A Tang is a Tang but, I have always heard the terms for the different lengths as to be Partial and Full Tang, Partial being half "same thing".
Partial or Half Tang is only inserted half or part of the length of the handle itself.
Full Tang is inserted fully into the handle and the blade cannot be seen from the outside unless it has a two-piece handle revited or screwed to each side. Which explains why when one purchases knives, swords ect. it is always good to ask what type of tang it has.
IMO, full tang is better because it gives the user more overall force and control through out the users entire hand.
I have also seen the wooden handle of a file break from long use, if anyone else has, they would notice how the tang of the file breaks through only half the handle and split the rest of the way through. If it had a full tang this would not have happened.
I could go on and on but, this is pretty much the jist of it.
Cheers
