diff --git a/imagery/i.cca/i.cca.html b/imagery/i.cca/i.cca.html
index e597b8531a0..3daaaa998c8 100644
--- a/imagery/i.cca/i.cca.html
+++ b/imagery/i.cca/i.cca.html
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ <h2>AUTHORS</h2>
 Ali R. Vali, 
 University of Texas
 <br>
-Band reference support: Maris Nartiss,
+Semantic label support: Maris Nartiss,
 University of Latvia
 
 <!--
diff --git a/imagery/i.cca/main.c b/imagery/i.cca/main.c
index a040804a790..b6c1408aafd 100644
--- a/imagery/i.cca/main.c
+++ b/imagery/i.cca/main.c
@@ -135,9 +135,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     if (nclass < 2)
 	G_fatal_error(_("Need at least two signatures in signature file."));
 
-    err = I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(&sigs, &refs);
+    err = I_sort_signatures_by_semantic_label(&sigs, &refs);
     if (err)
-        G_fatal_error(_("Signature – group member band reference mismatch.\n"
+        G_fatal_error(_("Signature – group member semantic label mismatch.\n"
             "Extra signatures for bands: %s\n"
             "Imagery group bands without signatures: %s"),
             err[0] ? err[0] : _("none"),
diff --git a/imagery/i.cluster/global.h b/imagery/i.cluster/global.h
index 4ef0d840135..8b6afa99f72 100644
--- a/imagery/i.cluster/global.h
+++ b/imagery/i.cluster/global.h
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ extern int mcs;
 extern char *group;
 extern char *subgroup;
 extern struct Ref ref;
-extern char **bandrefs;
+extern char **semantic_labels;
 extern char outsigfile[GNAME_MAX + GMAPSET_MAX];
 extern char *insigfile;
 extern char *reportfile;
diff --git a/imagery/i.cluster/i.cluster.html b/imagery/i.cluster/i.cluster.html
index cbbf709a435..da2072e2307 100644
--- a/imagery/i.cluster/i.cluster.html
+++ b/imagery/i.cluster/i.cluster.html
@@ -73,12 +73,12 @@ <h2>DESCRIPTION</h2>
 
 <p>
 For all raster maps used to generate signature file it is recommended
-to have band reference set.
+to have semantic label set.
 Use <em><a href="r.support.html">r.support</a></em> to set
-band references of each member of the imagery group.
+semantc labels of each member of the imagery group.
 Signatures generated for one scene are suitable for classification
 of other scenes as long as they consist of same raster bands
-(band references match). If band references are not set, it will be
+(semantic labels match). If semantic labels are not set, it will be
 possible to use obtained signature file to classify only the same
 imagery group used for generating signatures.
 
@@ -287,22 +287,22 @@ <h2>EXAMPLE</h2>
 to classify the current imagery group only (lsat7_2002).
 If the user would like to re-use the signature file for the
 classification of different imagery group(s), they can set
-band references for each group member beforehand, i.e.,
+semantic labels for each group member beforehand, i.e.,
 before generating the signature files.
-Band references are set by means of <em>r.support</em>
+Semantic labels are set by means of <em>r.support</em>
 as shown below:
 
 <div class="code"><pre>
-# Define band references for all LANDSAT bands
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_10 bandref=TM7_1
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_20 bandref=TM7_2
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_30 bandref=TM7_3
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_40 bandref=TM7_4
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_50 bandref=TM7_5
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_61 bandref=TM7_61
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_62 bandref=TM7_62
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_70 bandref=TM7_7
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_80 bandref=TM7_8
+# Define semantic labels for all LANDSAT bands
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_10 semantic_label=TM7_1
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_20 semantic_label=TM7_2
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_30 semantic_label=TM7_3
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_40 semantic_label=TM7_4
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_50 semantic_label=TM7_5
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_61 semantic_label=TM7_61
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_62 semantic_label=TM7_62
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_70 semantic_label=TM7_7
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_80 semantic_label=TM7_8
 </pre></div>
 
 <h2>SEE ALSO</h2>
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ <h2>AUTHORS</h2>
 Tao Wen, 
 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
 <br>
-Band reference support: Maris Nartiss,
+Semantic label support: Maris Nartiss,
 University of Latvia
 
 <!--
diff --git a/imagery/i.cluster/main.c b/imagery/i.cluster/main.c
index e6761103501..35b04659a76 100644
--- a/imagery/i.cluster/main.c
+++ b/imagery/i.cluster/main.c
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ int mcs;
 char *group;
 char *subgroup;
 struct Ref ref;
-char **bandrefs;
+char **semantic_labels;
 char outsigfile[GNAME_MAX + GMAPSET_MAX];
 char *insigfile;
 char *reportfile;
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     if ((fd =
 	 I_fopen_signature_file_new(outsigfile)) != NULL) {
         for (unsigned int i = C.S.nbands; i--;)
-            C.S.bandrefs[i] = bandrefs[i];
+            C.S.semantic_labels[i] = semantic_labels[i];
 	I_write_signatures(fd, &C.S);
 	fclose(fd);
     }
diff --git a/imagery/i.cluster/open_files.c b/imagery/i.cluster/open_files.c
index 9db2722cdb1..5ff12704a97 100644
--- a/imagery/i.cluster/open_files.c
+++ b/imagery/i.cluster/open_files.c
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 int open_files(void)
 {
-    char *name, *mapset, **err, *bandref;
+    char *name, *mapset, **err, *semantic_label;
     FILE *fd;
     int n, missing;
 
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ int open_files(void)
     I_free_group_ref(&ref);
     I_get_subgroup_ref(group, subgroup, &ref);
 
-    bandrefs = (char **)G_malloc(ref.nfiles * sizeof(char **));
+    semantic_labels = (char **)G_malloc(ref.nfiles * sizeof(char **));
     missing = 0;
     for (n = 0; n < ref.nfiles; n++) {
 	name = ref.file[n].name;
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ int open_files(void)
 	    G_warning(_("Raster map <%s> do not exists in subgroup <%s>"),
 		      G_fully_qualified_name(name, mapset), subgroup);
         }
-        bandref = Rast_get_bandref_or_name(ref.file[n].name, ref.file[n].mapset);
-        bandrefs[n] = G_store(bandref);
+        semantic_label = Rast_get_semantic_label_or_name(ref.file[n].name, ref.file[n].mapset);
+        semantic_labels[n] = G_store(semantic_label);
     }
     if (missing)
 	G_fatal_error(_("No raster maps found"));
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ int open_files(void)
 	    G_fatal_error(_("<%s> has too many signatures (limit is 255)"),
 			  insigfile);
 
-        err = I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(&in_sig, &ref);
+        err = I_sort_signatures_by_semantic_label(&in_sig, &ref);
         if (err)
-            G_fatal_error(_("Signature – group member band reference mismatch.\n"
+            G_fatal_error(_("Signature – group member semantic label mismatch.\n"
                 "Extra signatures for bands: %s\n"
                 "Imagery group bands without signatures: %s"),
                 err[0] ? err[0] : _("none"),
diff --git a/imagery/i.gensig/i.gensig.html b/imagery/i.gensig/i.gensig.html
index c64edc0737d..1dfab9864b0 100644
--- a/imagery/i.gensig/i.gensig.html
+++ b/imagery/i.gensig/i.gensig.html
@@ -22,12 +22,12 @@ <h2>DESCRIPTION</h2>
 to actually create the final classified map.
 
 <p>
-All raster maps used to generate signature file must have band reference
+All raster maps used to generate signature file can have semantic label
 set. Use <em><a href="r.support.html">r.support</a></em> to set
-band references of each member of the imagery group.
+semantic labels of each member of the imagery group.
 Signatures generated for one scene are suitable for classification
 of other scenes as long as they consist of same raster bands
-(band references match).
+(semantic labels match).
 
 <h2>OPTIONS</h2>
 
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ <h3>Parameters</h3>
 and covariance matrices) for each class in the training map
 that is associated with the band files in the subgroup
 select (see <a href="#subgroup">above</a>). Resultant singature file
-can be used with any other imagery group as long as band references
+can be used with any other imagery group as long as semantic labels
 match.
 </dl>
 
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ <h2>NOTES</h2>
 <div class="code"><pre>
  1 1
  2 #
- 3 Band_reference1
+ 3 Semantic_label1
  4 #water
  5 4186
  6 67.9508 48.7346 37.8915 15.3129 13.8473 12.0855 
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ <h2>NOTES</h2>
 <ul>
 <li> Line 1: version number (currently always 1)
 <li> Line 2: text label
-<li> Line 3: Space separated list of band references
+<li> Line 3: Space separated list of semantic labels
 <li> Line 4: text label of class
 <li> Line 5: number of points in class
 <li> Line 6: mean values per band of the class
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ <h2>AUTHOR</h2>
 Michael Shapiro,
 U.S.Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory
 <br>
-Band reference support: Maris Nartiss,
+Semantic label support: Maris Nartiss,
 University of Latvia
 
 <!--
diff --git a/imagery/i.gensig/openfiles.c b/imagery/i.gensig/openfiles.c
index 44b5c635c30..910491ed6cb 100644
--- a/imagery/i.gensig/openfiles.c
+++ b/imagery/i.gensig/openfiles.c
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 int openfiles(struct parms *parms, struct files *files, struct Signature *S)
 {
     struct Ref Ref;		/* subgroup reference list */
-    const char *mapset, *bandref;
+    const char *mapset, *semantic_label;
     int n;
 
 
@@ -37,13 +37,13 @@ int openfiles(struct parms *parms, struct files *files, struct Signature *S)
     I_init_signatures(S, Ref.nfiles);
 
     /* open all maps for reading and
-       store band references of imagery group bands */
+       store semantic labels of imagery group bands */
     for (n = 0; n < Ref.nfiles; n++) {
 	files->band_fd[n] =
 	    Rast_open_old(Ref.file[n].name, Ref.file[n].mapset);
 	files->band_cell[n] = Rast_allocate_d_buf();
-        bandref = Rast_get_bandref_or_name(Ref.file[n].name, Ref.file[n].mapset);
-        S->bandrefs[n] = G_store(bandref);
+        semantic_label = Rast_get_semantic_label_or_name(Ref.file[n].name, Ref.file[n].mapset);
+        S->semantic_labels[n] = G_store(semantic_label);
     }
 
     I_free_group_ref(&Ref);
diff --git a/imagery/i.gensigset/i.gensigset.html b/imagery/i.gensigset/i.gensigset.html
index c8c6648e9fd..7c5944f0cc7 100644
--- a/imagery/i.gensigset/i.gensigset.html
+++ b/imagery/i.gensigset/i.gensigset.html
@@ -20,12 +20,12 @@ <h2>DESCRIPTION</h2>
 
 <p>
 For all raster maps used to generate signature file it is recommended
-to have band reference set.
+to have semantic label set.
 Use <em><a href="r.support.html">r.support</a></em> to set
-band references of each member of the imagery group.
+semantic labels of each member of the imagery group.
 Signatures generated for one scene are suitable for classification
 of other scenes as long as they consist of same raster bands
-(band references match). If band references are not set, it will be
+(semantic labels match). If semantic labels are not set, it will be
 possible to use obtained signature file to classify only the same
 imagery group used for generating signatures.
 
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ <h2>AUTHORS</h2>
 Michael Shapiro,
 U.S.Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory
 <br>
-Band reference support: Maris Nartiss,
+Semantic label support: Maris Nartiss,
 University of Latvia
 
 <!--
diff --git a/imagery/i.gensigset/openfiles.c b/imagery/i.gensigset/openfiles.c
index 8325e50b662..fece11b736a 100644
--- a/imagery/i.gensigset/openfiles.c
+++ b/imagery/i.gensigset/openfiles.c
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 int openfiles(struct parms *parms, struct files *files, struct SigSet *S)
 {
     struct Ref Ref;		/* subgroup reference list */
-    const char *mapset, *bandref;
+    const char *mapset, *semantic_label;
     int n;
 
 
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ int openfiles(struct parms *parms, struct files *files, struct SigSet *S)
 	files->band_fd[n] =
 	    Rast_open_old(Ref.file[n].name, Ref.file[n].mapset);
 	files->band_cell[n] = Rast_allocate_d_buf();
-        bandref = Rast_get_bandref_or_name(Ref.file[n].name, Ref.file[n].mapset);
-        S->bandrefs[n] = G_store(bandref);
+        semantic_label = Rast_get_semantic_label_or_name(Ref.file[n].name, Ref.file[n].mapset);
+        S->semantic_labels[n] = G_store(semantic_label);
     }
 
     I_free_group_ref(&Ref);
diff --git a/imagery/i.maxlik/i.maxlik.html b/imagery/i.maxlik/i.maxlik.html
index 49dd8703ea4..4ae5fc7ba6c 100644
--- a/imagery/i.maxlik/i.maxlik.html
+++ b/imagery/i.maxlik/i.maxlik.html
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ <h2>AUTHORS</h2>
 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
 Illinois
 <br>
-Band reference support: Maris Nartiss,
+Semantic label support: Maris Nartiss,
 University of Latvia
 
 <!--
diff --git a/imagery/i.maxlik/open.c b/imagery/i.maxlik/open.c
index 0d0b6d4de8e..ddc65af0320 100644
--- a/imagery/i.maxlik/open.c
+++ b/imagery/i.maxlik/open.c
@@ -46,9 +46,9 @@ int open_files(void)
 	G_fatal_error(_("<%s> has too many signatures (limit is 255)"),
 		      sigfile);
 
-    err = I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(&S, &Ref);
+    err = I_sort_signatures_by_semantic_label(&S, &Ref);
     if (err)
-        G_fatal_error(_("Signature – group member band reference mismatch.\n"
+        G_fatal_error(_("Signature – group member semantic label mismatch.\n"
             "Extra signatures for bands: %s\n"
             "Imagery group bands without signatures: %s"),
             err[0] ? err[0] : _("none"),
diff --git a/imagery/i.smap/i.smap.html b/imagery/i.smap/i.smap.html
index cb1b7e87522..6b82dfb9c39 100644
--- a/imagery/i.smap/i.smap.html
+++ b/imagery/i.smap/i.smap.html
@@ -176,22 +176,22 @@ <h2>EXAMPLE</h2>
 to classify the current imagery group only (lsat7_2002).
 If the user would like to re-use the signature file for the
 classification of different imagery group(s), they can set
-band references for each group member beforehand, i.e.,
+semantic labels for each group member beforehand, i.e.,
 before generating the signature files.
-Band references are set by means of <em>r.support</em>
+Semantic labels are set by means of <em>r.support</em>
 as shown below:
 
 <div class="code"><pre>
-# Define band references for all LANDSAT bands
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_10 bandref=TM7_1
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_20 bandref=TM7_2
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_30 bandref=TM7_3
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_40 bandref=TM7_4
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_50 bandref=TM7_5
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_61 bandref=TM7_61
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_62 bandref=TM7_62
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_70 bandref=TM7_7
-r.support map=lsat7_2002_80 bandref=TM7_8
+# Define sematic labels for all LANDSAT bands
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_10 semantic_label=TM7_1
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_20 semantic_label=TM7_2
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_30 semantic_label=TM7_3
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_40 semantic_label=TM7_4
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_50 semantic_label=TM7_5
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_61 semantic_label=TM7_61
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_62 semantic_label=TM7_62
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_70 semantic_label=TM7_7
+r.support map=lsat7_2002_80 semantic_label=TM7_8
 </pre></div>
 
 <h2>REFERENCES</h2>
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ <h2>REFERENCES</h2>
 <h2>SEE ALSO</h2>
 
 <em>
-<a href="r.support.html">r.support</a></em> for setting band references,
+<a href="r.support.html">r.support</a></em> for setting semantic labels,
 <br>
 <em>
 <a href="i.group.html">i.group</a></em> for creating groups and subgroups
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ <h2>AUTHORS</h2>
 U.S.Army Construction Engineering 
 Research Laboratory
 <br>
-Band reference support: Maris Nartiss,
+Semantic label support: Maris Nartiss,
 University of Latvia
 
 <!--
diff --git a/imagery/i.smap/openfiles.c b/imagery/i.smap/openfiles.c
index 8070b9e7833..2a5faef05d5 100644
--- a/imagery/i.smap/openfiles.c
+++ b/imagery/i.smap/openfiles.c
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@ int openfiles(struct parms *parms, struct files *files, struct SigSet *S)
 
     fclose(fd);
 
-    err = I_SortSigSetByBandref(S, &Ref);
+    err = I_SortSigSetBySemanticLabel(S, &Ref);
     if (err)
-        G_fatal_error(_("Signature – group member band reference mismatch.\n"
+        G_fatal_error(_("Signature – group member semantic label mismatch.\n"
             "Extra signatures for bands: %s\n"
             "Imagery group bands without signatures: %s"),
             err[0] ? err[0] : _("none"),
diff --git a/imagery/imageryintro.html b/imagery/imageryintro.html
index a6b810a3397..5eab2d6a112 100644
--- a/imagery/imageryintro.html
+++ b/imagery/imageryintro.html
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ <h3>Image classification</h3>
 <p>
 Note - signatures generated for one scene are suitable for classification
 of other scenes as long as they consist of same raster bands
-(band references match). This comes handy when classifying multiple scenes
+(semantic labels match). This comes handy when classifying multiple scenes
 from a single sensor taken in different areas or different times.
 
 <h3>Image fusion</h3>
diff --git a/include/grass/defs/imagery.h b/include/grass/defs/imagery.h
index 6b03761ed1e..1c55168d4c6 100644
--- a/include/grass/defs/imagery.h
+++ b/include/grass/defs/imagery.h
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ int I_free_signatures(struct Signature *);
 int I_read_one_signature(FILE *, struct Signature *);
 int I_read_signatures(FILE *, struct Signature *);
 int I_write_signatures(FILE *, struct Signature *);
-char **I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(struct Signature *, const struct Ref *);
+char **I_sort_signatures_by_semantic_label(struct Signature *, const struct Ref *);
 
 /* sigfile.c */
 FILE *I_fopen_signature_file_new(const char *);
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ const char *I_GetSigTitle(const struct SigSet *);
 int I_SetClassTitle(struct ClassSig *, const char *);
 const char *I_GetClassTitle(const struct ClassSig *);
 int I_WriteSigSet(FILE *, const struct SigSet *);
-char **I_SortSigSetByBandref(struct SigSet *, const struct Ref *);
+char **I_SortSigSetBySemanticLabel(struct SigSet *, const struct Ref *);
 
 /* sigsetfile.c */
 FILE *I_fopen_sigset_file_new(const char *);
diff --git a/include/grass/defs/raster.h b/include/grass/defs/raster.h
index 1e2e1a8b01c..bedf926bbee 100644
--- a/include/grass/defs/raster.h
+++ b/include/grass/defs/raster.h
@@ -544,12 +544,12 @@ DCELL Rast_get_d_value(const void *, RASTER_MAP_TYPE);
 /* raster_metadata.c */
 char *Rast_read_units(const char *, const char *);
 char *Rast_read_vdatum(const char *, const char *);
-char *Rast_read_bandref(const char *, const char *);
-char *Rast_get_bandref_or_name(const char *, const char *);
+char *Rast_read_semantic_label(const char *, const char *);
+char *Rast_get_semantic_label_or_name(const char *, const char *);
 void Rast_write_units(const char *, const char *);
 void Rast_write_vdatum(const char *, const char *);
-void Rast_write_bandref(const char *, const char *);
-bool Rast_legal_bandref(const char *);
+void Rast_write_semantic_label(const char *, const char *);
+bool Rast_legal_semantic_label(const char *);
 
 /* rast_to_img_string.c */
 int Rast_map_to_img_str(char *, int, unsigned char*);
diff --git a/include/grass/imagery.h b/include/grass/imagery.h
index 20b1623832f..02db6de0b31 100644
--- a/include/grass/imagery.h
+++ b/include/grass/imagery.h
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ struct One_Sig
 struct Signature
 {
     int nbands;         /* band (imagery group member) count */
-    char **bandrefs;    /* list of band references */
+    char **semantic_labels;    /* list of semantic labels */
     int nsigs;          /* signature count */
     char title[100];    /* not used? */
     struct One_Sig *sig;    /* array of one signature per class */
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ struct ClassSig
 struct SigSet
 {
     int nbands;
-    char **bandrefs;    /* list of band references [nbands]char* */
+    char **semantic_labels;    /* list of semantic labels [nbands]char* */
     int nclasses;       /* ClassSig item count */
     char *title;
     struct ClassSig *ClassSig;
diff --git a/lib/imagery/iclass_signatures.c b/lib/imagery/iclass_signatures.c
index 2a4d430b895..497a97a5353 100644
--- a/lib/imagery/iclass_signatures.c
+++ b/lib/imagery/iclass_signatures.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ int I_iclass_init_signatures(struct Signature *sigs, struct Ref *refer)
 
     I_init_signatures(sigs, refer->nfiles);
     for (unsigned int i = refer->nfiles; i--;) {
-        sigs->bandrefs[i] = Rast_get_bandref_or_name(refer->file[i].name, refer->file[i].mapset);
+        sigs->semantic_labels[i] = Rast_get_semantic_label_or_name(refer->file[i].name, refer->file[i].mapset);
     }
 
     return 1;
diff --git a/lib/imagery/sig.c b/lib/imagery/sig.c
index 581ed7a6682..5c54af45065 100644
--- a/lib/imagery/sig.c
+++ b/lib/imagery/sig.c
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@
 int I_init_signatures(struct Signature *S, int nbands)
 {
     S->nbands = nbands;
-    S->bandrefs = (char **)G_malloc(nbands * sizeof(char **));
+    S->semantic_labels = (char **)G_malloc(nbands * sizeof(char **));
     for (int i = 0; i < nbands; i++)
-        S->bandrefs[i] = NULL;
+        S->semantic_labels[i] = NULL;
     S->nsigs = 0;
     S->sig = NULL;
     S->title[0] = 0;
@@ -69,11 +69,11 @@ int I_free_signatures(struct Signature *S)
     }
     free(S->sig);
     for (n = 0; n < S->nbands; n++)
-        free(S->bandrefs[n]);
-    free(S->bandrefs);
+        free(S->semantic_labels[n]);
+    free(S->semantic_labels);
 
     S->sig = NULL;
-    S->bandrefs = NULL;
+    S->semantic_labels = NULL;
     S->nbands = 0;
     S->nsigs = 0;
     S->title[0] = '\0';
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ int I_read_signatures(FILE * fd, struct Signature *S)
 {
     int ver, n, pos;
     char c, prev;
-    char bandref[GNAME_MAX];
+    char semantic_label[GNAME_MAX];
 
     I_init_signatures(S, 0);
     S->title[0] = 0;
@@ -164,37 +164,37 @@ int I_read_signatures(FILE * fd, struct Signature *S)
     I_get_to_eol(S->title, sizeof(S->title), fd);
     G_strip(S->title);
 
-    /* Read band references and count them to set nbands */
+    /* Read semantic labels and count them to set nbands */
     n = 0;
     pos = 0;
-    S->bandrefs = (char **)G_realloc(S->bandrefs, (n + 1) * sizeof(char **));
+    S->semantic_labels = (char **)G_realloc(S->semantic_labels, (n + 1) * sizeof(char **));
     while ((c = (char)fgetc(fd)) != EOF) {
         if (c == '\n') {
             if (prev != ' ') {
-                bandref[pos] = '\0';
-                S->bandrefs[n] = G_store(bandref);
+                semantic_label[pos] = '\0';
+                S->semantic_labels[n] = G_store(semantic_label);
                 n++;
             }
             S->nbands = n;
             break;
         }
         if (c == ' ') {
-            bandref[pos] = '\0';
-            S->bandrefs[n] = G_store(bandref);
+            semantic_label[pos] = '\0';
+            S->semantic_labels[n] = G_store(semantic_label);
             n++;
             /* [n] is 0 based thus: (n + 1) */
-            S->bandrefs = (char **)G_realloc(S->bandrefs, (n + 1) * sizeof(char **));
+            S->semantic_labels = (char **)G_realloc(S->semantic_labels, (n + 1) * sizeof(char **));
             pos = 0;
             prev = c;
             continue;
         }
-        /* Band references are limited to GNAME_MAX - 1 + \0 in length;
+        /* Semantic labels are limited to GNAME_MAX - 1 + \0 in length;
          * n is 0-based */
         if (pos == (GNAME_MAX - 2)) {
-            G_warning(_("Invalid signature file: band reference length limit exceeded"));
+            G_warning(_("Invalid signature file: semantic label length limit exceeded"));
             return -1;
         }
-        bandref[pos] = c;
+        semantic_label[pos] = c;
         pos++;
         prev = c;
     }
@@ -238,10 +238,10 @@ int I_write_signatures(FILE * fd, struct Signature *S)
     fprintf(fd, "1\n");
     /* Title of signatures */
     fprintf(fd, "#%s\n", S->title);
-    /* A list of space separated band references for each
+    /* A list of space separated semantic labels for each
      * raster map used to generate sigs. */
     for (k = 0; k < S->nbands; k++) {
-        fprintf(fd, "%s ", S->bandrefs[k]);
+        fprintf(fd, "%s ", S->semantic_labels[k]);
     }
     fprintf(fd, "\n");
     /* A signature for each target class */
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ int I_write_signatures(FILE * fd, struct Signature *S)
     fprintf(fd, "#%s\n", s->desc);
     /* Point count used to generate signature */
 	fprintf(fd, "%d\n", s->npoints);
-    /* Values are in the same order as band references */
+    /* Values are in the same order as semantic labels */
 	for (i = 0; i < S->nbands; i++)
 	    fprintf(fd, "%g ", s->mean[i]);
 	fprintf(fd, "\n");
@@ -271,21 +271,21 @@ int I_write_signatures(FILE * fd, struct Signature *S)
 /*!
  * \brief Reorder struct Signature to match imagery group member order
  *
- * The function will check for band reference match between signature struct
+ * The function will check for semantic label match between signature struct
  * and imagery group.
  *
- * In the case of a complete band reference match, values of passed in
+ * In the case of a complete semantic label match, values of passed in
  * struct Signature are reordered to match the order of imagery group items.
  *
- * If all band references are not identical (in
+ * If all semantic labels are not identical (in
  * arbitrary order), function will return two dimensional array with
  * comma separated list of:
- *      - [0] band references present in the signature struct but
+ *      - [0] semantic labels present in the signature struct but
  * absent in the imagery group
- *      - [1] band references present in the imagery group but
+ *      - [1] semantic labels present in the imagery group but
  * absent in the signature struct
  *
- * If no mismatch of band references for signatures or imagery group are
+ * If no mismatch of simantic labels for signatures or imagery group are
  * detected (== all are present in the other list), a NULL value will be
  * returned in the particular list of mismatches (not an empty string).
  * For example:
@@ -297,21 +297,21 @@ int I_write_signatures(FILE * fd, struct Signature *S)
  * \return NULL successfully sorted
  * \return err_array two comma separated lists of mismatches
  */
-char **I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(struct Signature *S, const struct Ref *R) {
+char **I_sort_signatures_by_semantic_label(struct Signature *S, const struct Ref *R) {
     unsigned int total, complete;
     unsigned int *match1, *match2, mc1, mc2, *new_order;
     double **new_means, ***new_vars;
-    char **group_bandrefs, **mismatches, **new_bandrefs;
+    char **group_semantic_labels, **mismatches, **new_semantic_labels;
 
     /* Safety measure. Untranslated as this should not happen in production! */
     if (S->nbands < 1 || R->nfiles < 1)
         G_fatal_error("Programming error. Invalid length structs passed to "
-                      "I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(%d, %d);", S->nbands,  R->nfiles);
+                      "I_sort_signatures_by_semantic_label(%d, %d);", S->nbands,  R->nfiles);
 
-    /* Obtain group band references */
-    group_bandrefs = (char **)G_malloc(R->nfiles * sizeof(char *));
+    /* Obtain group semantic labels */
+    group_semantic_labels = (char **)G_malloc(R->nfiles * sizeof(char *));
     for (unsigned int j = R->nfiles; j--;) {
-        group_bandrefs[j] = Rast_get_bandref_or_name(R->file[j].name, R->file[j].mapset);
+        group_semantic_labels[j] = Rast_get_semantic_label_or_name(R->file[j].name, R->file[j].mapset);
     }
 
     /* If lengths are not equal, there will be a mismatch */
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ char **I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(struct Signature *S, const struct Ref *R) {
     match2 = (unsigned int *)G_calloc(R->nfiles, sizeof(unsigned int));
 
     /* Allocate memory for temporary storage of sorted values */
-    new_bandrefs = (char **)G_malloc(S->nbands * sizeof(char *));
+    new_semantic_labels = (char **)G_malloc(S->nbands * sizeof(char *));
     new_means = (double **)G_malloc(S->nsigs * sizeof(double *));
     // new_vars[S.sig[x]][band1][band1]
     new_vars = (double ***)G_malloc(S->nsigs * sizeof(double **));
@@ -337,11 +337,11 @@ char **I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(struct Signature *S, const struct Ref *R) {
     /* Obtain order of matching items */
     for (unsigned int j = R->nfiles; j--;) {
         for (unsigned int i = S->nbands; i--;) {
-            if (S->bandrefs[i] && group_bandrefs[j] &&
-                !strcmp(S->bandrefs[i], group_bandrefs[j])) {
+            if (S->semantic_labels[i] && group_semantic_labels[j] &&
+                !strcmp(S->semantic_labels[i], group_semantic_labels[j])) {
                     if (complete) {
                         /* Reorder pointers to existing strings only */
-                        new_bandrefs[j] = S->bandrefs[i];
+                        new_semantic_labels[j] = S->semantic_labels[i];
                         new_order[i] = j;
                     }
                     /* Keep a track of matching items for error reporting */
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ char **I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(struct Signature *S, const struct Ref *R) {
         }
     }
 
-    /* Check for band reference mismatch */
+    /* Check for semantic label mismatch */
     mc1 = mc2 = 0;
     mismatches = (char **)G_malloc(2 * sizeof(char **));
     mismatches[0] = NULL;
@@ -360,8 +360,8 @@ char **I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(struct Signature *S, const struct Ref *R) {
     total = 1;
     for (unsigned int i = 0; i < S->nbands; i++) {
         if (!match1[i]) {
-            if (S->bandrefs[i])
-                total = total + strlen(S->bandrefs[i]);
+            if (S->semantic_labels[i])
+                total = total + strlen(S->semantic_labels[i]);
             else
                 total = total + 24;
             mismatches[0] = (char *)G_realloc(mismatches[0], total * sizeof(char *));
@@ -369,10 +369,10 @@ char **I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(struct Signature *S, const struct Ref *R) {
                 strcat(mismatches[0], ",");
             else
                 mismatches[0][0] = '\0';
-            if (S->bandrefs[i])
-                strcat(mismatches[0], S->bandrefs[i]);
+            if (S->semantic_labels[i])
+                strcat(mismatches[0], S->semantic_labels[i]);
             else
-                strcat(mismatches[0], "<band reference missing>");
+                strcat(mismatches[0], "<semantic label missing>");
             mc1++;
             total = total + 1;
         }
@@ -380,8 +380,8 @@ char **I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(struct Signature *S, const struct Ref *R) {
     total = 1;
     for (unsigned int j = 0; j < R->nfiles; j++) {
         if (!match2[j]) {
-            if (group_bandrefs[j])
-                total = total + strlen(group_bandrefs[j]);
+            if (group_semantic_labels[j])
+                total = total + strlen(group_semantic_labels[j]);
             else
                 total = total + 24;
             mismatches[1] = (char *)G_realloc(mismatches[1], total * sizeof(char *));
@@ -389,10 +389,10 @@ char **I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(struct Signature *S, const struct Ref *R) {
                 strcat(mismatches[1], ",");
             else
                 mismatches[1][0] = '\0';
-            if (group_bandrefs[j])
-                strcat(mismatches[1], group_bandrefs[j]);
+            if (group_semantic_labels[j])
+                strcat(mismatches[1], group_semantic_labels[j]);
             else
-                strcat(mismatches[1], "<band reference missing>");
+                strcat(mismatches[1], "<semantic label missing>");
             mc2++;
             total = total + 1;
         }
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ char **I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(struct Signature *S, const struct Ref *R) {
         }
 
         /* Replace values in struct with ordered ones */
-        memcpy(S->bandrefs, new_bandrefs, S->nbands * sizeof(char **));
+        memcpy(S->semantic_labels, new_semantic_labels, S->nbands * sizeof(char **));
         for (unsigned int c = S->nsigs; c--;) {
             memcpy(S->sig[c].mean, new_means[c], S->nbands * sizeof(double));
             for (unsigned int i = S->nbands; i--;)
@@ -425,12 +425,12 @@ char **I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(struct Signature *S, const struct Ref *R) {
 
     /* Clean up */
     for (unsigned int j = R->nfiles; j--;)
-        free(group_bandrefs[j]);
-    free(group_bandrefs);
+        free(group_semantic_labels[j]);
+    free(group_semantic_labels);
     free(new_order);
     free(match1);
     free(match2);
-    free(new_bandrefs);
+    free(new_semantic_labels);
     for (unsigned int c = S->nsigs; c--;) {
         free(new_means[c]);
         for (unsigned int i = S->nbands; i--;)
diff --git a/lib/imagery/sigset.c b/lib/imagery/sigset.c
index f789c772fcc..fa669e75707 100644
--- a/lib/imagery/sigset.c
+++ b/lib/imagery/sigset.c
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #include <grass/imagery.h>
 
 static int gettag(FILE *, char *);
-static int get_bandrefs(FILE *, struct SigSet *);
+static int get_semantic_labels(FILE *, struct SigSet *);
 static int get_title(FILE *, struct SigSet *);
 static int get_class(FILE *, struct SigSet *);
 static int get_classnum(FILE *, struct ClassSig *);
@@ -65,9 +65,9 @@ struct ClassData *I_AllocClassData(struct SigSet *S,
 int I_InitSigSet(struct SigSet *S, int nbands)
 {
     S->nbands = nbands;
-    S->bandrefs = (char **)G_malloc(nbands * sizeof(char **));
+    S->semantic_labels = (char **)G_malloc(nbands * sizeof(char **));
     for (int i = 0; i < nbands; i++)
-        S->bandrefs[i] = NULL;
+        S->semantic_labels[i] = NULL;
     S->nclasses = 0;
     S->ClassSig = NULL;
     S->title = NULL;
@@ -160,8 +160,8 @@ int I_ReadSigSet(FILE * fd, struct SigSet *S)
         if (eq(tag, "title:"))
             if (get_title(fd, S) != 0)
                 return -1;
-        if (eq(tag, "bandrefs:"))
-            if (get_bandrefs(fd, S) != 0)
+        if (eq(tag, "semantic_labels:"))
+            if (get_semantic_labels(fd, S) != 0)
                 return -1;
         if (eq(tag, "class:"))
             if (get_class(fd, S) != 0)
@@ -178,22 +178,22 @@ static int gettag(FILE * fd, char *tag)
     return 1;
 }
 
-static int get_bandrefs(FILE * fd, struct SigSet *S)
+static int get_semantic_labels(FILE * fd, struct SigSet *S)
 {
     int n, pos;
     char c, prev;
-    char bandref[GNAME_MAX];
+    char semantic_label[GNAME_MAX];
 
-    /* Read band references and count them to set nbands */
+    /* Read semantic labels and count them to set nbands */
     n = 0;
     pos = 0;
-    S->bandrefs = (char **)G_realloc(S->bandrefs, (n + 1) * sizeof(char **));
+    S->semantic_labels = (char **)G_realloc(S->semantic_labels, (n + 1) * sizeof(char **));
     while ((c = (char)fgetc(fd)) != EOF) {
         if (c == '\n') {
             if (prev != ' ') {
-                bandref[pos] = '\0';
-                if (strlen(bandref) > 0) {
-                    S->bandrefs[n] = G_store(bandref);
+                semantic_label[pos] = '\0';
+                if (strlen(semantic_label) > 0) {
+                    S->semantic_labels[n] = G_store(semantic_label);
                     n++;
                 }
             }
@@ -201,26 +201,26 @@ static int get_bandrefs(FILE * fd, struct SigSet *S)
             break;
         }
         if (c == ' ') {
-            bandref[pos] = '\0';
-            if (strlen(bandref) > 0) {
-                S->bandrefs[n] = G_store(bandref);
+            semantic_label[pos] = '\0';
+            if (strlen(semantic_label) > 0) {
+                S->semantic_labels[n] = G_store(semantic_label);
                 n++;
                 /* [n] is 0 based thus: (n + 1) */
-                S->bandrefs =
-                    (char **)G_realloc(S->bandrefs,
+                S->semantic_labels =
+                    (char **)G_realloc(S->semantic_labels,
                                        (n + 1) * sizeof(char **));
             }
             pos = 0;
             prev = c;
             continue;
         }
-        /* Band references are limited to GNAME_MAX - 1 + \0 in length;
+        /* Semantic labels are limited to GNAME_MAX - 1 + \0 in length;
          * n is 0-based */
         if (pos == (GNAME_MAX - 2)) {
-            G_warning(_("Invalid signature file: band reference length limit exceeded"));
+            G_warning(_("Invalid signature file: semantic label length limit exceeded"));
             return -1;
         }
-        bandref[pos] = c;
+        semantic_label[pos] = c;
         pos++;
         prev = c;
     }
@@ -402,9 +402,9 @@ int I_WriteSigSet(FILE * fd, const struct SigSet *S)
     /* This is version 1 sigset file format */
     fprintf(fd, "1\n");
     fprintf(fd, "title: %s\n", I_GetSigTitle(S));
-    fprintf(fd, "bandrefs: ");
+    fprintf(fd, "semantic_labels: ");
     for (i = 0; i < S->nbands; i++) {
-        fprintf(fd, "%s ", S->bandrefs[i]);
+        fprintf(fd, "%s ", S->semantic_labels[i]);
     }
     fprintf(fd, "\n");
     for (i = 0; i < S->nclasses; i++) {
@@ -444,23 +444,23 @@ int I_WriteSigSet(FILE * fd, const struct SigSet *S)
 /*!
  * \brief Reorder struct SigSet to match imagery group member order
  *
- * The function will check for band reference match between sigset struct
+ * The function will check for semantic label match between sigset struct
  * and imagery group.
  *
- * In the case of a complete band reference match, values of passed in
+ * In the case of a complete semantic label match, values of passed in
  * struct SigSet are reordered to match the order of imagery group items.
  * This reordering is done only for items present in the sigset file.
  * Thus reordering should be done only after calling I_ReadSigSet.
  *
- * If all band references are not identical (in
+ * If all semantic labels are not identical (in
  * arbitrary order), function will return two dimensional array with
  * comma separated list of:
- *      - [0] band references present in the signature struct but
+ *      - [0] semantic labels present in the signature struct but
  * absent in the imagery group
- *      - [1] band references present in the imagery group but
+ *      - [1] semantic labels present in the imagery group but
  * absent in the signature struct
  *
- * If no mismatch of band references for signatures or imagery group are
+ * If no mismatch of semantic labels for signatures or imagery group are
  * detected (== all are present in the other list), a NULL value will be
  * returned in the particular list of mismatches (not an empty string).
  * For example:
@@ -472,23 +472,23 @@ int I_WriteSigSet(FILE * fd, const struct SigSet *S)
  * \return NULL successfully sorted
  * \return err_array two comma separated lists of mismatches
  */
-char **I_SortSigSetByBandref(struct SigSet *S, const struct Ref *R)
+char **I_SortSigSetBySemanticLabel(struct SigSet *S, const struct Ref *R)
 {
     unsigned int total, complete;
     unsigned int *match1, *match2, mc1, mc2, *new_order;
     double ***new_means, ****new_vars;
-    char **group_bandrefs, **mismatches, **new_bandrefs;
+    char **group_semantic_labels, **mismatches, **new_semantic_labels;
 
     /* Safety measure. Untranslated as this should not happen in production! */
     if (S->nbands < 1 || R->nfiles < 1)
         G_fatal_error("Programming error. Invalid length structs passed to "
-                      "I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(%d, %d);", S->nbands,
+                      "I_sort_signatures_by_semantic_label(%d, %d);", S->nbands,
                       R->nfiles);
 
-    /* Obtain group band references */
-    group_bandrefs = (char **)G_malloc(R->nfiles * sizeof(char *));
+    /* Obtain group semantic labels */
+    group_semantic_labels = (char **)G_malloc(R->nfiles * sizeof(char *));
     for (unsigned int j = R->nfiles; j--;) {
-        group_bandrefs[j] = Rast_get_bandref_or_name(R->file[j].name, R->file[j].mapset);
+        group_semantic_labels[j] = Rast_get_semantic_label_or_name(R->file[j].name, R->file[j].mapset);
     }
 
     /* If lengths are not equal, there will be a mismatch */
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ char **I_SortSigSetByBandref(struct SigSet *S, const struct Ref *R)
     match2 = (unsigned int *)G_calloc(R->nfiles, sizeof(unsigned int));
 
     /* Allocate memory for temporary storage of sorted values */
-    new_bandrefs = (char **)G_malloc(S->nbands * sizeof(char *));
+    new_semantic_labels = (char **)G_malloc(S->nbands * sizeof(char *));
     new_means = (double ***)G_malloc(S->nclasses * sizeof(double **));
     // new_vars[S.ClassSig[x]][.SubSig[y]][R[band1]][R[band1]]
     new_vars = (double ****)G_malloc(S->nclasses * sizeof(double ***));
@@ -524,11 +524,11 @@ char **I_SortSigSetByBandref(struct SigSet *S, const struct Ref *R)
     /* Obtain order of matching items */
     for (unsigned int j = R->nfiles; j--;) {
         for (unsigned int i = S->nbands; i--;) {
-            if (S->bandrefs[i] && group_bandrefs[j] &&
-                !strcmp(S->bandrefs[i], group_bandrefs[j])) {
+            if (S->semantic_labels[i] && group_semantic_labels[j] &&
+                !strcmp(S->semantic_labels[i], group_semantic_labels[j])) {
                 if (complete) {
                     /* Reorder pointers to existing strings only */
-                    new_bandrefs[j] = S->bandrefs[i];
+                    new_semantic_labels[j] = S->semantic_labels[i];
                     new_order[i] = j;
                 }
                 /* Keep a track of matching items for error reporting */
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ char **I_SortSigSetByBandref(struct SigSet *S, const struct Ref *R)
         }
     }
 
-    /* Check for band reference mismatch */
+    /* Check for semantic label mismatch */
     mc1 = mc2 = 0;
     mismatches = (char **)G_malloc(2 * sizeof(char **));
     mismatches[0] = NULL;
@@ -547,8 +547,8 @@ char **I_SortSigSetByBandref(struct SigSet *S, const struct Ref *R)
     total = 1;
     for (unsigned int i = 0; i < S->nbands; i++) {
         if (!match1[i]) {
-            if (S->bandrefs[i])
-                total = total + strlen(S->bandrefs[i]);
+            if (S->semantic_labels[i])
+                total = total + strlen(S->semantic_labels[i]);
             else
                 total = total + 24;
             mismatches[0] =
@@ -557,10 +557,10 @@ char **I_SortSigSetByBandref(struct SigSet *S, const struct Ref *R)
                 strcat(mismatches[0], ",");
             else
                 mismatches[0][0] = '\0';
-            if (S->bandrefs[i])
-                strcat(mismatches[0], S->bandrefs[i]);
+            if (S->semantic_labels[i])
+                strcat(mismatches[0], S->semantic_labels[i]);
             else
-                strcat(mismatches[0], "<band reference missing>");
+                strcat(mismatches[0], "<semantic label missing>");
             mc1++;
             total = total + 1;
         }
@@ -568,8 +568,8 @@ char **I_SortSigSetByBandref(struct SigSet *S, const struct Ref *R)
     total = 1;
     for (unsigned int j = 0; j < R->nfiles; j++) {
         if (!match2[j]) {
-            if (group_bandrefs[j])
-                total = total + strlen(group_bandrefs[j]);
+            if (group_semantic_labels[j])
+                total = total + strlen(group_semantic_labels[j]);
             else
                 total = total + 24;
             mismatches[1] =
@@ -578,10 +578,10 @@ char **I_SortSigSetByBandref(struct SigSet *S, const struct Ref *R)
                 strcat(mismatches[1], ",");
             else
                 mismatches[1][0] = '\0';
-            if (group_bandrefs[j])
-                strcat(mismatches[1], group_bandrefs[j]);
+            if (group_semantic_labels[j])
+                strcat(mismatches[1], group_semantic_labels[j]);
             else
-                strcat(mismatches[1], "<band reference missing>");
+                strcat(mismatches[1], "<semantic label missing>");
             mc2++;
             total = total + 1;
         }
@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ char **I_SortSigSetByBandref(struct SigSet *S, const struct Ref *R)
         }
 
         /* Replace values in struct with ordered ones */
-        memcpy(S->bandrefs, new_bandrefs, S->nbands * sizeof(char **));
+        memcpy(S->semantic_labels, new_semantic_labels, S->nbands * sizeof(char **));
         for (unsigned int c = S->nclasses; c--;) {
             for (unsigned int s = S->ClassSig[c].nsubclasses; s--;) {
                 memcpy(S->ClassSig[c].SubSig[s].means, new_means[c][s],
@@ -617,12 +617,12 @@ char **I_SortSigSetByBandref(struct SigSet *S, const struct Ref *R)
 
     /* Clean up */
     for (unsigned int j = R->nfiles; j--;)
-        free(group_bandrefs[j]);
-    free(group_bandrefs);
+        free(group_semantic_labels[j]);
+    free(group_semantic_labels);
     free(new_order);
     free(match1);
     free(match2);
-    free(new_bandrefs);
+    free(new_semantic_labels);
     for (unsigned int c = S->nclasses; c--;) {
         for (unsigned int s = S->ClassSig[c].nsubclasses; s--;) {
             free(new_means[c][s]);
diff --git a/lib/imagery/testsuite/test_imagery_sigfile.py b/lib/imagery/testsuite/test_imagery_sigfile.py
index e8815d80d27..9669882cec2 100644
--- a/lib/imagery/testsuite/test_imagery_sigfile.py
+++ b/lib/imagery/testsuite/test_imagery_sigfile.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 from grass.pygrass.gis import Mapset
 
 from grass.lib.gis import G_mapset_path
-from grass.lib.raster import Rast_write_bandref
+from grass.lib.raster import Rast_write_semantic_label
 from grass.lib.imagery import (
     Signature,
     Ref,
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
     I_write_signatures,
     I_fopen_signature_file_old,
     I_read_signatures,
-    I_sort_signatures_by_bandref,
+    I_sort_signatures_by_semantic_label,
     I_free_signatures,
     I_init_group_ref,
     I_add_file_to_group_ref,
@@ -56,9 +56,9 @@ def test_I_fopen_signature_file_old_fail(self):
         sigfile = I_fopen_signature_file_old(tempname(10))
         self.assertFalse(sigfile)
 
-    def test_roundtrip_signature_v1_norgb_one_band(self):
+    def test_roundtrip_signature_v1_norgb_one_label(self):
         """Test writing and reading back signature file (v1)
-        wiht a single band"""
+        wiht a single label"""
 
         # Create signature struct
         So = Signature()
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ def test_roundtrip_signature_v1_norgb_one_band(self):
 
         # Fill signatures struct with data
         So.title = b"Signature title"
-        So.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
+        So.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
         So.sig[0].status = 1
         So.sig[0].have_color = 0
         So.sig[0].npoints = 42
@@ -92,8 +92,10 @@ def test_roundtrip_signature_v1_norgb_one_band(self):
         self.assertEqual(ret, 1)
         self.assertEqual(Sn.title, b"Signature title")
         self.assertEqual(Sn.nbands, 1)
-        bandref = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(Sn.bandrefs[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref, "The_Doors")
+        semantic_label = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(Sn.semantic_labels[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label, "The_Doors")
         self.assertEqual(Sn.sig[0].status, 1)
         self.assertEqual(Sn.sig[0].have_color, 0)
         self.assertEqual(Sn.sig[0].npoints, 42)
@@ -102,7 +104,7 @@ def test_roundtrip_signature_v1_norgb_one_band(self):
         self.assertEqual(Sn.sig[0].var[0][0], 0.7)
 
         # Free signature struct after use
-        So.bandrefs[0] = None
+        So.semantic_labels[0] = None
         I_free_signatures(ctypes.byref(So))
         I_free_signatures(ctypes.byref(Sn))
         self.assertEqual(Sn.nbands, 0)
@@ -110,7 +112,7 @@ def test_roundtrip_signature_v1_norgb_one_band(self):
 
     def test_broken_signature_v1_norgb(self):
         """Test reading back signature file (v1) should fail due to
-        single band reference exceeding maximum length"""
+        single semantic label exceeding maximum length"""
 
         # Create signature struct
         So = Signature()
@@ -122,7 +124,7 @@ def test_broken_signature_v1_norgb(self):
         # Fill signatures struct with data
         So.title = b"Signature title"
         # len(tempname(251)) == 255
-        So.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(tempname(251).encode())
+        So.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(tempname(251).encode())
         So.sig[0].status = 1
         So.sig[0].have_color = 0
         So.sig[0].npoints = 42
@@ -143,12 +145,12 @@ def test_broken_signature_v1_norgb(self):
         ret = I_read_signatures(p_old_sigfile, ctypes.byref(Sn))
         self.assertEqual(ret, -1)
 
-        So.bandrefs[0] = None
+        So.semantic_labels[0] = None
         I_free_signatures(ctypes.byref(So))
         I_free_signatures(ctypes.byref(Sn))
 
-    def test_roundtrip_signature_v1_norgb_two_bands(self):
-        """Test writing and reading back signature (v1) with two bands"""
+    def test_roundtrip_signature_v1_norgb_two_labelss(self):
+        """Test writing and reading back signature (v1) with two labels"""
 
         # Create signature struct
         So = Signature()
@@ -161,8 +163,8 @@ def test_roundtrip_signature_v1_norgb_two_bands(self):
 
         # Fill signatures struct with data
         So.title = b"Signature title"
-        So.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
-        So.bandrefs[1] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
+        So.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
+        So.semantic_labels[1] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
         So.sig[0].status = 1
         So.sig[0].have_color = 0
         So.sig[0].npoints = 42
@@ -196,8 +198,10 @@ def test_roundtrip_signature_v1_norgb_two_bands(self):
         self.assertEqual(ret, 1)
         self.assertEqual(Sn.title, b"Signature title")
         self.assertEqual(Sn.nbands, 2)
-        bandref = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(Sn.bandrefs[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref, "The_Doors")
+        semantic_label = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(Sn.semantic_labels[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label, "The_Doors")
         self.assertEqual(Sn.sig[0].status, 1)
         self.assertEqual(Sn.sig[0].have_color, 0)
         self.assertEqual(Sn.sig[0].npoints, 42)
@@ -207,8 +211,10 @@ def test_roundtrip_signature_v1_norgb_two_bands(self):
         self.assertEqual(Sn.sig[0].var[0][0], 0.7)
         self.assertEqual(Sn.sig[0].var[1][0], 0.2)
         self.assertEqual(Sn.sig[0].var[1][1], 0.8)
-        bandref = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(Sn.bandrefs[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref, "The_Who")
+        semantic_label = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(Sn.semantic_labels[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label, "The_Who")
         self.assertEqual(Sn.sig[1].status, 1)
         self.assertEqual(Sn.sig[1].have_color, 0)
         self.assertEqual(Sn.sig[1].npoints, 69)
@@ -220,31 +226,31 @@ def test_roundtrip_signature_v1_norgb_two_bands(self):
         self.assertEqual(Sn.sig[1].var[1][1], 1.8)
 
         # Free signature struct after use
-        So.bandrefs[0] = None
-        So.bandrefs[1] = None
+        So.semantic_labels[0] = None
+        So.semantic_labels[1] = None
         I_free_signatures(ctypes.byref(So))
         I_free_signatures(ctypes.byref(Sn))
         self.assertEqual(Sn.nbands, 0)
         self.assertEqual(Sn.nsigs, 0)
 
 
-class SortSignaturesByBandrefTest(TestCase):
+class SortSignaturesBysemantic_labelTest(TestCase):
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
         cls.libc = ctypes.cdll.LoadLibrary(ctypes.util.find_library("c"))
         cls.mapset = Mapset().name
         cls.map1 = tempname(10)
-        cls.bandref1 = "The_Doors"
+        cls.semantic_label1 = "The_Doors"
         cls.map2 = tempname(10)
-        cls.bandref2 = "The_Who"
+        cls.semantic_label2 = "The_Who"
         cls.map3 = tempname(10)
         cls.use_temp_region()
         cls.runModule("g.region", n=1, s=0, e=1, w=0, res=1)
         cls.runModule("r.mapcalc", expression=f"{cls.map1} = 1")
         cls.runModule("r.mapcalc", expression=f"{cls.map2} = 1")
         cls.runModule("r.mapcalc", expression=f"{cls.map3} = 1")
-        Rast_write_bandref(cls.map1, cls.bandref1)
-        Rast_write_bandref(cls.map2, cls.bandref2)
+        Rast_write_semantic_label(cls.map1, cls.semantic_label1)
+        Rast_write_semantic_label(cls.map2, cls.semantic_label2)
 
     @classmethod
     def tearDownClass(cls):
@@ -266,7 +272,7 @@ def test_symmetric_complete_difference(self):
         self.assertEqual(S.nbands, 1)
         sig_count = I_new_signature(ctypes.byref(S))
         self.assertEqual(sig_count, 1)
-        S.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Troggs")
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Troggs")
         S.title = b"Signature title"
         S.sig[0].status = 1
         S.sig[0].have_color = 0
@@ -276,7 +282,7 @@ def test_symmetric_complete_difference(self):
         S.sig[0].var[0][0] = 0.7
 
         # This should result in two error strings in ret
-        ret = I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
+        ret = I_sort_signatures_by_semantic_label(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
         self.assertTrue(bool(ret))
         sig_err = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(ret[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
         ref_err = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(ret[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
@@ -284,7 +290,9 @@ def test_symmetric_complete_difference(self):
         self.assertEqual(ref_err, "The_Doors")
 
         # Clean up memory to help track memory leaks when run by valgrind
-        S.bandrefs[0] = None  # C should not call free() on memory allocated by python
+        S.semantic_labels[
+            0
+        ] = None  # C should not call free() on memory allocated by python
         I_free_signatures(ctypes.byref(S))
         I_free_group_ref(ctypes.byref(R))
         if ret:
@@ -310,7 +318,7 @@ def test_asymmetric_complete_difference(self):
         sig_count = I_new_signature(ctypes.byref(S))
         self.assertEqual(sig_count, 1)
         S.title = b"Signature title"
-        S.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Troggs")
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Troggs")
         S.sig[0].status = 1
         S.sig[0].have_color = 0
         S.sig[0].npoints = 42
@@ -319,7 +327,7 @@ def test_asymmetric_complete_difference(self):
         S.sig[0].var[0][0] = 0.7
 
         # This should result in two error strings in ret
-        ret = I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
+        ret = I_sort_signatures_by_semantic_label(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
         self.assertTrue(bool(ret))
         sig_err = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(ret[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
         ref_err = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(ret[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
@@ -327,7 +335,7 @@ def test_asymmetric_complete_difference(self):
         self.assertEqual(ref_err, "The_Doors,The_Who")
 
         # Clean up memory to help track memory leaks when run by valgrind
-        S.bandrefs[0] = None
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = None
         I_free_signatures(ctypes.byref(S))
         I_free_group_ref(ctypes.byref(R))
         if ret:
@@ -337,7 +345,7 @@ def test_asymmetric_complete_difference(self):
                 self.libc.free(ret[1])
         self.libc.free(ret)
 
-    def test_missing_bandref(self):
+    def test_missing_semantic_label(self):
         # Prepare imagery group reference struct
         R = Ref()
         I_init_group_ref(ctypes.byref(R))
@@ -355,7 +363,7 @@ def test_missing_bandref(self):
         sig_count = I_new_signature(ctypes.byref(S))
         self.assertEqual(sig_count, 1)
         S.title = b"Signature title"
-        S.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
         S.sig[0].status = 1
         S.sig[0].have_color = 0
         S.sig[0].npoints = 42
@@ -364,22 +372,22 @@ def test_missing_bandref(self):
         S.sig[0].var[0][0] = 0.7
 
         # This should result in two error strings in ret
-        ret = I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
+        ret = I_sort_signatures_by_semantic_label(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
         self.assertTrue(bool(ret))
         sig_err = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(ret[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
         ref_err = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(ret[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
         self.assertEqual(
             sig_err,
-            "<band reference missing>,<band reference missing>,"
-            + "<band reference missing>,<band reference missing>,"
-            + "<band reference missing>,<band reference missing>,"
-            + "<band reference missing>,<band reference missing>,"
-            + "<band reference missing>",
+            "<semantic label missing>,<semantic label missing>,"
+            + "<semantic label missing>,<semantic label missing>,"
+            + "<semantic label missing>,<semantic label missing>,"
+            + "<semantic label missing>,<semantic label missing>,"
+            + "<semantic label missing>",
         )
         self.assertEqual(ref_err, f"The_Doors,{self.map3}")
 
         # Clean up memory to help track memory leaks when run by valgrind
-        S.bandrefs[0] = None
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = None
         I_free_signatures(ctypes.byref(S))
         I_free_group_ref(ctypes.byref(R))
         if ret:
@@ -403,7 +411,7 @@ def test_single_complete_match(self):
         sig_count = I_new_signature(ctypes.byref(S))
         self.assertEqual(sig_count, 1)
         S.title = b"Signature title"
-        S.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
         S.sig[0].status = 1
         S.sig[0].have_color = 0
         S.sig[0].npoints = 42
@@ -412,15 +420,17 @@ def test_single_complete_match(self):
         S.sig[0].var[0][0] = 0.7
 
         # This should result in returning NULL
-        ret = I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
+        ret = I_sort_signatures_by_semantic_label(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
         self.assertFalse(bool(ret))
-        bandref = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(S.bandrefs[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref, "The_Doors")
+        semantic_label = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(S.semantic_labels[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label, "The_Doors")
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[0].mean[0], 2.5)
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[0].var[0][0], 0.7)
 
         # Clean up memory to help track memory leaks when run by valgrind
-        S.bandrefs[0] = None
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = None
         I_free_signatures(ctypes.byref(S))
         I_free_group_ref(ctypes.byref(R))
         if ret:
@@ -448,8 +458,8 @@ def test_double_complete_match_reorder(self):
         sig_count = I_new_signature(ctypes.byref(S))
         self.assertEqual(sig_count, 2)
         S.title = b"Signature title"
-        S.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
-        S.bandrefs[1] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
+        S.semantic_labels[1] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
         S.sig[0].status = 1
         S.sig[0].have_color = 0
         S.sig[0].npoints = 69
@@ -470,17 +480,21 @@ def test_double_complete_match_reorder(self):
         S.sig[1].var[1][1] = 0.8
 
         # This should result in returning NULL
-        ret = I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
+        ret = I_sort_signatures_by_semantic_label(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
         self.assertFalse(bool(ret))
-        # Band references and sig items should be swapped
+        # semantic labels and sig items should be swapped
         # Static items
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[0].npoints, 69)
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[1].npoints, 42)
         # Reordered items
-        bandref1 = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(S.bandrefs[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref1, "The_Doors")
-        bandref2 = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(S.bandrefs[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref2, "The_Who")
+        semantic_label1 = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(S.semantic_labels[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label1, "The_Doors")
+        semantic_label2 = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(S.semantic_labels[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label2, "The_Who")
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[0].mean[0], 6.6)
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[0].mean[1], 3.3)
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[0].var[0][0], 1.8)
@@ -493,8 +507,8 @@ def test_double_complete_match_reorder(self):
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[1].var[1][1], 0.7)
 
         # Clean up memory to help track memory leaks when run by valgrind
-        S.bandrefs[0] = None
-        S.bandrefs[1] = None
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = None
+        S.semantic_labels[1] = None
         I_free_signatures(ctypes.byref(S))
         I_free_group_ref(ctypes.byref(R))
         if ret:
@@ -522,8 +536,8 @@ def test_double_complete_match_same_order(self):
         sig_count = I_new_signature(ctypes.byref(S))
         self.assertEqual(sig_count, 2)
         S.title = b"Signature title"
-        S.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
-        S.bandrefs[1] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
+        S.semantic_labels[1] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
         S.sig[0].status = 1
         S.sig[0].have_color = 0
         S.sig[0].npoints = 69
@@ -542,25 +556,29 @@ def test_double_complete_match_same_order(self):
         S.sig[1].var[1][1] = 0.8
 
         # This should result in returning NULL
-        ret = I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
+        ret = I_sort_signatures_by_semantic_label(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
         self.assertFalse(bool(ret))
-        # Band references and sig items should not be swapped
+        # semantic labels and sig items should not be swapped
         # Static items
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[0].npoints, 69)
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[1].npoints, 42)
         # Reordered items
-        bandref1 = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(S.bandrefs[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref1, "The_Who")
-        bandref2 = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(S.bandrefs[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref2, "The_Doors")
+        semantic_label1 = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(S.semantic_labels[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label1, "The_Who")
+        semantic_label2 = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(S.semantic_labels[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label2, "The_Doors")
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[0].mean[0], 3.5)
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[0].var[0][0], 1.7)
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[1].mean[0], 2.5)
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[1].var[0][0], 0.7)
 
         # Clean up memory to help track memory leaks when run by valgrind
-        S.bandrefs[0] = None
-        S.bandrefs[1] = None
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = None
+        S.semantic_labels[1] = None
         I_free_signatures(ctypes.byref(S))
         I_free_group_ref(ctypes.byref(R))
         if ret:
@@ -592,8 +610,8 @@ def test_complete_match_reorder(self):
         sig_count = I_new_signature(ctypes.byref(S))
         self.assertEqual(sig_count, 4)
         S.title = b"Signature title"
-        S.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
-        S.bandrefs[1] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
+        S.semantic_labels[1] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
         S.sig[0].status = 1
         S.sig[0].have_color = 0
         S.sig[0].npoints = 69
@@ -632,19 +650,23 @@ def test_complete_match_reorder(self):
         S.sig[3].var[1][1] = 0.6
 
         # This should result in returning NULL
-        ret = I_sort_signatures_by_bandref(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
+        ret = I_sort_signatures_by_semantic_label(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
         self.assertFalse(bool(ret))
-        # Band references and sig items should be swapped
+        # semantic labels and sig items should be swapped
         # Static items
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[0].npoints, 69)
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[1].npoints, 42)
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[2].npoints, 12)
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[3].npoints, 21)
         # Reordered items
-        bandref1 = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(S.bandrefs[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref1, "The_Doors")
-        bandref2 = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(S.bandrefs[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref2, "The_Who")
+        semantic_label1 = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(S.semantic_labels[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label1, "The_Doors")
+        semantic_label2 = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(S.semantic_labels[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label2, "The_Who")
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[0].mean[0], 6.6)
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[0].mean[1], 3.3)
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[0].var[0][0], 1.8)
@@ -667,8 +689,8 @@ def test_complete_match_reorder(self):
         self.assertEqual(S.sig[3].var[1][1], 0.8)
 
         # Clean up memory to help track memory leaks when run by valgrind
-        S.bandrefs[0] = None
-        S.bandrefs[1] = None
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = None
+        S.semantic_labels[1] = None
         I_free_signatures(ctypes.byref(S))
         I_free_group_ref(ctypes.byref(R))
         if ret:
diff --git a/lib/imagery/testsuite/test_imagery_sigsetfile.py b/lib/imagery/testsuite/test_imagery_sigsetfile.py
index 27e575ada1b..6e5a119c236 100644
--- a/lib/imagery/testsuite/test_imagery_sigsetfile.py
+++ b/lib/imagery/testsuite/test_imagery_sigsetfile.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 from grass.pygrass.gis import Mapset
 
 from grass.lib.gis import G_mapset_path
-from grass.lib.raster import Rast_write_bandref
+from grass.lib.raster import Rast_write_semantic_label
 from grass.lib.imagery import (
     SigSet,
     I_InitSigSet,
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
     I_NewSubSig,
     I_WriteSigSet,
     I_ReadSigSet,
-    I_SortSigSetByBandref,
+    I_SortSigSetBySemanticLabel,
     I_fopen_sigset_file_new,
     I_fopen_sigset_file_old,
     Ref,
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ def test_I_fopen_signature_file_old_fail(self):
         sigfile = I_fopen_sigset_file_old(tempname(10))
         self.assertFalse(sigfile)
 
-    def test_roundtrip_sigset_v1_one_band(self):
+    def test_roundtrip_sigset_v1_one_label(self):
         """Test writing and reading back sigset file (v1)
-        with a single band and fully qualified sigfile name"""
+        with a single label and fully qualified sigfile name"""
 
         # Create signature struct
         So = SigSet()
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def test_roundtrip_sigset_v1_one_band(self):
 
         # Fill sigset struct with data
         So.title = ReturnString("Signature title")
-        So.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
+        So.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
         So.ClassSig[0].used = 1
         So.ClassSig[0].classnum = 2
         So.ClassSig[0].title = ReturnString("1st class")
@@ -96,8 +96,10 @@ def test_roundtrip_sigset_v1_one_band(self):
         self.assertEqual(ret, 1)
         self.assertEqual(utils.decode(Sn.title), "Signature title")
         self.assertEqual(Sn.nbands, 1)
-        bandref = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(Sn.bandrefs[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref, "The_Doors")
+        semantic_label = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(Sn.semantic_labels[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label, "The_Doors")
         self.assertEqual(Sn.nclasses, 1)
         self.assertEqual(Sn.ClassSig[0].nsubclasses, 1)
         self.assertEqual(Sn.ClassSig[0].used, 1)
@@ -111,8 +113,8 @@ def test_roundtrip_sigset_v1_one_band(self):
 
         # SigSet does not have free function
 
-    def test_read_fail_sigset_v1_one_band(self):
-        """Reading back should fail as band reference exceeds limit"""
+    def test_read_fail_sigset_v1_one_label(self):
+        """Reading back should fail as semantic label length exceeds limit"""
 
         # Create signature struct
         So = SigSet()
@@ -125,7 +127,7 @@ def test_read_fail_sigset_v1_one_band(self):
 
         # Fill sigset struct with data
         So.title = ReturnString("Signature title")
-        So.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(tempname(252).encode())
+        So.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(tempname(252).encode())
         So.ClassSig[0].used = 1
         So.ClassSig[0].classnum = 2
         So.ClassSig[0].title = ReturnString("1st class")
@@ -150,8 +152,8 @@ def test_read_fail_sigset_v1_one_band(self):
 
         # SigSet does not have free function
 
-    def test_roundtrip_sigset_v1_two_bands(self):
-        """Test writing and reading back sigset (v1) with two bands"""
+    def test_roundtrip_sigset_v1_two_labels(self):
+        """Test writing and reading back sigset (v1) with two labels"""
 
         # Create signature struct
         So = SigSet()
@@ -164,8 +166,8 @@ def test_roundtrip_sigset_v1_two_bands(self):
 
         # Fill sigset struct with data
         So.title = ReturnString("Signature title")
-        So.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
-        So.bandrefs[1] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
+        So.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
+        So.semantic_labels[1] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
         So.ClassSig[0].used = 1
         So.ClassSig[0].classnum = 2
         So.ClassSig[0].title = ReturnString("1st class")
@@ -192,10 +194,14 @@ def test_roundtrip_sigset_v1_two_bands(self):
         self.assertEqual(ret, 1)
         self.assertEqual(utils.decode(Sn.title), "Signature title")
         self.assertEqual(Sn.nbands, 2)
-        bandref = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(Sn.bandrefs[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref, "The_Doors")
-        bandref = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(Sn.bandrefs[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref, "The_Who")
+        semantic_label = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(Sn.semantic_labels[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label, "The_Doors")
+        semantic_label = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(Sn.semantic_labels[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label, "The_Who")
         self.assertEqual(Sn.nclasses, 1)
         self.assertEqual(Sn.ClassSig[0].nsubclasses, 1)
         self.assertEqual(Sn.ClassSig[0].used, 1)
@@ -214,23 +220,23 @@ def test_roundtrip_sigset_v1_two_bands(self):
         # SigSet does not have free function
 
 
-class SortSigSetByBandrefTest(TestCase):
+class SortSigSetBySemanticLabelTest(TestCase):
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
         cls.libc = ctypes.cdll.LoadLibrary(ctypes.util.find_library("c"))
         cls.mapset = Mapset().name
         cls.map1 = tempname(10)
-        cls.bandref1 = "The_Doors"
+        cls.semantic_label1 = "The_Doors"
         cls.map2 = tempname(10)
-        cls.bandref2 = "The_Who"
+        cls.semantic_label2 = "The_Who"
         cls.map3 = tempname(10)
         cls.use_temp_region()
         cls.runModule("g.region", n=1, s=0, e=1, w=0, res=1)
         cls.runModule("r.mapcalc", expression=f"{cls.map1} = 1")
         cls.runModule("r.mapcalc", expression=f"{cls.map2} = 1")
         cls.runModule("r.mapcalc", expression=f"{cls.map3} = 1")
-        Rast_write_bandref(cls.map1, cls.bandref1)
-        Rast_write_bandref(cls.map2, cls.bandref2)
+        Rast_write_semantic_label(cls.map1, cls.semantic_label1)
+        Rast_write_semantic_label(cls.map2, cls.semantic_label2)
 
     @classmethod
     def tearDownClass(cls):
@@ -255,7 +261,7 @@ def test_symmetric_complete_difference(self):
         I_NewSubSig(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(S.ClassSig[0]))
         self.assertEqual(S.ClassSig[0].nsubclasses, 1)
         S.title = ReturnString("Signature title")
-        S.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Troggs")
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Troggs")
         S.ClassSig[0].used = 1
         S.ClassSig[0].classnum = 2
         S.ClassSig[0].title = ReturnString("1st class")
@@ -265,7 +271,7 @@ def test_symmetric_complete_difference(self):
         S.ClassSig[0].SubSig[0].R[0][0] = 69.69
 
         # This should result in two error strings in ret
-        ret = I_SortSigSetByBandref(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
+        ret = I_SortSigSetBySemanticLabel(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
         self.assertTrue(bool(ret))
         sig_err = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(ret[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
         ref_err = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(ret[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
@@ -300,7 +306,7 @@ def test_asymmetric_complete_difference(self):
         I_NewSubSig(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(S.ClassSig[0]))
         self.assertEqual(S.ClassSig[0].nsubclasses, 1)
         S.title = ReturnString("Signature title")
-        S.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Troggs")
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Troggs")
         S.ClassSig[0].used = 1
         S.ClassSig[0].classnum = 2
         S.ClassSig[0].title = ReturnString("1st class")
@@ -310,7 +316,7 @@ def test_asymmetric_complete_difference(self):
         S.ClassSig[0].SubSig[0].R[0][0] = 69.69
 
         # This should result in two error strings in ret
-        ret = I_SortSigSetByBandref(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
+        ret = I_SortSigSetBySemanticLabel(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
         self.assertTrue(bool(ret))
         sig_err = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(ret[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
         ref_err = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(ret[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
@@ -326,7 +332,7 @@ def test_asymmetric_complete_difference(self):
                 self.libc.free(ret[1])
         self.libc.free(ret)
 
-    def test_missing_bandref(self):
+    def test_missing_label(self):
         # Prepare imagery group reference struct
         R = Ref()
         I_init_group_ref(ctypes.byref(R))
@@ -346,7 +352,7 @@ def test_missing_bandref(self):
         I_NewSubSig(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(S.ClassSig[0]))
         self.assertEqual(S.ClassSig[0].nsubclasses, 1)
         S.title = ReturnString("Signature title")
-        S.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
         S.ClassSig[0].used = 1
         S.ClassSig[0].classnum = 2
         S.ClassSig[0].title = ReturnString("1st class")
@@ -356,17 +362,17 @@ def test_missing_bandref(self):
         S.ClassSig[0].SubSig[0].R[0][0] = 69.69
 
         # This should result in two error strings in ret
-        ret = I_SortSigSetByBandref(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
+        ret = I_SortSigSetBySemanticLabel(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
         self.assertTrue(bool(ret))
         sig_err = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(ret[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
         ref_err = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(ret[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
         self.assertEqual(
             sig_err,
-            "<band reference missing>,<band reference missing>,"
-            + "<band reference missing>,<band reference missing>,"
-            + "<band reference missing>,<band reference missing>,"
-            + "<band reference missing>,<band reference missing>,"
-            + "<band reference missing>",
+            "<semantic label missing>,<semantic label missing>,"
+            + "<semantic label missing>,<semantic label missing>,"
+            + "<semantic label missing>,<semantic label missing>,"
+            + "<semantic label missing>,<semantic label missing>,"
+            + "<semantic label missing>",
         )
         self.assertEqual(ref_err, f"The_Doors,{self.map3}")
 
@@ -395,7 +401,7 @@ def test_single_complete_match(self):
         I_NewSubSig(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(S.ClassSig[0]))
         self.assertEqual(S.ClassSig[0].nsubclasses, 1)
         S.title = ReturnString("Signature title")
-        S.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
         S.ClassSig[0].used = 1
         S.ClassSig[0].classnum = 2
         S.ClassSig[0].title = ReturnString("1st class")
@@ -405,10 +411,12 @@ def test_single_complete_match(self):
         S.ClassSig[0].SubSig[0].R[0][0] = 69.69
 
         # This should result in returning NULL
-        ret = I_SortSigSetByBandref(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
+        ret = I_SortSigSetBySemanticLabel(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
         self.assertFalse(bool(ret))
-        bandref = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(S.bandrefs[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref, "The_Doors")
+        semantic_label = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(S.semantic_labels[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label, "The_Doors")
         self.assertEqual(S.ClassSig[0].SubSig[0].pi, 3.14)
         self.assertEqual(S.ClassSig[0].SubSig[0].means[0], 42.42)
         self.assertEqual(S.ClassSig[0].SubSig[0].R[0][0], 69.69)
@@ -440,8 +448,8 @@ def test_double_complete_match_reorder(self):
         I_NewSubSig(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(S.ClassSig[0]))
         self.assertEqual(S.ClassSig[0].nsubclasses, 1)
         S.title = ReturnString("Signature title")
-        S.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
-        S.bandrefs[1] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
+        S.semantic_labels[1] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
         S.ClassSig[0].used = 1
         S.ClassSig[0].classnum = 2
         S.ClassSig[0].title = ReturnString("1st class")
@@ -455,16 +463,20 @@ def test_double_complete_match_reorder(self):
         S.ClassSig[0].SubSig[0].R[1][1] = -96.96
 
         # This should result in returning NULL
-        ret = I_SortSigSetByBandref(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
+        ret = I_SortSigSetBySemanticLabel(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
         self.assertFalse(bool(ret))
-        # Band references and sig items should be swapped
+        # Semantic labels and sig items should be swapped
         # Static items
         self.assertEqual(S.ClassSig[0].SubSig[0].pi, 3.14)
         # Reordered items
-        bandref1 = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(S.bandrefs[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref1, "The_Doors")
-        bandref2 = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(S.bandrefs[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref2, "The_Who")
+        semantic_label1 = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(S.semantic_labels[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label1, "The_Doors")
+        semantic_label2 = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(S.semantic_labels[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label2, "The_Who")
         self.assertEqual(S.ClassSig[0].SubSig[0].means[0], 24.24)
         self.assertEqual(S.ClassSig[0].SubSig[0].means[1], 42.42)
         self.assertEqual(S.ClassSig[0].SubSig[0].R[0][0], -96.96)
@@ -499,8 +511,8 @@ def test_double_complete_match_same_order(self):
         I_NewSubSig(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(S.ClassSig[0]))
         self.assertEqual(S.ClassSig[0].nsubclasses, 1)
         S.title = ReturnString("Signature title")
-        S.bandrefs[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
-        S.bandrefs[1] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
+        S.semantic_labels[0] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Who")
+        S.semantic_labels[1] = ctypes.create_string_buffer(b"The_Doors")
         S.ClassSig[0].used = 1
         S.ClassSig[0].classnum = 2
         S.ClassSig[0].title = ReturnString("1st class")
@@ -514,16 +526,20 @@ def test_double_complete_match_same_order(self):
         S.ClassSig[0].SubSig[0].R[1][1] = -96.96
 
         # This should result in returning NULL
-        ret = I_SortSigSetByBandref(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
+        ret = I_SortSigSetBySemanticLabel(ctypes.byref(S), ctypes.byref(R))
         self.assertFalse(bool(ret))
-        # Band references and sig items should not be swapped
+        # Semantic labels and sig items should not be swapped
         # Static items
         self.assertEqual(S.ClassSig[0].SubSig[0].pi, 3.14)
         # Reordered items
-        bandref1 = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(S.bandrefs[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref1, "The_Who")
-        bandref2 = utils.decode(ctypes.cast(S.bandrefs[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value)
-        self.assertEqual(bandref2, "The_Doors")
+        semantic_label1 = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(S.semantic_labels[0], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label1, "The_Who")
+        semantic_label2 = utils.decode(
+            ctypes.cast(S.semantic_labels[1], ctypes.c_char_p).value
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(semantic_label2, "The_Doors")
         self.assertEqual(S.ClassSig[0].SubSig[0].means[0], 42.42)
         self.assertEqual(S.ClassSig[0].SubSig[0].means[1], 24.24)
         self.assertEqual(S.ClassSig[0].SubSig[0].R[0][0], 69.69)
diff --git a/lib/raster/raster_metadata.c b/lib/raster/raster_metadata.c
index 30325ae26c2..534892c2d01 100644
--- a/lib/raster/raster_metadata.c
+++ b/lib/raster/raster_metadata.c
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
    \file lib/raster/raster_metadata.c
 
    \brief Raster library - Functions to read and write raster "units",
-   "band reference" and "vertical datum" meta-data info
+   "semantic label" and "vertical datum" meta-data info
 
    (C) 2007-2009, 2021 by Hamish Bowman, Maris Nartiss,
    and the GRASS Development Team
@@ -83,90 +83,90 @@ void Rast_write_vdatum(const char *name, const char *str)
 }
 
 /*!
- * \brief Get a raster map's band reference metadata string
+ * \brief Get a raster map semantic label metadata string
  *
- * Read the raster's band reference metadata file and put string in str
+ * Read raster semantic label metadata file and put string in to str
  *
  * \param name raster map name
  * \param mapset mapset name
  *
- * \return  string representing band reference on success
+ * \return  string representing semantic label on success
  * \return  NULL on error
  */
-char *Rast_read_bandref(const char *name, const char *mapset)
+char *Rast_read_semantic_label(const char *name, const char *mapset)
 {
-    return misc_read_line("bandref", name, mapset);
+    return misc_read_line("semantic_label", name, mapset);
 }
 
 /*!
- * \brief Get a raster map band reference or fall back to its name
+ * \brief Get a raster map semantic label or fall back to its name
  * 
- * Use this function if a band reference is needed but not mandated.
+ * Use this function if a semantic label is needed but not mandated.
  * 
  * \param name raster map name
  * \param mapset mapset name
  *
- * \return  string representing band reference or map name
+ * \return  string representing semantic label or map name
  */
-char *Rast_get_bandref_or_name(const char *name, const char *mapset) {
+char *Rast_get_semantic_label_or_name(const char *name, const char *mapset) {
     char *buff;
 
-    buff = Rast_read_bandref(name, mapset);
+    buff = Rast_read_semantic_label(name, mapset);
     return buff ? buff : G_store(name);
 }
 
 /*!
- * \brief Write a string into a raster's band reference metadata file
+ * \brief Write a string into a rasters semantic label metadata file
  *
  * Raster map must exist in the current mapset.
  *
- * It is up to the caller to validate band reference string in advance
- * with Rast_legal_bandref().
+ * It is up to the caller to validate semantic label string in advance
+ * with Rast_legal_semantic_label().
  *
  * \param name raster map name
  * \param str  string containing data to be written
  */
-void Rast_write_bandref(const char *name, const char *str)
+void Rast_write_semantic_label(const char *name, const char *str)
 {
-    misc_write_line("bandref", name, str);
+    misc_write_line("semantic_label", name, str);
 }
 
 /*!
- * \brief Check for legal band reference
+ * \brief Check for legal semantic label
  *
- * Legal band identifiers must be legal GRASS file names.
- * They are in format <shortcut>_<bandname>.
- * Band identifiers are capped in legth to GNAME_MAX.
+ * Legal semantic label must be a legal GRASS file name.
+ * Semantic labels are capped in legth to GNAME_MAX.
  *
- * This function will return false if provided band id is not considered
- * to be valid.
- * This function does not check if band id maps to any entry in band
- * metadata files as not all band id's have files with extra metadata.
+ * This function will return false if provided semantic label is not
+ * considered to be valid.
+ * This function does not check if semantic label maps to any entry in
+ * metadata files of semantic labels as not all semantic labels have
+ * files with extra metadata.
  *
  * The function prints a warning on error.
  *
- * \param bandref band reference to check
+ * \param semantic label reference to check
  *
  * \return true success
  * \return false failure
  */
-bool Rast_legal_bandref(const char *bandref)
+bool Rast_legal_semantic_label(const char *semantic_label)
 {
     const char *s;
 
-    if (strlen(bandref) >= GNAME_MAX) {
-        G_warning(_("Band reference is too long"));
+    if (strlen(semantic_label) >= GNAME_MAX) {
+        G_warning(_("Semantic label is too long"));
         return false;
     }
 
-    if (G_legal_filename(bandref) != 1)
+    if (G_legal_filename(semantic_label) != 1)
         return false;
 
-    s = bandref;
+    s = semantic_label;
     while (*s) {
 	if (!((*s >= 'A' && *s <= 'Z') || (*s >= 'a' && *s <= 'z') ||
 	      (*s >= '0' && *s <= '9') || *s == '_'  || *s == '-')) {
-	    G_warning(_("Character '%c' not allowed in band reference."), *s);
+	    G_warning(_("Character '%c' not allowed in a semantic label."), *s);
 	    return false;
 	}
 	s++;
diff --git a/lib/raster/testsuite/test_raster_metadata.py b/lib/raster/testsuite/test_raster_metadata.py
index bdd2b7aeb70..7da2c0fe4cf 100644
--- a/lib/raster/testsuite/test_raster_metadata.py
+++ b/lib/raster/testsuite/test_raster_metadata.py
@@ -20,61 +20,61 @@
 
 from grass.lib.gis import G_remove_misc
 from grass.lib.raster import (
-    Rast_legal_bandref,
-    Rast_read_bandref,
-    Rast_get_bandref_or_name,
-    Rast_write_bandref,
+    Rast_legal_semantic_label,
+    Rast_read_semantic_label,
+    Rast_get_semantic_label_or_name,
+    Rast_write_semantic_label,
 )
 
 
 class RastLegalBandIdTestCase(TestCase):
     def test_empty_name(self):
-        ret = Rast_legal_bandref("")
+        ret = Rast_legal_semantic_label("")
         self.assertEqual(ret, False)
-        ret = Rast_legal_bandref(" ")
+        ret = Rast_legal_semantic_label(" ")
         self.assertEqual(ret, False)
 
     def test_illegal_name(self):
-        ret = Rast_legal_bandref(".a")
+        ret = Rast_legal_semantic_label(".a")
         self.assertEqual(ret, False)
-        ret = Rast_legal_bandref("a/b")
+        ret = Rast_legal_semantic_label("a/b")
         self.assertEqual(ret, False)
-        ret = Rast_legal_bandref("a@b")
+        ret = Rast_legal_semantic_label("a@b")
         self.assertEqual(ret, False)
-        ret = Rast_legal_bandref("a#b")
+        ret = Rast_legal_semantic_label("a#b")
         self.assertEqual(ret, False)
 
     def test_too_long(self):
-        ret = Rast_legal_bandref(
+        ret = Rast_legal_semantic_label(
             "a_" + "".join(random.choices(string.ascii_letters, k=253))
         )
         self.assertEqual(ret, True)
-        ret = Rast_legal_bandref(
+        ret = Rast_legal_semantic_label(
             "a_" + "".join(random.choices(string.ascii_letters, k=254))
         )
         self.assertEqual(ret, False)
 
     def test_good_name(self):
-        ret = Rast_legal_bandref("1")
+        ret = Rast_legal_semantic_label("1")
         self.assertEqual(ret, True)
-        ret = Rast_legal_bandref("1a")
+        ret = Rast_legal_semantic_label("1a")
         self.assertEqual(ret, True)
-        ret = Rast_legal_bandref("clouds")
+        ret = Rast_legal_semantic_label("clouds")
         self.assertEqual(ret, True)
-        ret = Rast_legal_bandref("rededge1")
+        ret = Rast_legal_semantic_label("rededge1")
         self.assertEqual(ret, True)
-        ret = Rast_legal_bandref("S2_1")
+        ret = Rast_legal_semantic_label("S2_1")
         self.assertEqual(ret, True)
-        ret = Rast_legal_bandref("GRASS_aspect_deg")
+        ret = Rast_legal_semantic_label("GRASS_aspect_deg")
         self.assertEqual(ret, True)
 
 
-class RastBandReferenceTestCase(TestCase):
+class Rastsemantic_labelerenceTestCase(TestCase):
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
         cls.map = tempname(10)
         cls.mapset = Mapset().name
-        cls.bandref = "The_Doors"
+        cls.semantic_label = "The_Doors"
         cls.use_temp_region()
         cls.runModule("g.region", n=1, s=0, e=1, w=0, res=1)
         cls.runModule("r.mapcalc", expression="{} = 1".format(cls.map))
@@ -84,29 +84,29 @@ def tearDownClass(cls):
         cls.del_temp_region()
         cls.runModule("g.remove", flags="f", type="raster", name=cls.map)
 
-    def test_read_bandref_present(self):
-        Rast_write_bandref(self.map, self.bandref)
-        ret = utils.decode(Rast_read_bandref(self.map, self.mapset))
-        self.assertEqual(ret, self.bandref)
+    def test_read_semantic_label_present(self):
+        Rast_write_semantic_label(self.map, self.semantic_label)
+        ret = utils.decode(Rast_read_semantic_label(self.map, self.mapset))
+        self.assertEqual(ret, self.semantic_label)
 
-    def test_read_bandref_absent(self):
-        G_remove_misc("cell_misc", "bandref", self.map)
-        ret = Rast_read_bandref(self.map, self.mapset)
+    def test_read_semantic_label_absent(self):
+        G_remove_misc("cell_misc", "semantic_label", self.map)
+        ret = Rast_read_semantic_label(self.map, self.mapset)
         self.assertFalse(bool(ret))
 
-    def test_write_bandref(self):
-        G_remove_misc("cell_misc", "bandref", self.map)
-        Rast_write_bandref(self.map, self.bandref)
-        ret = utils.decode(Rast_read_bandref(self.map, self.mapset))
-        self.assertEqual(ret, self.bandref)
+    def test_write_semantic_label(self):
+        G_remove_misc("cell_misc", "semantic_label", self.map)
+        Rast_write_semantic_label(self.map, self.semantic_label)
+        ret = utils.decode(Rast_read_semantic_label(self.map, self.mapset))
+        self.assertEqual(ret, self.semantic_label)
 
-    def test_get_bandref_or_name(self):
-        G_remove_misc("cell_misc", "bandref", self.map)
-        ret = utils.decode(Rast_get_bandref_or_name(self.map, self.mapset))
+    def test_get_semantic_label_or_name(self):
+        G_remove_misc("cell_misc", "semantic_label", self.map)
+        ret = utils.decode(Rast_get_semantic_label_or_name(self.map, self.mapset))
         self.assertEqual(ret, self.map)
-        Rast_write_bandref(self.map, self.bandref)
-        ret = utils.decode(Rast_get_bandref_or_name(self.map, self.mapset))
-        self.assertEqual(ret, self.bandref)
+        Rast_write_semantic_label(self.map, self.semantic_label)
+        ret = utils.decode(Rast_get_semantic_label_or_name(self.map, self.mapset))
+        self.assertEqual(ret, self.semantic_label)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/lib/temporal/SQL/raster_metadata_table.sql b/lib/temporal/SQL/raster_metadata_table.sql
index 1788170a821..15f8384387d 100644
--- a/lib/temporal/SQL/raster_metadata_table.sql
+++ b/lib/temporal/SQL/raster_metadata_table.sql
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ CREATE TABLE  raster_metadata (
   ewres DOUBLE PRECISION NOT NULL,
   min DOUBLE PRECISION,
   max DOUBLE PRECISION,
-  band_reference VARCHAR,
+  semantic_label VARCHAR,
   PRIMARY KEY (id)
 );
 
diff --git a/lib/temporal/SQL/raster_views.sql b/lib/temporal/SQL/raster_views.sql
index fc803a3dffa..fa318c029e7 100644
--- a/lib/temporal/SQL/raster_views.sql
+++ b/lib/temporal/SQL/raster_views.sql
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ CREATE VIEW raster_view_abs_time AS SELECT
             A3.north, A3.south, A3.east, A3.west, A3.bottom, A3.top, A3.proj,
             A4.datatype, A4.cols, A4.rows,
             A4.nsres, A4.ewres, A4.min, A4.max,
-            A4.number_of_cells, A4.band_reference, A5.registered_stds
+            A4.number_of_cells, A4.semantic_label, A5.registered_stds
             FROM raster_base A1, raster_absolute_time A2, 
             raster_spatial_extent A3, raster_metadata A4,
             raster_stds_register A5
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ CREATE VIEW raster_view_rel_time AS SELECT
             A3.north, A3.south, A3.east, A3.west, A3.bottom, A3.top, A3.proj,
             A4.datatype, A4.cols, A4.rows,
             A4.nsres, A4.ewres, A4.min, A4.max,
-            A4.number_of_cells, A4.band_reference, A5.registered_stds
+            A4.number_of_cells, A4.semantic_label, A5.registered_stds
             FROM raster_base A1, raster_relative_time A2, 
             raster_spatial_extent A3, raster_metadata A4,
             raster_stds_register A5
diff --git a/lib/temporal/SQL/update_strds_metadata_template.sql b/lib/temporal/SQL/update_strds_metadata_template.sql
index 3bc21af2ad2..82b39ead5b1 100644
--- a/lib/temporal/SQL/update_strds_metadata_template.sql
+++ b/lib/temporal/SQL/update_strds_metadata_template.sql
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ UPDATE strds_metadata SET ewres_max =
        ) WHERE id = 'SPACETIME_ID';
 -- Update the number of registered bands
 UPDATE strds_metadata SET number_of_bands =
-       (SELECT count(distinct band_reference) FROM raster_metadata WHERE
+       (SELECT count(distinct semantic_label) FROM raster_metadata WHERE
        raster_metadata.id IN
     		(SELECT id FROM SPACETIME_REGISTER_TABLE)
        ) WHERE id = 'SPACETIME_ID';
diff --git a/lib/temporal/SQL/upgrade_db_2_to_3.sql b/lib/temporal/SQL/upgrade_db_2_to_3.sql
index bef467ce3f8..efa6135eeed 100644
--- a/lib/temporal/SQL/upgrade_db_2_to_3.sql
+++ b/lib/temporal/SQL/upgrade_db_2_to_3.sql
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 -- raster_metadata_table.sql
 ALTER TABLE raster_metadata
- ADD COLUMN band_reference VARCHAR;
+ ADD COLUMN semantic_label VARCHAR;
 
 -- strds_metadata_table.sql
 ALTER TABLE strds_metadata
diff --git a/python/grass/Makefile b/python/grass/Makefile
index fe1f6230457..9e34f1281bf 100644
--- a/python/grass/Makefile
+++ b/python/grass/Makefile
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ PYDIR = $(ETC)/python/grass
 
 SUBDIRS = \
 	app \
-	bandref \
 	benchmark \
 	exceptions \
 	grassdb \
@@ -17,6 +16,7 @@ SUBDIRS = \
 	pydispatch \
 	pygrass \
 	script \
+	semantic_label \
 	temporal \
 	utils
 
diff --git a/python/grass/bandref/__init__.py b/python/grass/bandref/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index d37c2fee221..00000000000
--- a/python/grass/bandref/__init__.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-from .reader import BandReferenceReader, BandReferenceReaderError
diff --git a/python/grass/pygrass/raster/abstract.py b/python/grass/pygrass/raster/abstract.py
index 387127ce691..bef9b4c79db 100644
--- a/python/grass/pygrass/raster/abstract.py
+++ b/python/grass/pygrass/raster/abstract.py
@@ -162,31 +162,31 @@ def range(self):
     def mtype(self):
         return RTYPE_STR[libraster.Rast_map_type(self.name, self.mapset)]
 
-    def _get_bandref(self):
-        """Get band reference identifier.
+    def _get_semantic_label(self):
+        """Get semantic label identifier.
 
-        :return str: band identifier (eg. S2_1) or None
+        :return str: semantic label (eg. S2_1) or None
         """
 
-        bandref = libraster.Rast_read_bandref(self.name, self.mapset)
-        if bandref:
-            return utils.decode(bandref)
+        semantic_label = libraster.Rast_read_semantic_label(self.name, self.mapset)
+        if semantic_label:
+            return utils.decode(semantic_label)
         return None
 
     @must_be_in_current_mapset
-    def _set_bandref(self, bandref):
-        """Set/Unset band reference identifier.
+    def _set_semantic_label(self, semantic_label):
+        """Set/Unset semantic label identifier.
 
-        :param str bandref: band reference to assign or None to remove (unset)
+        :param str semantic_label: semantic label to assign or None to remove (unset)
         """
-        if bandref:
-            if libraster.Rast_legal_bandref(bandref) is False:
-                raise ValueError(_("Invalid band reference"))
-            libraster.Rast_write_bandref(self.name, bandref)
+        if semantic_label:
+            if libraster.Rast_legal_semantic_label(semantic_label) is False:
+                raise ValueError(_("Invalid semantic label"))
+            libraster.Rast_write_semantic_label(self.name, semantic_label)
         else:
-            libgis.G_remove_misc("cell_misc", "bandref", self.name)
+            libgis.G_remove_misc("cell_misc", "semantic_label", self.name)
 
-    bandref = property(_get_bandref, _set_bandref)
+    semantic_label = property(_get_semantic_label, _set_semantic_label)
 
     def _get_units(self):
         units = libraster.Rast_read_units(self.name, self.mapset)
diff --git a/python/grass/bandref/Makefile b/python/grass/semantic_label/Makefile
similarity index 94%
rename from python/grass/bandref/Makefile
rename to python/grass/semantic_label/Makefile
index 893fe2cec6f..10d2640a571 100644
--- a/python/grass/bandref/Makefile
+++ b/python/grass/semantic_label/Makefile
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ include $(MODULE_TOPDIR)/include/Make/Python.make
 
 PYDIR = $(ETC)/python
 GDIR = $(PYDIR)/grass
-DSTDIR = $(GDIR)/bandref
+DSTDIR = $(GDIR)/semantic_label
 
 MODULES = reader
 
diff --git a/python/grass/semantic_label/__init__.py b/python/grass/semantic_label/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9f0b9b6caed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/grass/semantic_label/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from .reader import SemanticLabelReader, SemanticLabelReaderError
diff --git a/python/grass/bandref/reader.py b/python/grass/semantic_label/reader.py
similarity index 59%
rename from python/grass/bandref/reader.py
rename to python/grass/semantic_label/reader.py
index d363192f23a..73bf70d7359 100644
--- a/python/grass/bandref/reader.py
+++ b/python/grass/semantic_label/reader.py
@@ -5,29 +5,28 @@
 import re
 from collections import OrderedDict
 
+import grass.script as gs
 
-# band reference should be required to have the format
-# <shortcut>_<band>
-# instead, the sensor name should be stored somewhere else,
-# and band names should be STAC common names, see
+# Semantic label can have any form. Explanatory metadata can be stored
+# separately. It is suggested to follow some standard e.g. remote
+# sensing band names should be STAC common names, see
 # https://stacspec.org/
 # https://github.com/radiantearth/stac-spec/blob/master/extensions/eo/README.md#band-object
-# custom names must be possible
 
 
-class BandReferenceReaderError(Exception):
+class SemanticLabelReaderError(Exception):
     pass
 
 
-class BandReferenceReader:
-    """Band references reader"""
+class SemanticLabelReader:
+    """Semantic label reader"""
 
     def __init__(self):
         self._json_files = glob.glob(
             os.path.join(os.environ["GISBASE"], "etc", "g.bands", "*.json")
         )
         if not self._json_files:
-            raise BandReferenceReaderError("No band definitions found")
+            raise SemanticLabelReaderError("No semantic label definitions found")
 
         self._read_config()
 
@@ -39,7 +38,7 @@ def _read_config(self):
                 with open(json_file) as fd:
                     config = json.load(fd, object_pairs_hook=OrderedDict)
             except json.decoder.JSONDecodeError as e:
-                raise BandReferenceReaderError(
+                raise SemanticLabelReaderError(
                     "Unable to parse '{}': {}".format(json_file, e)
                 )
 
@@ -59,19 +58,19 @@ def _check_config(config):
         for items in config.values():
             for item in ("shortcut", "bands"):
                 if item not in items.keys():
-                    raise BandReferenceReaderError(
+                    raise SemanticLabelReaderError(
                         "Invalid band definition: <{}> is missing".format(item)
                     )
             if len(items["bands"]) < 1:
-                raise BandReferenceReaderError(
+                raise SemanticLabelReaderError(
                     "Invalid band definition: no bands defined"
                 )
 
     @staticmethod
-    def _print_band_extended(band, item):
-        """Print band-specific metadata
+    def _print_label_extended(label, item):
+        """Print label specific metadata
 
-        :param str band: band identifier
+        :param str label: label identifier
         :param str item: items to be printed out
         """
 
@@ -84,25 +83,32 @@ def print_kv(k, v, indent):
                 print("{}{}: {}".format(" " * indent * 2, k, v))
 
         indent = 4
-        print("{}band: {}".format(" " * indent, band))
-        for k, v in item[band].items():
+        print("{}label: {}".format(" " * indent, label))
+        for k, v in item[label].items():
             print_kv(k, v, indent)
 
-    def _print_band(self, shortcut, band, tag=None):
-        sys.stdout.write(self._band_identifier(shortcut, band))
+    def _print_label(self, semantic_label=None, tag=None):
+        sys.stdout.write(semantic_label)
         if tag:
             sys.stdout.write(" {}".format(tag))
         sys.stdout.write(os.linesep)
 
-    def print_info(self, shortcut=None, band=None, extended=False):
-        """Prints band reference information to stdout.
+    def print_info(self, shortcut=None, band=None, semantic_label=None, extended=False):
+        """Prints semantic label information to stdout.
 
-        Can be filtered by shortcut or band identifier.
+        Can be filtered by semantic label identifier.
 
         :param str shortcut: shortcut to filter (eg. S2) or None
         :param str band: band (eg. 1) or None
+        :param str semantic_label: semantic_label filter (eg. S2_8A) or None
         :param bool extended: print also extended metadata
         """
+        if semantic_label:
+            try:
+                shortcut, band = semantic_label.split("_")
+            except ValueError:
+                shortcut = semantic_label
+                band = None
         found = False
         for root in self.config.values():
             for item in root.values():
@@ -110,11 +116,11 @@ def print_info(self, shortcut=None, band=None, extended=False):
                     if shortcut and re.match(shortcut, item["shortcut"]) is None:
                         continue
                 except re.error as e:
-                    raise BandReferenceReaderError("Invalid pattern: {}".format(e))
+                    raise SemanticLabelReaderError("Invalid pattern: {}".format(e))
 
                 found = True
                 if band and band not in item["bands"]:
-                    raise BandReferenceReaderError(
+                    raise SemanticLabelReaderError(
                         "Band <{}> not found in <{}>".format(band, shortcut)
                     )
 
@@ -128,52 +134,54 @@ def print_info(self, shortcut=None, band=None, extended=False):
 
                     # print detailed band information
                     if band:
-                        self._print_band_extended(band, item["bands"])
+                        self._print_label_extended(band, item["bands"])
                     else:
                         for iband in item["bands"]:
-                            self._print_band_extended(iband, item["bands"])
+                            self._print_label_extended(iband, item["bands"])
                 else:
                     # basic information only
                     if band:
-                        self._print_band(
-                            item["shortcut"], band, item["bands"][band].get("tag")
+                        self._print_label(
+                            semantic_label=item["shortcut"],
+                            tag=item["bands"][band].get("tag"),
                         )
                     else:
                         for iband in item["bands"]:
-                            self._print_band(
-                                item["shortcut"], iband, item["bands"][iband].get("tag")
+                            self._print_label(
+                                semantic_label=item["shortcut"],
+                                tag=item["bands"][iband].get("tag"),
                             )
 
-        # raise error when defined shortcut not found
-        if shortcut and not found:
-            raise BandReferenceReaderError(
-                "Band reference <{}> not found".format(shortcut)
+        # print warning when defined shortcut not found
+        if not found:
+            gs.warning(
+                "Metadata for semantic label <{}> not found".format(semantic_label)
             )
 
-    def find_file(self, band_reference):
-        """Find file by band reference.
+    def find_file(self, semantic_label):
+        """Find file by semantic label.
 
         Match is case-insensitive.
 
-        :param str band_reference: band reference identifier to search for (eg. S2_1)
+        :param str semantic_label: semantic label identifier to search for (eg. S2_1)
 
         :return str: file basename if found or None
         """
         try:
-            shortcut, band = band_reference.split("_")
+            shortcut, band = semantic_label.split("_")
         except ValueError:
-            # raise BandReferenceReaderError("Invalid band identifier <{}>".format(
-            #    band_reference
+            # raise SemanticLabelReaderError("Invalid band identifier <{}>".format(
+            #    semantic_label
             # ))
-            shortcut = "unknown"
-            band = band_reference
+            shortcut = None
 
         for filename, config in self.config.items():
             for root in config.keys():
-                if config[root][
-                    "shortcut"
-                ].upper() == shortcut.upper() and band.upper() in map(
-                    lambda x: x.upper(), config[root]["bands"].keys()
+                if (
+                    shortcut
+                    and config[root]["shortcut"].upper() == shortcut.upper()
+                    and band.upper()
+                    in map(lambda x: x.upper(), config[root]["bands"].keys())
                 ):
                     return filename
 
@@ -188,9 +196,5 @@ def get_bands(self):
         for root in self.config.values():
             for item in root.values():
                 for band in item["bands"]:
-                    bands.append(self._band_identifier(item["shortcut"], band))
+                    bands.append("{}_{}".format(item["shortcut"], band))
         return bands
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def _band_identifier(shortcut, band):
-        return "{}_{}".format(shortcut, band)
diff --git a/python/grass/temporal/abstract_map_dataset.py b/python/grass/temporal/abstract_map_dataset.py
index c72771c55e6..63ea6440bd4 100644
--- a/python/grass/temporal/abstract_map_dataset.py
+++ b/python/grass/temporal/abstract_map_dataset.py
@@ -1158,7 +1158,7 @@ def remove_stds_from_register(self, stds_id, dbif=None, execute=True):
 
         return statement
 
-    def read_band_reference_from_grass(self):
+    def read_semantic_label_from_grass(self):
         """Read the band identifier of this map from the map metadata
         in the GRASS file system based spatial database and
         set the internal band identifier that should be insert/updated
@@ -1169,13 +1169,13 @@ def read_band_reference_from_grass(self):
         """
         pass
 
-    def set_band_reference(self, band_reference):
-        """Set band reference identifier
+    def set_semantic_label(self, semantic_label):
+        """Set semantic label identifier
 
         Currently only implemented in RasterDataset. Otherwise
         report a warning.
         """
-        self.msgr.warning(_("Band references can only be assigned to raster maps"))
+        self.msgr.warning(_("semantic labels can only be assigned to raster maps"))
 
 
 ###############################################################################
diff --git a/python/grass/temporal/abstract_space_time_dataset.py b/python/grass/temporal/abstract_space_time_dataset.py
index be8ec2af97e..68f6615dea0 100644
--- a/python/grass/temporal/abstract_space_time_dataset.py
+++ b/python/grass/temporal/abstract_space_time_dataset.py
@@ -63,13 +63,13 @@ def __init__(self, ident):
         self.map_counter = 0
 
         # SpaceTimeRasterDataset related only
-        self.band_reference = None
+        self.semantic_label = None
 
-    def get_name(self, band_reference=True):
-        """Get dataset name including band reference filter if enabled.
+    def get_name(self, semantic_label=True):
+        """Get dataset name including semantic label filter if enabled.
 
-        :param bool band_reference: True to return dataset name
-        including band reference filter if defined
+        :param bool semantic_label: True to return dataset name
+        including semantic label filter if defined
         (eg. "landsat.L8_1") otherwise dataset name is returned only
         (eg. "landsat").
 
@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@ def get_name(self, band_reference=True):
         """
         dataset_name = super(AbstractSpaceTimeDataset, self).get_name()
 
-        if band_reference and self.band_reference:
-            return "{}.{}".format(dataset_name, self.band_reference)
+        if semantic_label and self.semantic_label:
+            return "{}.{}".format(dataset_name, self.semantic_label)
 
         return dataset_name
 
@@ -1520,10 +1520,10 @@ def get_registered_maps_as_objects(self, where=None, order="start_time", dbif=No
 
         return obj_list
 
-    def _update_where_statement_by_band_reference(self, where):
-        """Update given SQL WHERE statement by band reference.
+    def _update_where_statement_by_semantic_label(self, where):
+        """Update given SQL WHERE statement by semantic label.
 
-        Call this method only when self.band_reference is defined.
+        Call this method only when self.semantic_label is defined.
 
         :param str where: SQL WHERE statement to be updated
 
@@ -1548,12 +1548,12 @@ def leading_zero(value):
             where = ""
 
         # be case-insensitive
-        if "_" in self.band_reference:
-            # fully-qualified band reference
-            where += "band_reference IN ('{}'".format(self.band_reference.upper())
+        if "_" in self.semantic_label:
+            # fully-qualified semantic label
+            where += "semantic_label IN ('{}'".format(self.semantic_label.upper())
 
             # be zero-padding less sensitive
-            shortcut, identifier = self.band_reference.split("_", -1)
+            shortcut, identifier = self.semantic_label.split("_", -1)
             identifier_zp = leading_zero(identifier)
             if identifier_zp:
                 where += ", '{fl}_{zp}'".format(
@@ -1564,19 +1564,19 @@ def leading_zero(value):
             where += ")"
         else:
             # shortcut or band identifier given
-            shortcut_identifier = leading_zero(self.band_reference)
+            shortcut_identifier = leading_zero(self.semantic_label)
             if shortcut_identifier:
                 where += (
                     "{br} LIKE '{si}\_%' {esc} OR {br} LIKE '%\_{si}' {esc} OR "
                     "{br} LIKE '{orig}\_%' {esc} OR {br} LIKE '%\_{orig}' {esc}".format(
-                        br="band_reference",
+                        br="semantic_label",
                         si=shortcut_identifier,
-                        orig=self.band_reference.upper(),
+                        orig=self.semantic_label.upper(),
                         esc="ESCAPE '\\'",
                     )
                 )
             else:
-                where += "band_reference = '{}'".format(self.band_reference)
+                where += "semantic_label = '{}'".format(self.semantic_label)
 
         return where
 
@@ -1622,9 +1622,9 @@ def get_registered_maps(self, columns=None, where=None, order=None, dbif=None):
                     self.get_map_register(),
                 )
 
-            # filter by band reference identifier
-            if self.band_reference:
-                where = self._update_where_statement_by_band_reference(where)
+            # filter by semantic label identifier
+            if self.semantic_label:
+                where = self._update_where_statement_by_semantic_label(where)
 
             if where is not None and where != "":
                 sql += " AND (%s)" % (where.split(";")[0])
diff --git a/python/grass/temporal/c_libraries_interface.py b/python/grass/temporal/c_libraries_interface.py
index c342ba49463..39e0594482f 100644
--- a/python/grass/temporal/c_libraries_interface.py
+++ b/python/grass/temporal/c_libraries_interface.py
@@ -48,9 +48,9 @@ class RPCDefs(object):
     G_LOCATION = 12
     G_GISDBASE = 13
     READ_MAP_FULL_INFO = 14
-    WRITE_BAND_REFERENCE = 15
-    READ_BAND_REFERENCE = 16
-    REMOVE_BAND_REFERENCE = 17
+    WRITE_SEMANTIC_LABEL = 15
+    READ_SEMANTIC_LABEL = 16
+    REMOVE_SEMANTIC_LABEL = 17
     G_FATAL_ERROR = 49
 
     TYPE_RASTER = 0
@@ -525,12 +525,12 @@ def _remove_timestamp(lock, conn, data):
 ###############################################################################
 
 
-def _read_band_reference(lock, conn, data):
+def _read_semantic_label(lock, conn, data):
     """Read the file based GRASS band identifier
     the result using the provided pipe.
 
     The result to be sent via pipe is the return value of
-    Rast_read_bandref: either a band reference string or None.
+    Rast_read_semantic_label: either a semantic label string or None.
 
     :param lock: A multiprocessing.Lock instance
     :param conn: A multiprocessing.Pipe instance used to send True or False
@@ -538,7 +538,7 @@ def _read_band_reference(lock, conn, data):
                  mapset, layer, timestring]
 
     """
-    bandref = None
+    semantic_label = None
     try:
         maptype = data[1]
         name = data[2]
@@ -548,27 +548,27 @@ def _read_band_reference(lock, conn, data):
         if maptype == RPCDefs.TYPE_RASTER:
             # Must use temporary variable to work around
             # ValueError: ctypes objects containing pointers cannot be pickled
-            ret = libraster.Rast_read_bandref(name, mapset)
+            ret = libraster.Rast_read_semantic_label(name, mapset)
             if ret:
-                bandref = decode(ret)
+                semantic_label = decode(ret)
         else:
             logging.error(
-                "Unable to read band reference. " "Unsupported map type %s" % maptype
+                "Unable to read semantic label. " "Unsupported map type %s" % maptype
             )
             return -1
     except:
         raise
     finally:
-        conn.send(bandref)
+        conn.send(semantic_label)
 
 
 ###############################################################################
 
 
-def _write_band_reference(lock, conn, data):
+def _write_semantic_label(lock, conn, data):
     """Write the file based GRASS band identifier.
 
-    Rises ValueError on invalid band reference.
+    Rises ValueError on invalid semantic label.
     Always sends back True.
 
     :param lock: A multiprocessing.Lock instance
@@ -582,15 +582,15 @@ def _write_band_reference(lock, conn, data):
         name = data[2]
         # mapset = data[3]
         # layer = data[4]
-        bandref = data[5]
+        semantic_label = data[5]
 
         if maptype == RPCDefs.TYPE_RASTER:
-            if libraster.Rast_legal_bandref(bandref) is False:
-                raise ValueError(_("Invalid band reference"))
-            libraster.Rast_write_bandref(name, bandref)
+            if libraster.Rast_legal_semantic_label(semantic_label) is False:
+                raise ValueError(_("Invalid semantic label"))
+            libraster.Rast_write_semantic_label(name, semantic_label)
         else:
             logging.error(
-                "Unable to write band reference. " "Unsupported map type %s" % maptype
+                "Unable to write semantic label. " "Unsupported map type %s" % maptype
             )
             return -2
     except:
@@ -602,7 +602,7 @@ def _write_band_reference(lock, conn, data):
 ###############################################################################
 
 
-def _remove_band_reference(lock, conn, data):
+def _remove_semantic_label(lock, conn, data):
     """Remove the file based GRASS band identifier.
 
     The value to be send via pipe is the return value of G_remove_misc.
@@ -621,10 +621,10 @@ def _remove_band_reference(lock, conn, data):
         # layer = data[4]
 
         if maptype == RPCDefs.TYPE_RASTER:
-            check = libgis.G_remove_misc("cell_misc", "bandref", name)
+            check = libgis.G_remove_misc("cell_misc", "semantic_label", name)
         else:
             logging.error(
-                "Unable to remove band reference. " "Unsupported map type %s" % maptype
+                "Unable to remove semantic label. " "Unsupported map type %s" % maptype
             )
             return -2
     except:
@@ -1117,9 +1117,9 @@ def error_handler(data):
     functions[RPCDefs.G_LOCATION] = _get_location
     functions[RPCDefs.G_GISDBASE] = _get_gisdbase
     functions[RPCDefs.READ_MAP_FULL_INFO] = _read_map_full_info
-    functions[RPCDefs.WRITE_BAND_REFERENCE] = _write_band_reference
-    functions[RPCDefs.READ_BAND_REFERENCE] = _read_band_reference
-    functions[RPCDefs.REMOVE_BAND_REFERENCE] = _remove_band_reference
+    functions[RPCDefs.WRITE_SEMANTIC_LABEL] = _write_semantic_label
+    functions[RPCDefs.READ_SEMANTIC_LABEL] = _read_semantic_label
+    functions[RPCDefs.REMOVE_SEMANTIC_LABEL] = _remove_semantic_label
     functions[RPCDefs.G_FATAL_ERROR] = _fatal_error
 
     libgis.G_gisinit("c_library_server")
@@ -1449,8 +1449,8 @@ def write_raster_timestamp(self, name, mapset, timestring):
         )
         return self.safe_receive("write_raster_timestamp")
 
-    def remove_raster_band_reference(self, name, mapset):
-        """Remove a file based raster band reference
+    def remove_raster_semantic_label(self, name, mapset):
+        """Remove a file based raster semantic label
 
         :param name: The name of the map
         :param mapset: The mapset of the map
@@ -1458,48 +1458,48 @@ def remove_raster_band_reference(self, name, mapset):
         """
         self.check_server()
         self.client_conn.send(
-            [RPCDefs.REMOVE_BAND_REFERENCE, RPCDefs.TYPE_RASTER, name, mapset, None]
+            [RPCDefs.REMOVE_SEMANTIC_LABEL, RPCDefs.TYPE_RASTER, name, mapset, None]
         )
-        return self.safe_receive("remove_raster_timestamp")
+        return self.safe_receive("remove_raster_semantic_label")
 
-    def read_raster_band_reference(self, name, mapset):
-        """Read a file based raster band reference
+    def read_raster_semantic_label(self, name, mapset):
+        """Read a file based raster semantic label
 
-        Returns band reference or None
+        Returns semantic label or None
 
         :param name: The name of the map
         :param mapset: The mapset of the map
-        :returns: The return value of Rast_read_bandref
+        :returns: The return value of Rast_read_semantic_label
         """
         self.check_server()
         self.client_conn.send(
-            [RPCDefs.READ_BAND_REFERENCE, RPCDefs.TYPE_RASTER, name, mapset, None]
+            [RPCDefs.READ_SEMANTIC_LABEL, RPCDefs.TYPE_RASTER, name, mapset, None]
         )
-        return self.safe_receive("read_raster_band_reference")
+        return self.safe_receive("read_raster_semantic_label")
 
-    def write_raster_band_reference(self, name, mapset, band_reference):
-        """Write a file based raster band reference
+    def write_raster_semantic_label(self, name, mapset, semantic_label):
+        """Write a file based raster semantic label
 
         Note:
-            Only band references of maps from the current mapset can be written.
+            Only semantic labels of maps from the current mapset can be written.
 
         :param name: The name of the map
         :param mapset: The mapset of the map
-        :param band_reference: band reference identifier
+        :param semantic_label: semantic label
         :returns: always True
         """
         self.check_server()
         self.client_conn.send(
             [
-                RPCDefs.WRITE_BAND_REFERENCE,
+                RPCDefs.WRITE_SEMANTIC_LABEL,
                 RPCDefs.TYPE_RASTER,
                 name,
                 mapset,
                 None,
-                band_reference,
+                semantic_label,
             ]
         )
-        return self.safe_receive("write_raster_band_reference")
+        return self.safe_receive("write_raster_semantic_label")
 
     def raster3d_map_exists(self, name, mapset):
         """Check if a 3D raster map exists in the spatial database
diff --git a/python/grass/temporal/extract.py b/python/grass/temporal/extract.py
index 5e9918a591b..9cb91ac2230 100644
--- a/python/grass/temporal/extract.py
+++ b/python/grass/temporal/extract.py
@@ -266,10 +266,10 @@ def extract_dataset(
                     new_map.set_temporal_extent(old_map.get_temporal_extent())
 
                     if type == "raster":
-                        # Set the band reference
-                        band_reference = old_map.metadata.get_band_reference()
-                        if band_reference is not None:
-                            new_map.set_band_reference(band_reference)
+                        # Set the semantic label
+                        semantic_label = old_map.metadata.get_semantic_label()
+                        if semantic_label is not None:
+                            new_map.set_semantic_label(semantic_label)
 
                     # Insert map in temporal database
                     new_map.insert(dbif)
diff --git a/python/grass/temporal/mapcalc.py b/python/grass/temporal/mapcalc.py
index 6f46d4fd939..50fd9b31dc7 100644
--- a/python/grass/temporal/mapcalc.py
+++ b/python/grass/temporal/mapcalc.py
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ def dataset_mapcalculator(
     input_name_list_uniq = []
     for input_name in input_name_list:
         ds = open_old_stds(input_name, type, dbif)
-        ds_name = ds.get_name(band_reference=False)
+        ds_name = ds.get_name(semantic_label=False)
         if ds_name not in input_name_list_uniq:
             input_name_list_uniq.append(ds_name)
     do_sampling = len(input_name_list_uniq) > 1
diff --git a/python/grass/temporal/metadata.py b/python/grass/temporal/metadata.py
index 12a8eb90ab5..597c024af58 100644
--- a/python/grass/temporal/metadata.py
+++ b/python/grass/temporal/metadata.py
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ def __init__(
         ewres=None,
         min=None,
         max=None,
-        band_reference=None,
+        semantic_label=None,
     ):
 
         RasterMetadataBase.__init__(
@@ -355,21 +355,21 @@ def __init__(
             max,
         )
 
-        self.set_band_reference(band_reference)
+        self.set_semantic_label(semantic_label)
 
-    def set_band_reference(self, band_reference):
-        """Set the band reference identifier"""
-        self.D["band_reference"] = band_reference
+    def set_semantic_label(self, semantic_label):
+        """Set the semantic label identifier"""
+        self.D["semantic_label"] = semantic_label
 
-    def get_band_reference(self):
-        """Get the band reference identifier
+    def get_semantic_label(self):
+        """Get the semantic label identifier
         :return: None if not found"""
-        if "band_reference" in self.D:
-            return self.D["band_reference"]
+        if "semantic_label" in self.D:
+            return self.D["semantic_label"]
         else:
             return None
 
-    band_reference = property(fget=get_band_reference, fset=set_band_reference)
+    semantic_label = property(fget=get_semantic_label, fset=set_semantic_label)
 
     def _print_info_body(self, shell=False):
         """Print information about this class (body part).
@@ -377,11 +377,11 @@ def _print_info_body(self, shell=False):
         :param bool shell: True for human readable style otherwise shell style
         """
         super()._print_info_body(shell)
-        # band reference section (raster specific only)
+        # semantic label section (raster specific only)
         if shell:
-            print("band_reference=" + str(self.get_band_reference()))
+            print("semantic_label=" + str(self.get_semantic_label()))
         else:
-            print(" | Band reference:............. " + str(self.get_band_reference()))
+            print(" | Semantic label:............. " + str(self.get_semantic_label()))
 
 
 ###############################################################################
@@ -1404,7 +1404,7 @@ def get_band_names(self):
         :return: None if not found
         """
 
-        sql = "SELECT distinct band_reference FROM %s WHERE %s.id " % (
+        sql = "SELECT distinct semantic_label FROM %s WHERE %s.id " % (
             "raster_metadata",
             "raster_metadata",
         )
@@ -1421,11 +1421,11 @@ def get_band_names(self):
             string = ""
             count = 0
             for row in rows:
-                if row["band_reference"]:
+                if row["semantic_label"]:
                     if count == 0:
-                        string += row["band_reference"]
+                        string += row["semantic_label"]
                     else:
-                        string += ",%s" % row["band_reference"]
+                        string += ",%s" % row["semantic_label"]
                     count += 1
 
             if count > 0:
diff --git a/python/grass/temporal/open_stds.py b/python/grass/temporal/open_stds.py
index b47f6842cc1..ec8ef3d9c1d 100644
--- a/python/grass/temporal/open_stds.py
+++ b/python/grass/temporal/open_stds.py
@@ -44,23 +44,23 @@ def open_old_stds(name, type, dbif=None):
     """
     msgr = get_tgis_message_interface()
 
-    # Check if the dataset name contains the mapset and the band reference as well
+    # Check if the dataset name contains the mapset and the semantic label as well
     if name.find("@") < 0:
         mapset = get_current_mapset()
     else:
         name, mapset = name.split("@")
-    band_ref = None
+    semantic_label = None
     if name.find(".") > -1:
         try:
-            name, band_ref = name.split(".")
+            name, semantic_label = name.split(".")
         except ValueError:
             msgr.fatal("Invalid name of the space time dataset. Only one dot allowed.")
     id = name + "@" + mapset
 
     if type == "strds" or type == "rast" or type == "raster":
         sp = dataset_factory("strds", id)
-        if band_ref:
-            sp.set_band_reference(band_ref)
+        if semantic_label:
+            sp.set_semantic_label(semantic_label)
     elif (
         type == "str3ds"
         or type == "raster3d"
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def check_new_stds(name, type, dbif=None, overwrite=False):
 
     if type == "strds" or type == "rast" or type == "raster":
         if name.find(".") > -1:
-            # a dot is used as a separator for band reference filtering
+            # a dot is used as a separator for semantic label filtering
             msgr.fatal(
                 _("Illegal dataset name <{}>. " "Character '.' not allowed.").format(
                     name
diff --git a/python/grass/temporal/register.py b/python/grass/temporal/register.py
index 167d90dc9dd..ca7250a1d7c 100644
--- a/python/grass/temporal/register.py
+++ b/python/grass/temporal/register.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ def register_maps_in_space_time_dataset(
     """
     start_time_in_file = False
     end_time_in_file = False
-    band_reference_in_file = False
+    semantic_label_in_file = False
 
     msgr = get_tgis_message_interface()
 
@@ -167,29 +167,29 @@ def register_maps_in_space_time_dataset(
 
             line_list = line.split(fs)
 
-            # Detect start and end time (and band reference)
+            # Detect start and end time (and semantic label)
             if len(line_list) == 2:
                 start_time_in_file = True
                 end_time_in_file = False
-                band_reference_in_file = False
+                semantic_label_in_file = False
             elif len(line_list) == 3:
                 start_time_in_file = True
-                # Check if last column is an end time or a band reference
+                # Check if last column is an end time or a semantic label
                 time_object = check_datetime_string(line_list[2])
                 if not sp.is_time_relative() and isinstance(time_object, datetime):
                     end_time_in_file = True
-                    band_reference_in_file = False
+                    semantic_label_in_file = False
                 else:
                     end_time_in_file = False
-                    band_reference_in_file = True
+                    semantic_label_in_file = True
             elif len(line_list) == 4:
                 start_time_in_file = True
                 end_time_in_file = True
-                band_reference_in_file = True
+                semantic_label_in_file = True
             else:
                 start_time_in_file = False
                 end_time_in_file = False
-                band_reference_in_file = False
+                semantic_label_in_file = False
 
             mapname = line_list[0].strip()
             row = {}
@@ -201,10 +201,10 @@ def register_maps_in_space_time_dataset(
             if start_time_in_file and not end_time_in_file:
                 row["start"] = line_list[1].strip()
 
-            if band_reference_in_file:
+            if semantic_label_in_file:
                 idx = 3 if end_time_in_file else 2
                 # case-sensitive, the user decides on the band name
-                row["band_reference"] = line_list[idx].strip()
+                row["semantic_label"] = line_list[idx].strip()
 
             row["id"] = AbstractMapDataset.build_id(mapname, mapset)
 
@@ -254,11 +254,11 @@ def register_maps_in_space_time_dataset(
         if "end" in maplist[count]:
             end = maplist[count]["end"]
 
-        # Use the band reference from file
-        if "band_reference" in maplist[count]:
-            band_reference = maplist[count]["band_reference"]
+        # Use the semantic label from file
+        if "semantic_label" in maplist[count]:
+            semantic_label = maplist[count]["semantic_label"]
         else:
-            band_reference = None
+            semantic_label = None
 
         is_in_db = False
 
@@ -402,15 +402,15 @@ def register_maps_in_space_time_dataset(
                 interval=interval,
             )
 
-        # Set the band reference (only raster type supported)
-        if band_reference:
-            # Band reference defined in input file
+        # Set the semantic label (only raster type supported)
+        if semantic_label:
+            # semantic label defined in input file
             # -> update raster metadata
             # -> write band identifier to GRASS data base
-            map.set_band_reference(band_reference)
+            map.set_semantic_label(semantic_label)
         else:
-            # Try to read band reference from GRASS data base if defined
-            map.read_band_reference_from_grass()
+            # Try to read semantic label from GRASS data base if defined
+            map.read_semantic_label_from_grass()
 
         if is_in_db:
             #  Gather the SQL update statement
diff --git a/python/grass/temporal/space_time_datasets.py b/python/grass/temporal/space_time_datasets.py
index 1be030961f4..e998c186cf6 100644
--- a/python/grass/temporal/space_time_datasets.py
+++ b/python/grass/temporal/space_time_datasets.py
@@ -346,42 +346,42 @@ def remove_timestamp_from_grass(self):
 
         return True
 
-    def read_band_reference_from_grass(self):
-        """Read the band identifier of this map from the map metadata
+    def read_semantic_label_from_grass(self):
+        """Read the semantic label of this map from the map metadata
         in the GRASS file system based spatial database and
-        set the internal band identifier that should be insert/updated
+        set the internal semantic label that should be insert/updated
         in the temporal database.
 
-        :return: True if success, False if band references could not be
+        :return: True if success, False if semantic labels could not be
                  read (due to an error or because not being present)
         """
 
-        band_ref = self.ciface.read_raster_band_reference(
+        semantic_label = self.ciface.read_raster_semantic_label(
             self.get_name(), self.get_mapset()
         )
 
-        if not band_ref:
+        if not semantic_label:
             return False
 
-        self.metadata.set_band_reference(band_ref)
+        self.metadata.set_semantic_label(semantic_label)
 
         return True
 
-    def write_band_reference_to_grass(self):
-        """Write the band identifier of this map into the map metadata in
+    def write_semantic_label_to_grass(self):
+        """Write the semantic label of this map into the map metadata in
         the GRASS file system based spatial database.
 
         Internally the libgis API functions are used for writing
 
         :return: True if success, False on error
         """
-        check = self.ciface.write_raster_band_reference(
-            self.get_name(), self.get_mapset(), self.metadata.get_band_reference()
+        check = self.ciface.write_raster_semantic_label(
+            self.get_name(), self.get_mapset(), self.metadata.get_semantic_label()
         )
         if check == -1:
             self.msgr.error(
                 _(
-                    "Unable to write band identifier for raster map <%s>"
+                    "Unable to write semantic label for raster map <%s>"
                     % (self.get_name())
                 )
             )
@@ -440,29 +440,29 @@ def load(self):
             self.metadata.set_rows(rows)
             self.metadata.set_number_of_cells(ncells)
 
-            # Fill band reference if defined
-            band_ref = self.ciface.read_raster_band_reference(
+            # Fill semantic label if defined
+            semantic_label = self.ciface.read_raster_semantic_label(
                 self.get_name(), self.get_mapset()
             )
-            if band_ref:
-                self.metadata.set_band_reference(band_ref)
+            if semantic_label:
+                self.metadata.set_semantic_label(semantic_label)
 
             return True
 
         return False
 
-    def set_band_reference(self, band_reference):
-        """Set band reference identifier
+    def set_semantic_label(self, semantic_label):
+        """Set semantic label identifier
 
-        Metadata is updated in order to propagate band identifier into
+        Metadata is updated in order to propagate semantic label into
         temporal DB.
 
-        File-based band identifier stored in GRASS data base.
+        File-based semantic label stored in GRASS data base.
 
-        :param str band_reference: band reference identifier (eg. S2_1)
+        :param str semantic_label: semantic label (eg. S2_1)
         """
-        self.metadata.set_band_reference(band_reference)
-        self.write_band_reference_to_grass()
+        self.metadata.set_semantic_label(semantic_label)
+        self.write_semantic_label_to_grass()
 
 
 ###############################################################################
@@ -1196,12 +1196,12 @@ class SpaceTimeRasterDataset(AbstractSpaceTimeDataset):
     def __init__(self, ident):
         AbstractSpaceTimeDataset.__init__(self, ident)
 
-    def set_band_reference(self, band_reference):
-        """Set band reference identifier
+    def set_semantic_label(self, semantic_label):
+        """Set semantic label
 
-        :param str band_reference: band reference identifier (eg. S2_1)
+        :param str semantic_label: semantic label (eg. S2_1)
         """
-        self.band_reference = band_reference
+        self.semantic_label = semantic_label
 
     def is_stds(self):
         """Return True if this class is a space time dataset
diff --git a/raster/r.info/main.c b/raster/r.info/main.c
index 93fa775acc0..cbd222b7ec7 100644
--- a/raster/r.info/main.c
+++ b/raster/r.info/main.c
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     const char *title;
     char tmp1[100], tmp2[100], tmp3[100];
     char timebuff[256];
-    char *units, *vdatum, *bandref;
+    char *units, *vdatum, *semantic_label;
     int i;
     CELL mincat = 0, maxcat = 0, cat;
     FILE *out;
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
     vdatum = Rast_read_vdatum(name, "");
 
-    bandref = Rast_read_bandref(name, "");
+    semantic_label = Rast_read_semantic_label(name, "");
 
     /*Check the Timestamp */
     time_ok = G_read_raster_timestamp(name, "", &ts) > 0;
@@ -180,11 +180,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		     "  Type of Map:  %-20.20s Number of Categories: %-9s",
 		     hist_ok ? Rast_get_history(&hist, HIST_MAPTYPE) : "??", cats_ok ? tmp1 : "??");
 
-	compose_line(out, "  Data Type:    %-20.20s Band reference: %s ",
+	compose_line(out, "  Data Type:    %-20.20s Semantic label: %s ",
 		     (data_type == CELL_TYPE ? "CELL" :
 		      (data_type == DCELL_TYPE ? "DCELL" :
 		       (data_type == FCELL_TYPE ? "FCELL" : "??"))),
-             (bandref ? bandref : "(none)"));
+             (semantic_label ? semantic_label : "(none)"));
 
 	/* For now hide these unless they exist to keep the noise low. In
 	 *   future when the two are used more widely they can be printed
@@ -569,7 +569,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	    }
 	    fprintf(out, "units=%s\n", units ? units : "\"none\"");
 	    fprintf(out, "vdatum=%s\n", vdatum ? vdatum : "\"none\"");
-        fprintf(out, "bandref=%s\n", bandref ? bandref : "\"none\"");
+        fprintf(out, "semantic_label=%s\n", semantic_label ? semantic_label : "\"none\"");
 	    fprintf(out, "source1=\"%s\"\n", hist_ok ? Rast_get_history(&hist, HIST_DATSRC_1) : "\"none\"");
 	    fprintf(out, "source2=\"%s\"\n", hist_ok ? Rast_get_history(&hist, HIST_DATSRC_2) : "\"none\"");
 	    fprintf(out, "description=\"%s\"\n", hist_ok ? Rast_get_history(&hist, HIST_KEYWRD) : "\"none\"");
diff --git a/raster/r.info/r.info.html b/raster/r.info/r.info.html
index 6ee19d839fb..877a596a708 100644
--- a/raster/r.info/r.info.html
+++ b/raster/r.info/r.info.html
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ <h2>EXAMPLES</h2>
 timestamp="none"
 units="none"
 vdatum="none"
-bandref="none"
+semantic_label="none"
 source1="raster elevation file elev_ned10m"
 source2=""
 description="generated by r.slope.aspect"
diff --git a/raster/r.support/main.c b/raster/r.support/main.c
index 9bae8e5f28e..85220ccdea6 100644
--- a/raster/r.support/main.c
+++ b/raster/r.support/main.c
@@ -40,10 +40,10 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     struct GModule *module;
     struct Option *raster, *title_opt, *history_opt;
     struct Option *datasrc1_opt, *datasrc2_opt, *datadesc_opt;
-    struct Option *bandref_opt;
+    struct Option *semantic_label_opt;
     struct Option *map_opt, *units_opt, *vdatum_opt;
     struct Option *load_opt, *save_opt;
-    struct Flag *stats_flag, *null_flag, *del_flag, *bandref_rm_flag;
+    struct Flag *stats_flag, *null_flag, *del_flag, *semantic_label_rm_flag;
     int is_reclass;		/* Is raster reclass? */
     const char *infile;
     struct History hist;
@@ -135,19 +135,19 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     save_opt->guisection = _("Import / Export");
     save_opt->description = _("Text file in which to save history");
 
-    bandref_opt = G_define_option();
-    bandref_opt->key = "bandref";
-    bandref_opt->key_desc = "phrase";
-    bandref_opt->type = TYPE_STRING;
-    bandref_opt->required = NO;
-    bandref_opt->guisection = _("Band reference");
-    bandref_opt->description =
-	_("Band reference in form shortcut_name e.g. S2_8A");
+    semantic_label_opt = G_define_option();
+    semantic_label_opt->key = "semantic_label";
+    semantic_label_opt->key_desc = "phrase";
+    semantic_label_opt->type = TYPE_STRING;
+    semantic_label_opt->required = NO;
+    semantic_label_opt->guisection = _("Semantic label");
+    semantic_label_opt->description =
+	_("Semantic label e.g. S2_8A");
 
-    bandref_rm_flag = G_define_flag();
-    bandref_rm_flag->key = 'b';
-    bandref_rm_flag->guisection = _("Band reference");
-    bandref_rm_flag->description = _("Delete the band reference");
+    semantic_label_rm_flag = G_define_flag();
+    semantic_label_rm_flag->key = 'b';
+    semantic_label_rm_flag->guisection = _("Semantic label");
+    semantic_label_rm_flag->description = _("Delete the semantic label");
 
     stats_flag = G_define_flag();
     stats_flag->key = 's';
@@ -174,9 +174,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     if (!mapset || strcmp(mapset, G_mapset()) != 0)
 	G_fatal_error(_("Raster map <%s> not found in current mapset"), infile);
 
-    if (bandref_rm_flag->answer && bandref_opt->answer)
-        G_fatal_error(_("Band reference removal and setting band "
-                        "reference values simultaneously doesn't make sense"));
+    if (semantic_label_rm_flag->answer && semantic_label_opt->answer)
+        G_fatal_error(_("Semantic label removal and setting semantic "
+                        "label values simultaneously doesn't make sense"));
 
     Rast_get_cellhd(raster->answer, "", &cellhd);
     is_reclass = (Rast_is_reclass(raster->answer, "", rname, rmapset) > 0);
@@ -284,21 +284,21 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	Rast_free_cats(&cats);
     }
 
-    if (bandref_opt->answer) {
-        if (Rast_legal_bandref(bandref_opt->answer) == false)
-            G_fatal_error(_("Provided band reference is not valid. "
+    if (semantic_label_opt->answer) {
+        if (Rast_legal_semantic_label(semantic_label_opt->answer) == false)
+            G_fatal_error(_("Provided semantic label is not valid. "
                             "See documentation for valid examples"));
 
-        Rast_write_bandref(infile, bandref_opt->answer);
+        Rast_write_semantic_label(infile, semantic_label_opt->answer);
     }
 
-    if (bandref_rm_flag->answer)
-        G_remove_misc("cell_misc", "bandref", infile);
+    if (semantic_label_rm_flag->answer)
+        G_remove_misc("cell_misc", "semantic_label", infile);
 
     if (title_opt->answer || history_opt->answer || units_opt->answer
 	|| vdatum_opt->answer || datasrc1_opt->answer || datasrc2_opt->answer
 	|| datadesc_opt->answer || map_opt->answer
-	|| bandref_opt->answer || bandref_rm_flag->answer)
+	|| semantic_label_opt->answer || semantic_label_rm_flag->answer)
 	exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
 
 
diff --git a/raster/r.support/r.support.html b/raster/r.support/r.support.html
index e91a132d945..1e45c83904b 100644
--- a/raster/r.support/r.support.html
+++ b/raster/r.support/r.support.html
@@ -2,17 +2,15 @@ <h2>DESCRIPTION</h2>
 
 <b>r.support</b> allows the user to create and/or edit raster map support 
 information. Editing of raster map color tables, category labels, header, 
-history, band reference elements and title is supported.
+history, semantic label elements and title is supported.
 Category labels can also be copied from another raster map.
 
 <h3>Raster band management</h3>
-Raster band reference concept is similar to dimension name in other GIS and
+Raster semantic label concept is similar to dimension name in other GIS and
 remote sensing applications. Most common usage will be assigning a
 remote sensing platform sensor band ID to the raster, although any
-identifier is supported. Raster band reference is required to work with
+identifier is supported. Raster semantic label is suggested to work with
 imagery classification tools.<br>
-Band reference should be in form &lt;shortcut&gt;_&lt;bandname&gt; e.g.
-use <b>L5_1</b> if raster contains data from Landsat 5 visible blue (1) band.
 
 <h2>EXAMPLES</h2>
 These examples are based on the North Carolina dataset, more specfically the <em>landuse</em> raster map.
@@ -37,9 +35,9 @@ <h3>Update Units Display</h3>
 <div class="code"><pre>r.support map=my_landuse units=meter
 </pre></div>
 
-<h3>Set band reference</h3>
+<h3>Set semantic label</h3>
 Note: landuse map doesn't confirm to CORINE specification. This is an example only.
-<div class="code"><pre>r.support map=my_landuse bandref=CORINE_LULC
+<div class="code"><pre>r.support map=my_landuse semantic_label=CORINE_LULC
 </pre></div>
 
 <h2>NOTES</h2>
@@ -72,5 +70,5 @@ <h2>AUTHORS</h2>
 <a href="MAILTO:rez@touchofmadness.com">Brad Douglas</a>: GRASS 6 Port<br>
 M. Hamish Bowman: command line enhancements<br>
 Markus Neteler: category copy from other map<br>
-Maris Nartiss: band reference management
+Maris Nartiss: semantic label management
 
diff --git a/raster/r.support/testsuite/test_r_support.py b/raster/r.support/testsuite/test_r_support.py
index 8004b0bf9c6..f7b7dd9e917 100644
--- a/raster/r.support/testsuite/test_r_support.py
+++ b/raster/r.support/testsuite/test_r_support.py
@@ -19,15 +19,15 @@
 from grass.pygrass import utils
 
 from grass.lib.gis import G_remove_misc
-from grass.lib.raster import Rast_read_bandref
+from grass.lib.raster import Rast_read_semantic_label
 
 
-class RSupportBandHandlingTestCase(TestCase):
+class RSupportSemanticLabelHandlingTestCase(TestCase):
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
         cls.map = tempname(10)
         cls.mapset = Mapset().name
-        cls.bandref = "The_Doors"
+        cls.semantic_label = "The_Doors"
         cls.use_temp_region()
         cls.runModule("g.region", n=1, s=0, e=1, w=0, res=1)
         cls.runModule("r.mapcalc", expression="{} = 1".format(cls.map))
@@ -38,27 +38,29 @@ def tearDownClass(cls):
         cls.runModule("g.remove", flags="f", type="raster", name=cls.map)
 
     def test_exclusitivity(self):
-        self.assertModuleFail("r.support", map=self.map, bandref=self.bandref, b=True)
+        self.assertModuleFail(
+            "r.support", map=self.map, semantic_label=self.semantic_label, b=True
+        )
 
-    def test_bandref_invalid(self):
+    def test_semantic_label_invalid(self):
         self.assertModuleFail(
             "r.support",
             map=self.map,
-            bandref="".join(random.choices(string.ascii_letters, k=256)),
+            semantic_label="".join(random.choices(string.ascii_letters, k=256)),
         )
 
-    def test_set_bandref(self):
-        G_remove_misc("cell_misc", "bandref", self.map)
-        self.assertModule("r.support", map=self.map, bandref=self.bandref)
-        ret = utils.decode(Rast_read_bandref(self.map, self.mapset))
-        self.assertEqual(ret, self.bandref)
+    def test_set_semantic_label(self):
+        G_remove_misc("cell_misc", "semantic_label", self.map)
+        self.assertModule("r.support", map=self.map, semantic_label=self.semantic_label)
+        ret = utils.decode(Rast_read_semantic_label(self.map, self.mapset))
+        self.assertEqual(ret, self.semantic_label)
 
-    def test_remove_band_ref(self):
-        self.assertModule("r.support", map=self.map, bandref=self.bandref)
-        ret = Rast_read_bandref(self.map, self.mapset)
+    def test_remove_semantic_label(self):
+        self.assertModule("r.support", map=self.map, semantic_label=self.semantic_label)
+        ret = Rast_read_semantic_label(self.map, self.mapset)
         self.assertTrue(bool(ret))
         self.assertModule("r.support", map=self.map, b=True)
-        ret = Rast_read_bandref(self.map, self.mapset)
+        ret = Rast_read_semantic_label(self.map, self.mapset)
         self.assertFalse(bool(ret))
 
 
diff --git a/scripts/g.bands/g.bands.py b/scripts/g.bands/g.bands.py
index 75b5c3f1cb7..1552c2eca4e 100644
--- a/scripts/g.bands/g.bands.py
+++ b/scripts/g.bands/g.bands.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 # MODULE:       g.bands
 # AUTHOR(S):    Martin Landa <landa.martin gmail com>
 #
-# PURPOSE:      Prints available band reference information used for multispectral data.
+# PURPOSE:      Prints available semantic label information used for multispectral data.
 #
 # COPYRIGHT:    (C) 2019 by mundialis GmbH & Co.KG, and the GRASS Development Team
 #
@@ -16,16 +16,16 @@
 #############################################################################
 
 # %module
-# % description: Prints available band reference information used for multispectral data.
+# % description: Prints available semantic label information used for multispectral data.
 # % keyword: general
 # % keyword: imagery
-# % keyword: band reference
+# % keyword: semantic label
 # % keyword: image collections
 # %end
 # %option
 # % key: pattern
 # % type: string
-# % description: Band reference search pattern (examples: L, S2, .*_2, S2_1)
+# % description: Semantic label search pattern (examples: L, S2, .*_2, S2_1)
 # % required: no
 # % multiple: no
 # %end
@@ -49,24 +49,19 @@
 
 
 def main():
-    from grass.bandref import BandReferenceReader, BandReferenceReaderError
+    from grass.semantic_label import SemanticLabelReader, SemanticLabelReaderError
 
     kwargs = {}
     if "," in options["pattern"]:
         gs.fatal("Multiple values not supported")
-    if "_" in options["pattern"]:
-        # full band identifier specified
-        kwargs["shortcut"], kwargs["band"] = options["pattern"].split("_")
-    else:
-        # pattern
-        kwargs["shortcut"] = options["pattern"]
+    kwargs["semantic_label"] = options["pattern"]
     kwargs["extended"] = flags["e"]
 
     if options["operation"] == "print":
         try:
-            reader = BandReferenceReader()
+            reader = SemanticLabelReader()
             reader.print_info(**kwargs)
-        except BandReferenceReaderError as e:
+        except SemanticLabelReaderError as e:
             gs.fatal(e)
 
     return 0
diff --git a/scripts/g.bands/testsuite/test_g_bands.py b/scripts/g.bands/testsuite/test_g_bands.py
index d69dffef206..697389ca510 100644
--- a/scripts/g.bands/testsuite/test_g_bands.py
+++ b/scripts/g.bands/testsuite/test_g_bands.py
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ def test_number_system_defined(self):
         nbands = self._number_of_bands()
 
         # get number of valid band identifiers by Bands lib
-        from grass.bandref import BandReferenceReader
+        from grass.semantic_label import SemanticLabelReader
 
-        nbands_ref = len(BandReferenceReader().get_bands())
+        nbands_ref = len(SemanticLabelReader().get_bands())
         self.assertEqual(nbands, nbands_ref)
 
     def test_number_s2(self):
diff --git a/scripts/i.band/i.band.html b/scripts/i.band/i.band.html
index 20d9143d30a..5a10f90f28d 100644
--- a/scripts/i.band/i.band.html
+++ b/scripts/i.band/i.band.html
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 <h2>DESCRIPTION</h2>
 
-<em>i.band</em> allows assigning a band reference information to a
-single raster map or to a list of specified raster maps. Band
-reference can be defined by <b>band</b> option. Already assigned band
-reference can be removed from a specified raster map
+<em>i.band</em> allows assigning a semantic label information to a
+single raster map or to a list of specified raster maps. Semantic
+label can be defined by <b>semantic_label</b> option. Already assigned semantic
+label can be removed from a specified raster map
 by <b>operation=remove</b>. The module also allows printing detailed
-band reference information already assigned to a raster map
+semantic label information already assigned to a raster map
 by <b>operation=print</b>.
 
 <p>
@@ -17,14 +17,14 @@ <h2>NOTES</h2>
 Note that <i>only raster maps from the current mapsets</i> can be modified.
 
 <p>
-For more information about band reference concept and supported sensors
+For more information about semantic label concept and supported sensors
 (generic multispectral system, Landsat-5, Landsat-7, Landsat-8, Sentinel-2)
 see the <em><a href="g.bands.html">g.bands</a></em> module.
 
 <p>
-Band references are supported by temporal GRASS modules. Name of
+Semantic labels are supported by temporal GRASS modules. Name of
 STRDS can be extended by band identifier in order to filter the result
-by a band reference. See
+by a semantic label. See
 <em><a href="t.register.html#support-for-band-references">t.register</a></em>,
 <em><a href="t.rast.list.html#filtering-the-result-by-band-references">t.rast.list</a></em>,
 <em><a href="t.info.html#space-time-dataset-with-band-references-assigned">t.info</a></em>
@@ -33,37 +33,37 @@ <h2>NOTES</h2>
 
 <h2>EXAMPLES</h2>
 
-<h3>Assign band reference to a single raster map</h3>
+<h3>Assign semantic label to a single raster map</h3>
 
 <div class="code"><pre>
-i.band map=T33UVR_20180506T100031_B01 band=S2_1
+i.band map=T33UVR_20180506T100031_B01 semantic_label=S2_1
 </pre></div>
 
-<h3>Assign band reference to a list of raster maps</h3>
+<h3>Assign semantic label to a list of raster maps</h3>
 
 <div class="code"><pre>
-i.band map=T33UVR_20180506T100031_B01,T33UVR_20180521T100029_B01 band=S2_1,S2_1
+i.band map=T33UVR_20180506T100031_B01,T33UVR_20180521T100029_B01 semantic_label=S2_1,S2_1
 </pre></div>
 
-<h3>Assign different band references to a list of raster maps</h3>
+<h3>Assign different semantic labels to a list of raster maps</h3>
 
 <div class="code"><pre>
-i.band map=T33UVR_20180506T100031_B01,T33UVR_20180506T100031_B02 band=S2_1,S2_2
+i.band map=T33UVR_20180506T100031_B01,T33UVR_20180506T100031_B02 semantic_label=S2_1,S2_2
 </pre></div>
 
-<h3>Remove band reference from a list of raster maps</h3>
+<h3>Remove semantic label from a list of raster maps</h3>
 
 <div class="code"><pre>
 i.band map=T33UVR_20180506T100031_B01,T33UVR_20180506T100031_B02 operation=remove
 </pre></div>
 
-<h3>Print band reference information about single raster map</h3>
+<h3>Print semantic label information about single raster map</h3>
 
 <div class="code"><pre>
 i.band map=T33UVR_20180506T100031_B01 operation=print
 </pre></div>
 
-<h3>Print extended band reference information for a list of raster map</h3>
+<h3>Print extended semantic label information for a list of raster map</h3>
 
 <div class="code"><pre>
 i.band map=T33UVR_20180506T100031_B01,T33UVR_20180506T100031_B02 operation=print
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ <h3>Print extended band reference information for a list of raster map</h3>
 
 <h2>KNOWN ISSUES</h2>
 
-<em>i.band</em> allows managing band references only related to 2D
+<em>i.band</em> allows managing semantic labels only related to 2D
 raster maps.
 
 <h2>SEE ALSO</h2>
diff --git a/scripts/i.band/i.band.py b/scripts/i.band/i.band.py
index ebb3ac2b251..74bb86ac2a0 100644
--- a/scripts/i.band/i.band.py
+++ b/scripts/i.band/i.band.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 # MODULE:       i.band
 # AUTHOR(S):    Martin Landa <landa.martin gmail com>
 #
-# PURPOSE:      Manages band reference information assigned to a single
+# PURPOSE:      Manages semantic label information assigned to a single
 #               raster map or to a list of raster maps.
 #
 # COPYRIGHT:    (C) 2019 by mundialis GmbH & Co.KG, and the GRASS Development Team
@@ -17,19 +17,19 @@
 #############################################################################
 
 # %module
-# % description: Manages band reference information assigned to a single raster map or to a list of raster maps.
+# % description: Manages semantic label information assigned to a single raster map or to a list of raster maps.
 # % keyword: general
 # % keyword: imagery
-# % keyword: band reference
+# % keyword: semantic label
 # % keyword: image collections
 # %end
 # %option G_OPT_R_MAPS
 # %end
 # %option
-# % key: band
+# % key: semantic_label
 # % type: string
 # % key_desc: name
-# % description: Name of band reference identifier (example: S2_1)
+# % description: Name of semantic label identifier (example: S2_1)
 # % required: no
 # % multiple: yes
 # %end
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@
 from grass.exceptions import GrassError, OpenError
 
 
-def print_map_band_reference(name, band_reader):
-    """Print band reference information assigned to a single raster map
+def print_map_semantic_label(name, label_reader):
+    """Print semantic label information assigned to a single raster map
 
     :param str name: raster map name
     """
@@ -57,21 +57,20 @@ def print_map_band_reference(name, band_reader):
 
     try:
         with RasterRow(name) as rast:
-            band_ref = rast.info.bandref
-            if band_ref:
-                shortcut, band = band_ref.split("_")
-                band_reader.print_info(shortcut, band)
+            semantic_label = rast.info.semantic_label
+            if semantic_label:
+                label_reader.print_info(semantic_label)
             else:
-                gs.info(_("No band reference assigned to <{}>").format(name))
+                gs.info(_("No semantic label assigned to <{}>").format(name))
     except OpenError as e:
         gs.error(_("Map <{}> not found").format(name))
 
 
-def manage_map_band_reference(name, band_ref):
-    """Manage band reference assigned to a single raster map
+def manage_map_semantic_label(name, semantic_label):
+    """Manage semantic label assigned to a single raster map
 
     :param str name: raster map name
-    :param str band_ref: band reference (None for dissociating band reference)
+    :param str semantic_label: semantic label (None for dissociating semantic label)
 
     :return int: return code
     """
@@ -79,21 +78,21 @@ def manage_map_band_reference(name, band_ref):
 
     try:
         with RasterRow(name) as rast:
-            if band_ref:
+            if semantic_label:
                 gs.debug(
-                    _("Band reference <{}> assigned to raster map <{}>").format(
-                        band_ref, name
+                    _("Semantic label <{}> assigned to raster map <{}>").format(
+                        semantic_label, name
                     ),
                     1,
                 )
             else:
                 gs.debug(
-                    _("Band reference dissociated from raster map <{}>").format(name), 1
+                    _("Semantic label dissociated from raster map <{}>").format(name), 1
                 )
             try:
-                rast.info.bandref = band_ref
+                rast.info.semantic_label = semantic_label
             except GrassError as e:
-                gs.error(_("Unable to assign/dissociate band reference. {}").format(e))
+                gs.error(_("Unable to assign/dissociate semantic label. {}").format(e))
                 return 1
     except OpenError as e:
         gs.error(_("Map <{}> not found in current mapset").format(name))
@@ -105,32 +104,32 @@ def manage_map_band_reference(name, band_ref):
 def main():
     maps = options["map"].split(",")
     if options["operation"] == "add":
-        if not options["band"]:
+        if not options["semantic_label"]:
             gs.fatal(
                 _("Operation {}: required parameter <{}> not set").format(
-                    options["operation"], "band"
+                    options["operation"], "semantic_label"
                 )
             )
-        bands = options["band"].split(",")
-        if len(bands) > 1 and len(bands) != len(maps):
-            gs.fatal(_("Number of maps differs from number of bands"))
+        semantic_labels = options["semantic_label"].split(",")
+        if len(semantic_labels) > 1 and len(semantic_labels) != len(maps):
+            gs.fatal(_("Number of maps differs from number of semantic labels"))
     else:
-        bands = [None]
+        semantic_labels = [None]
 
     if options["operation"] == "print":
-        from grass.bandref import BandReferenceReader
+        from grass.semantic_label import SemanticLabelReader
 
-        band_reader = BandReferenceReader()
+        label_reader = SemanticLabelReader()
     else:
-        band_reader = None
-    multi_bands = len(bands) > 1
+        label_reader = None
+    multi_labels = len(semantic_labels) > 1
     ret = 0
     for i in range(len(maps)):
-        band_ref = bands[i] if multi_bands else bands[0]
+        semantic_label = semantic_labels[i] if multi_labels else semantic_labels[0]
         if options["operation"] == "print":
-            print_map_band_reference(maps[i], band_reader)
+            print_map_semantic_label(maps[i], label_reader)
         else:
-            if manage_map_band_reference(maps[i], band_ref) != 0:
+            if manage_map_semantic_label(maps[i], semantic_label) != 0:
                 ret = 1
 
     return ret
diff --git a/scripts/i.band/testsuite/test_i_band.py b/scripts/i.band/testsuite/test_i_band.py
index ca5600c7262..2db92aa081e 100644
--- a/scripts/i.band/testsuite/test_i_band.py
+++ b/scripts/i.band/testsuite/test_i_band.py
@@ -7,11 +7,11 @@
 from grass.pygrass.raster import RasterRow
 
 
-class TestBandsSystemDefined(TestCase):
+class TestSemanticLabelsSystemDefined(TestCase):
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
         cls.map = tempname(10)
-        cls.bandref = "The_Doors"
+        cls.semantic_label = "The_Doors"
         cls.mapset = Mapset()
         cls.use_temp_region()
         cls.runModule("g.region", n=1, s=0, e=1, w=0, res=1)
@@ -22,32 +22,36 @@ def tearDownClass(cls):
         cls.del_temp_region()
         cls.runModule("g.remove", flags="f", type="raster", name=cls.map)
 
-    def read_band_ref(self):
+    def read_semantic_label(self):
         with RasterRow(self.map) as rast:
-            band_ref = rast.info.bandref
+            semantic_label = rast.info.semantic_label
 
-        return band_ref
+        return semantic_label
 
-    def test_band_ref_assign_not_current_mapset(self):
+    def test_semantic_label_assign_not_current_mapset(self):
         if not self.mapset == "PERMANENT":
             self.mapset.name = "PERMANENT"
             a_map = self.mapset.glist(type="raster")[0]
-            module = SimpleModule("i.band", map=a_map, band=self.bandref)
+            module = SimpleModule(
+                "i.band", map=a_map, semantic_label=self.semantic_label
+            )
             self.assertModuleFail(module)
 
-    def test_band_ref_assign(self):
-        module = SimpleModule("i.band", map=self.map, band=self.bandref)
+    def test_semantic_label_assign(self):
+        module = SimpleModule(
+            "i.band", map=self.map, semantic_label=self.semantic_label
+        )
         self.assertModule(module)
 
         # check also using pygrass
-        self.assertEqual(self.read_band_ref(), self.bandref)
+        self.assertEqual(self.read_semantic_label(), self.semantic_label)
 
-    def test_band_ref_dissociate(self):
+    def test_semantic_label_dissociate(self):
         module = SimpleModule("i.band", operation="remove", map=self.map)
         self.assertModule(module)
 
         # check also using pygrass
-        self.assertEqual(self.read_band_ref(), None)
+        self.assertEqual(self.read_semantic_label(), None)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/temporal/t.info/t.info.html b/temporal/t.info/t.info.html
index 06e70d044eb..534e1d9c7dd 100644
--- a/temporal/t.info/t.info.html
+++ b/temporal/t.info/t.info.html
@@ -137,11 +137,11 @@ <h3>Temporal maps information</h3>
  +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
 </pre></div>
 
-<h3>Space time dataset with band references assigned</h3>
+<h3>Space time dataset with semantic labels assigned</h3>
 
-This information is printed only when band references have been assigned
+This information is printed only when semantic labels have been assigned
 to registered raster maps by <em><a href="i.band.html">i.band</a></em>
-or <em><a href="t.register.html#support-for-band-references">t.register</a></em> module.
+or <em><a href="t.register.html#support-for-semantic-labels">t.register</a></em> module.
 
 <div class="code"><pre>
 t.info input=test
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ <h3>Space time dataset with band references assigned</h3>
 t.info input=T33UYP_20190331T094039_B01 type=raster
 ...
  +-------------------- Metadata information ----------------------------------+
- | Band reference:............. S2_1
+ | Semantic label:............. S2_1
 ...
 </pre></div>
 
diff --git a/temporal/t.list/t.list.py b/temporal/t.list/t.list.py
index c965bd81536..fba0933d6da 100755
--- a/temporal/t.list/t.list.py
+++ b/temporal/t.list/t.list.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
 # % guisection: Formatting
 # % required: no
 # % multiple: yes
-# % options: id,name,band_reference,creator,mapset,number_of_maps,creation_time,start_time,end_time,interval,north,south,west,east,granularity
+# % options: id,name,semantic_label,creator,mapset,number_of_maps,creation_time,start_time,end_time,interval,north,south,west,east,granularity
 # % answer: id
 # %end
 
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
 # % guisection: Selection
 # % required: no
 # % multiple: yes
-# % options: id,name,band_reference,creator,mapset,number_of_maps,creation_time,start_time,end_time,north,south,west,east,granularity,all
+# % options: id,name,semantic_label,creator,mapset,number_of_maps,creation_time,start_time,end_time,north,south,west,east,granularity,all
 # % answer: id
 # %end
 
diff --git a/temporal/t.rast.list/t.rast.list.html b/temporal/t.rast.list/t.rast.list.html
index 01ddcb8a59d..4572376d7f7 100644
--- a/temporal/t.rast.list/t.rast.list.html
+++ b/temporal/t.rast.list/t.rast.list.html
@@ -184,16 +184,16 @@ <h3>Using method option</h3>
 For the <em>deltagaps</em> value you can see the example for space time
 vector dataset <a href="t.vect.list.html#using-method-option">t.vect.list</a>
 
-<h3>Filtering the result by band references</h3>
+<h3>Filtering the result by semantic label</h3>
 
-Band reference can be assigned to raster maps
+Semantic label can be assigned to raster maps
 by <em><a href="i.band.html">i.band</a></em> module or even when
 registrating raster maps into STRDS
-by <em><a href="t.register.html#support-for-band-references">t.register</a></em>.
+by <em><a href="t.register.html#support-for-semantic-labels">t.register</a></em>.
 
 <p>
-Name of STRDS can be extended by band reference identifier used for
-filtering. Name of STRDS and band reference is split by a <i>single
+Name of STRDS can be extended by semantic label used for
+filtering. Name of STRDS and semantic label is split by a <i>single
 dot</i>.
 
 <div class="code"><pre>
@@ -201,12 +201,12 @@ <h3>Filtering the result by band references</h3>
 </pre></div>
 
 
-Note that band reference filtering is <i>supported by all temporal
+Note that semantic label filtering is <i>supported by all temporal
 modules</i>.
 
 <p>
-Also note that only STRDS can be filtered by band reference
-identifier, see <em><a href="i.band.html#known-issues">i.band</a></em> for
+Also note that only STRDS can be filtered by semantic label,
+see <em><a href="i.band.html#known-issues">i.band</a></em> for
 current limitations.
 
 
diff --git a/temporal/t.rast.list/t.rast.list.py b/temporal/t.rast.list/t.rast.list.py
index 31a94e209ea..16e1382498b 100755
--- a/temporal/t.rast.list/t.rast.list.py
+++ b/temporal/t.rast.list/t.rast.list.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 # % guisection: Formatting
 # % required: no
 # % multiple: yes
-# % options: id,name,band_reference,creator,mapset,temporal_type,creation_time,start_time,end_time,north,south,west,east,nsres,ewres,cols,rows,number_of_cells,min,max
+# % options: id,name,semantic_label,creator,mapset,temporal_type,creation_time,start_time,end_time,north,south,west,east,nsres,ewres,cols,rows,number_of_cells,min,max
 # % answer: start_time
 # %end
 
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 # % guisection: Selection
 # % required: no
 # % multiple: yes
-# % options: id,name,band_reference,creator,mapset,temporal_type,creation_time,start_time,end_time,north,south,west,east,nsres,ewres,cols,rows,number_of_cells,min,max
+# % options: id,name,semantic_label,creator,mapset,temporal_type,creation_time,start_time,end_time,north,south,west,east,nsres,ewres,cols,rows,number_of_cells,min,max
 # % answer: name,mapset,start_time,end_time
 # %end
 
diff --git a/temporal/t.rast.mapcalc/t.rast.mapcalc.html b/temporal/t.rast.mapcalc/t.rast.mapcalc.html
index 3c46c888642..0f26c582ffc 100644
--- a/temporal/t.rast.mapcalc/t.rast.mapcalc.html
+++ b/temporal/t.rast.mapcalc/t.rast.mapcalc.html
@@ -153,10 +153,10 @@ <h2>EXAMPLES</h2>
 2012_01_tempmean|2012-01-01 00:00:00|-0.534994|9.69511
 </pre></div>
 
-<h3>Band reference filtering</h3>
+<h3>Semantic label filtering</h3>
 
-<em>t.rast.mapcalc</em> supports band reference filtering similarly
-to <em><a href="t.rast.list.html#filtering-the-result-by-band-references">t.rast.list</a></em>. In
+<em>t.rast.mapcalc</em> supports semantic label filtering similarly
+to <em><a href="t.rast.list.html#filtering-the-result-by-semantic-label">t.rast.list</a></em>. In
 example below a new STRDS will be created and filled by NDVI products.
 
 <div class="code"><pre>
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ <h3>Band reference filtering</h3>
      expression="float(test.S2_8 - test.S2_4) / (test.S2_8 + test.S2_4)"
 </pre></div>
 
-For more information about band reference concept
+For more information about semantic label concept
 see <em><a href="g.bands.html">g.bands</a></em> module.
 
 <h2>SEE ALSO</h2>
diff --git a/temporal/t.register/t.register.html b/temporal/t.register/t.register.html
index 93db62a71cb..ba797f15212 100644
--- a/temporal/t.register/t.register.html
+++ b/temporal/t.register/t.register.html
@@ -113,14 +113,14 @@ <h2>INPUT FILE FORMAT</h2>
 prec_6|2002-04-01|2002-07-01
 </pre></div>
 
-<h3>Support for band references</h3>
+<h3>Support for semantic labels</h3>
 
-For more information about band references and image collections
+For more information about semantic labels and image collections
 see <em><a href="g.bands.html">g.bands</a></em> module.
 
 <p>
 Specification of map names and absolute start time (datetime) of the time
-instances. The last column indicates related band references.
+instances. The last column indicates related semantic label.
 
 <div class="code"><pre>
 T33UYP_20190331T094039_B01|2019-03-31 09:40:39|S2_1
@@ -137,16 +137,16 @@ <h3>Support for band references</h3>
 T33UYP_20190331T094039_B09|2019-03-31 09:40:39|S2_9
 </pre></div>
 
-In this case <em>t.register</em> assignes to given raster maps band
-references similarly as
+In this case <em>t.register</em> assigns to given raster maps
+a semantic label similarly as
 <em><a href="i.band.html">i.band</a></em> does.
 
 Such registered raster maps is possible
-to <a href="t.rast.list.html#filtering-the-result-by-band-references">filter
-by a band references</a>.
+to <a href="t.rast.list.html#filtering-the-result-by-semantic-label">filter
+by a semantic label</a>.
 
 <p>
-Please note that raster maps with band references assigned can be
+Please note that raster maps with semantic labels assigned can be
 registered only in STRDS created in TGIS DB version 3 or
 higher. <i>Older versions of TGIS DB are not supported.</i> TGIS DB
 version can be checked <em><a href="t.connect.html">t.connect</a></em>
diff --git a/temporal/t.upgrade/t.upgrade.html b/temporal/t.upgrade/t.upgrade.html
index 3c549d95ba8..24e53c7710b 100644
--- a/temporal/t.upgrade/t.upgrade.html
+++ b/temporal/t.upgrade/t.upgrade.html
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ <h2>DESCRIPTION</h2>
 
 This module upgrades the temporal database in the current mapset
 from version 2 (default in GRASS 7) to 3 (default in GRASS 8).
-The version 3 introduces a band reference support, see
+The version 3 introduces a semantic label support, see
 <em><a href="g.bands.html">g.bands</a></em> for details.
 
 <h2>EXAMPLE</h2>