Top vs. Dominant
As mentioned earlier, the terms “top” and “dominant” are often used interchangeably but that is not actually correct. A top is responsible for carrying out the activities on their bottom in a scene. If the bottom is being flogged, tied up, electrostimulated, or even tickled, the top is doing it. They are responsible for providing a safe and satisfying experience. A dominant or Dom/Domme is a partner who takes control in a BDSM dynamic which may be in place of a scene, a night, or an entire relationship. So, while a Dom might be a top, a top will not necessarily be a Dom.
“We often think of a dominant as someone being pleased and a submissive as someone who loves to please, but power dynamics need not limit who gives and receives pleasure. One way to enjoy being a service top to a submissive partner is to blindfold them and/or tie them to the bed and pleasure them until they can't take it anymore. You can also experiment with orgasm denial — bringing them close to orgasm, stopping, then repeating until they finally climax, or allowing them to orgasm only when you say they can.”-- says Anna Richards, founder of the erotic ethical porn site FrolicMe.com
This is a source of some confusion as it can lead folks to believe that the person acting as the Top in a scene is “supposed to” act as a Dominant but, as we can see, that is not the case. There is in fact a lot of room for all sorts of different dynamics between tops and bottoms as long as the Top fulfills their responsibilities when it comes to delivering a safe experience.