diff --git a/holoviews/__init__.py b/holoviews/__init__.py
index 74fc8697b9..ea700d1034 100644
--- a/holoviews/__init__.py
+++ b/holoviews/__init__.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 from .element import *                                   # noqa (API import)
 from .element import __all__ as elements_list
 from . import util # noqa (API import)
-from .util import renderer # noqa (API import)
+from .util import extension # noqa (API import)
 
 # Surpress warnings generated by NumPy in matplotlib
 # Expected to be fixed in next matplotlib release
@@ -40,11 +40,11 @@
 try:
     import IPython  # noqa (API import)
     from .ipython import notebook_extension
-    renderer = notebook_extension
+    extension = notebook_extension
 except ImportError as e:
     class notebook_extension(param.ParameterizedFunction):
         def __call__(self, *args, **opts):
-            raise Exception("IPython notebook not available use hv.renderer utility instead.")
+            raise Exception("IPython notebook not available: use hv.extension instead.")
 
 
 # A single holoviews.rc file may be executed if found.
diff --git a/holoviews/ipython/__init__.py b/holoviews/ipython/__init__.py
index 9ef63c3d89..4e3d0dabc6 100644
--- a/holoviews/ipython/__init__.py
+++ b/holoviews/ipython/__init__.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 from ..core.options import Store
 from ..element.comparison import ComparisonTestCase
 from ..interface.collector import Collector
-from ..util import renderer
+from ..util import extension
 from ..plotting.renderer import Renderer
 from .magics import load_magics
 from .display_hooks import display  # noqa (API import)
@@ -73,9 +73,9 @@ def line_magic(self, *args, **kwargs):
         self.ip.run_line_magic(*args, **kwargs)
 
 
-class notebook_extension(renderer):
+class notebook_extension(extension):
     """
-    Notebook specific extension to hv.renderer that offers options for
+    Notebook specific extension to hv.extension that offers options for
     controlling the notebook environment.
     """
 
diff --git a/holoviews/util/__init__.py b/holoviews/util/__init__.py
index 152d88ed1a..f0417f538e 100644
--- a/holoviews/util/__init__.py
+++ b/holoviews/util/__init__.py
@@ -39,9 +39,11 @@ def output(line=None, obj=None, **options):
 output.__doc__ = Store.output_settings._generate_docstring()
 
 
-class renderer(param.ParameterizedFunction):
+class extension(param.ParameterizedFunction):
     """
-    Helper utility used to load rendering backends.
+    Helper utility used to load holoviews extensions. These can be
+    plotting extensions, element extensions or anything else that can be
+    registered to work with HoloViews.
     """
 
     # Mapping between backend name and module name