyview Auto Glass technical team — NWRD-, ASE- and DINITROL-trained technicians · Updated November 2026
Quick answer
The back window of a car is called the back glass, the rear windshield, or the backlite. On hatchbacks, SUVs, and vans, the glass in the liftgate is called liftgate glass. It is usually tempered, with defroster lines and often a radio antenna built in. See our back glass replacement service for replacing it.
What is back glass?
The back window of a car goes by several names that all refer to the same pane. Back glass and rear windshield are the common terms, and backlite is the industry word for the fixed rear window on a sedan or coupe. On a hatchback, SUV, or van, the rear glass is part of the liftgate, the panel that lifts to open the cargo area, and it is called liftgate glass.
Whatever the name, the construction is usually the same. Back glass is tempered, a single sheet strengthened by rapid cooling, so it shatters into small granular pieces rather than sharp shards when it breaks. It carries the defroster grid, the thin lines that warm the glass to clear frost and condensation, and it often doubles as the radio antenna, with the heating and antenna traces printed onto the surface.
Because back glass is tempered, a crack means a full pane replacement, not a resin repair. The defroster and antenna traces add labor, since the new glass must carry the same connections, and the liftgate glass on a hatchback may include a wiper and a washer nozzle. See our back glass replacement service for how the work is done.
Is the back window a windshield?
- No, the back window is behind the cabin, not in front of the driver.
- It is usually tempered, while the windshield is laminated.
- It carries the defroster grid and often the radio antenna.
- A break means a full pane replacement, since tempered glass cannot be resin-repaired.
- Liftgate glass may also include a wiper and a washer nozzle.
Back window names and what they mean
| Term | What it refers to |
|---|---|
| Back glass | The rear window, a common general term |
| Rear windshield | The same pane, named for its position |
| Backlite | The fixed rear window on a sedan or coupe |
| Liftgate glass | The rear glass set into the liftgate on a hatchback, SUV, or van |
All refer to the rear window; the construction is usually tempered with defroster and antenna traces.
More questions about the back window
What is a backlite?
It is the industry term for the fixed rear window on a sedan or coupe. Back glass and rear windshield are other names for the same pane, and on a hatchback or SUV the rear glass is called liftgate glass.
Is the back window a windshield?
No. The windshield is the laminated glass in front of the driver; the back window is the tempered glass behind the cabin. They are built differently, and the back glass carries the defroster grid and often the antenna.
Can a cracked back window be repaired?
No. Back glass is tempered, so a crack means the whole pane shatters or must be replaced. Tempered glass has no interlayer to hold a resin fill, so a break is always a full pane replacement.
Related guides
More in Glass types and features
Need auto glass service?
Skyview Auto Glass has 191 shops across Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, each offering in-shop and mobile service. Call us or book a visit — same-day service is often available.