diff --git a/content/docs/_index.md b/content/docs/_index.md
index cc3d9bf..aecb1d9 100644
--- a/content/docs/_index.md
+++ b/content/docs/_index.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ summary = "The short version of what Starless gives you and what it skips."
 weight = 10
 +++
 
-Starless gives you a homepage, section pages, single pages, and a sidebar menu. That is the whole pitch.
+Starless gives you a homepage, section pages, single pages, and a sidebar explorer. That is the whole pitch.
 
 It is meant for people who want a dark shell and plain content, not a huge pile of options. If you want every part configurable from front matter, you will outgrow this fast.
 
diff --git a/content/docs/customize.md b/content/docs/customize.md
index d08f50c..80deb2a 100644
--- a/content/docs/customize.md
+++ b/content/docs/customize.md
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 +++
 title = "Customize"
-summary = "Change the title, menu, and footer strings first. Leave the rest alone until it bothers you."
+summary = "Change the title, explorer, and footer strings first. Leave the rest alone until it bothers you."
 weight = 12
 +++
 
 The fast path is to change four things in `hugo.toml`: `baseURL`, `title`, `params.sidebarFooter`, and `params.homeFooter`.
 
-Then adjust `title` and `weight` in your content files. The sidebar shape comes from the section tree, so you do not need a special data file or a menu block for each page.
+Then adjust `title` and `weight` in your content files. The sidebar explorer follows the section tree, so you do not need a special data file or a block for each page.
 
 If you want a different voice on the homepage, edit `content/_index.md`. If you want layout changes, start in `themes/starless/layouts/_default/baseof.html`.
 
diff --git a/content/docs/files.md b/content/docs/files.md
index f3924b9..5faacb3 100644
--- a/content/docs/files.md
+++ b/content/docs/files.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ The files that matter are not hard to find.
 - `content/` holds the homepage and this short guide. Its section tree also drives the sidebar.
 - `themes/starless/layouts/_default/baseof.html` builds the page shell and the shared styling.
 - `themes/starless/layouts/partials/sidebar.html` renders the left rail.
-- `themes/starless/layouts/partials/menu-tree.html` renders the nested section and page links.
+- `themes/starless/layouts/partials/explorer-tree.html` renders the nested section and page links.
 - `themes/starless/layouts/_default/home.html`, `list.html`, and `single.html` handle the main content area.
 
 If you are trying to understand the theme, read those files in that order. There is not much else hiding off to the side.
diff --git a/themes/starless/layouts/partials/menu-tree.html b/themes/starless/layouts/partials/explorer-tree.html
similarity index 89%
rename from themes/starless/layouts/partials/menu-tree.html
rename to themes/starless/layouts/partials/explorer-tree.html
index 8ac485d..edccdf8 100644
--- a/themes/starless/layouts/partials/menu-tree.html
+++ b/themes/starless/layouts/partials/explorer-tree.html
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
       {{- if .IsSection -}}
         {{- with .Pages.ByWeight -}}
           <div class="ml-6 flex flex-col gap-1 text-on-surface-variant text-label-sm tree-item mt-1 mb-2">
-            {{ partial "menu-tree.html" (dict "nodes" . "level" (add $.level 1)) }}
+            {{ partial "explorer-tree.html" (dict "nodes" . "level" (add $.level 1)) }}
           </div>
         {{- end -}}
       {{- end -}}
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
         </a>
         {{- with .Pages.ByWeight -}}
           <div class="ml-5 flex flex-col gap-1 text-on-surface-variant text-label-sm tree-item mt-1 italic">
-            {{ partial "menu-tree.html" (dict "nodes" . "level" (add $.level 1)) }}
+            {{ partial "explorer-tree.html" (dict "nodes" . "level" (add $.level 1)) }}
           </div>
         {{- end -}}
       </div>
diff --git a/themes/starless/layouts/partials/sidebar.html b/themes/starless/layouts/partials/sidebar.html
index 7955173..9aee104 100644
--- a/themes/starless/layouts/partials/sidebar.html
+++ b/themes/starless/layouts/partials/sidebar.html
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
   <nav class="flex flex-col gap-1 text-sm" aria-label="Primary">
     {{ with site.Sections }}
-      {{ partial "menu-tree.html" (dict "nodes" . "level" 0) }}
+      {{ partial "explorer-tree.html" (dict "nodes" . "level" 0) }}
     {{ end }}
   </nav>