The term 'Coded' originates from literary and media analysis but evolved into a widespread internet slang term used to describe something that embodies the essence or stereotypes of a specific category without explicitly being it. In meme culture, it is often used humorously to categorize mundane objects, animals, or people based on their perceived 'vibe'—such as describing a coffee order as 'anxiety-coded' or a specific color as 'vintage-coded.' It gained massive traction on platforms like TikTok and X (Twitter) as part of the Gen Z lexicon, allowing users to make niche observations about personality traits and aesthetics through a recognizable and versatile linguistic shortcut.