A Top is the person physically performing an activity in a BDSM scene, such as tying, flogging, or applying sensation. A Dom is the person holding authority in a power-exchange dynamic. The terms often overlap but are not identical, and a person can be a Top without being a Dominant.
Dom and Top are related but distinct BDSM terms. A Top is the person physically performing an activity during a scene, such as tying rope, applying impact, or providing sensation. The role is functional and describes who is doing the action. A Dominant, by contrast, holds authority or controls the direction of a power-exchange dynamic, which may or may not involve physical activity. The two often overlap in practice, but they are not interchangeable. A 'service Top' is a person who performs BDSM activities at the submissive's direction without claiming Dominant authority. A 'Dom bottom' is a person who directs a scene from a physically receptive position. This distinction matters because assuming a Top must be a Dominant leads to miscommunication and unmet expectations. During negotiation, partners should clarify whether they are negotiating physical roles, authority roles, or both. The corresponding terms for receivers are bottom (physical recipient of activity) and submissive (yields authority within a dynamic).