diff --git a/doc/api/index.rst b/doc/api/index.rst
index 0349fae1b3e..8758ef10423 100644
--- a/doc/api/index.rst
+++ b/doc/api/index.rst
@@ -289,13 +289,12 @@ conversion of Python variables to GMT virtual files:
 .. autosummary::
     :toctree: generated
 
-    clib.Session.virtualfile_from_data
     clib.Session.virtualfile_from_matrix
     clib.Session.virtualfile_from_vectors
     clib.Session.virtualfile_from_grid
+    clib.Session.virtualfile_in
     clib.Session.virtualfile_out
 
-
 Low level access (these are mostly used by the :mod:`pygmt.clib` package):
 
 .. autosummary::
diff --git a/pygmt/clib/session.py b/pygmt/clib/session.py
index fca1d1997c1..d8544a7937b 100644
--- a/pygmt/clib/session.py
+++ b/pygmt/clib/session.py
@@ -1478,7 +1478,7 @@ def virtualfile_from_grid(self, grid):
             yield vfile
 
     @fmt_docstring
-    def virtualfile_from_data(  # noqa: PLR0912
+    def virtualfile_in(  # noqa: PLR0912
         self,
         check_kind=None,
         data=None,
@@ -1535,7 +1535,7 @@ def virtualfile_from_data(  # noqa: PLR0912
         ...     ),
         ... )
         >>> with Session() as ses:
-        ...     with ses.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="vector", data=data) as fin:
+        ...     with ses.virtualfile_in(check_kind="vector", data=data) as fin:
         ...         # Send the output to a file so that we can read it
         ...         with GMTTempFile() as fout:
         ...             ses.call_module("info", fin + " ->" + fout.name)
@@ -1609,6 +1609,9 @@ def virtualfile_from_data(  # noqa: PLR0912
 
         return file_context
 
+    # virtualfile_from_data was renamed to virtualfile_in since v0.12.0.
+    virtualfile_from_data = virtualfile_in
+
     @contextlib.contextmanager
     def virtualfile_out(
         self, kind: Literal["dataset", "grid"] = "dataset", fname: str | None = None
diff --git a/pygmt/src/binstats.py b/pygmt/src/binstats.py
index f8d0620d0f4..5e5188915b4 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/binstats.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/binstats.py
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ def binstats(data, **kwargs):
     """
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="vector", data=data)
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="vector", data=data)
             with file_context as infile:
                 if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None:
                     kwargs["G"] = outgrid = tmpfile.name  # output to tmpfile
diff --git a/pygmt/src/blockm.py b/pygmt/src/blockm.py
index 9dff491ed93..8f0bde7f6f6 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/blockm.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/blockm.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def _blockm(block_method, data, x, y, z, outfile, **kwargs):
     """
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".csv") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            table_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+            table_context = lib.virtualfile_in(
                 check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, z=z, required_z=True
             )
             # Run blockm* on data table
diff --git a/pygmt/src/contour.py b/pygmt/src/contour.py
index 78c4898a9b4..60e7038ccfa 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/contour.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/contour.py
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ def contour(self, data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, **kwargs):
     kwargs = self._preprocess(**kwargs)
 
     with Session() as lib:
-        file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+        file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(
             check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, z=z, required_z=True
         )
         with file_context as fname:
diff --git a/pygmt/src/dimfilter.py b/pygmt/src/dimfilter.py
index d653f02ba4b..1dbaf89e632 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/dimfilter.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/dimfilter.py
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ def dimfilter(grid, **kwargs):
 
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
             with file_context as infile:
                 if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None:
                     kwargs["G"] = outgrid = tmpfile.name  # output to tmpfile
diff --git a/pygmt/src/filter1d.py b/pygmt/src/filter1d.py
index bc07e6e1314..08232737210 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/filter1d.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/filter1d.py
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def filter1d(data, output_type="pandas", outfile=None, **kwargs):
 
     with GMTTempFile() as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="vector", data=data)
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="vector", data=data)
             with file_context as infile:
                 if outfile is None:
                     outfile = tmpfile.name
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grd2cpt.py b/pygmt/src/grd2cpt.py
index 5d0b8e8adaa..f0f0d4b8077 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grd2cpt.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grd2cpt.py
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ def grd2cpt(grid, **kwargs):
     if kwargs.get("W") is not None and kwargs.get("Ww") is not None:
         raise GMTInvalidInput("Set only categorical or cyclic to True, not both.")
     with Session() as lib:
-        file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
+        file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
         with file_context as infile:
             if kwargs.get("H") is None:  # if no output is set
                 arg_str = build_arg_string(kwargs, infile=infile)
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grd2xyz.py b/pygmt/src/grd2xyz.py
index f7b70ea8c58..b4c94048634 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grd2xyz.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grd2xyz.py
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ def grd2xyz(grid, output_type="pandas", outfile=None, **kwargs):
 
     with GMTTempFile() as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
             with file_context as infile:
                 if outfile is None:
                     outfile = tmpfile.name
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdclip.py b/pygmt/src/grdclip.py
index 878d9db3af2..fe3325b75e2 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdclip.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdclip.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def grdclip(grid, **kwargs):
     """
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
             with file_context as infile:
                 if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None:
                     kwargs["G"] = outgrid = tmpfile.name  # output to tmpfile
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdcontour.py b/pygmt/src/grdcontour.py
index 570323d45d3..6c3707d3e93 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdcontour.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdcontour.py
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ def grdcontour(self, grid, **kwargs):
     """
     kwargs = self._preprocess(**kwargs)
     with Session() as lib:
-        file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
+        file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
         with file_context as fname:
             lib.call_module(
                 module="grdcontour", args=build_arg_string(kwargs, infile=fname)
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdcut.py b/pygmt/src/grdcut.py
index eb6cb36ee5d..8b1f6d358ed 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdcut.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdcut.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def grdcut(grid, **kwargs):
     """
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
             with file_context as infile:
                 if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None:
                     kwargs["G"] = outgrid = tmpfile.name  # output to tmpfile
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdfill.py b/pygmt/src/grdfill.py
index aab1b788d53..8f48838afd1 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdfill.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdfill.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ def grdfill(grid, **kwargs):
         raise GMTInvalidInput("At least parameter 'mode' or 'L' must be specified.")
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
             with file_context as infile:
                 if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None:
                     kwargs["G"] = outgrid = tmpfile.name  # output to tmpfile
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdfilter.py b/pygmt/src/grdfilter.py
index 5dbee11f57c..a7d2fc02c08 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdfilter.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdfilter.py
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ def grdfilter(grid, **kwargs):
     """
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
             with file_context as infile:
                 if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None:
                     kwargs["G"] = outgrid = tmpfile.name  # output to tmpfile
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdgradient.py b/pygmt/src/grdgradient.py
index a05f7cb3ab6..544ac81d3f0 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdgradient.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdgradient.py
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ def grdgradient(grid, **kwargs):
                 azimuth, direction, or radiance"""
             )
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
             with file_context as infile:
                 if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None:
                     kwargs["G"] = outgrid = tmpfile.name  # output to tmpfile
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdhisteq.py b/pygmt/src/grdhisteq.py
index df66a9cf78e..0e2c8c9ea60 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdhisteq.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdhisteq.py
@@ -123,9 +123,7 @@ def equalize_grid(grid, **kwargs):
         """
         with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
             with Session() as lib:
-                with lib.virtualfile_from_data(
-                    check_kind="raster", data=grid
-                ) as vingrd:
+                with lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="raster", data=grid) as vingrd:
                     if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None:
                         kwargs["G"] = outgrid = tmpfile.name  # output to tmpfile
                     lib.call_module(
@@ -235,9 +233,7 @@ def compute_bins(grid, output_type="pandas", **kwargs):
 
         with GMTTempFile(suffix=".txt") as tmpfile:
             with Session() as lib:
-                with lib.virtualfile_from_data(
-                    check_kind="raster", data=grid
-                ) as vingrd:
+                with lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="raster", data=grid) as vingrd:
                     if outfile is None:
                         kwargs["D"] = outfile = tmpfile.name  # output to tmpfile
                     lib.call_module(
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdimage.py b/pygmt/src/grdimage.py
index 5c476c13df4..1c9e3319ea2 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdimage.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdimage.py
@@ -163,9 +163,9 @@ def grdimage(self, grid, **kwargs):
         )
 
     with Session() as lib:
-        with lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+        with lib.virtualfile_in(
             check_kind="raster", data=grid
-        ) as fname, lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+        ) as fname, lib.virtualfile_in(
             check_kind="raster", data=kwargs.get("I"), required_data=False
         ) as shadegrid:
             kwargs["I"] = shadegrid
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdinfo.py b/pygmt/src/grdinfo.py
index b91ab0fbd6c..651e403eac7 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdinfo.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdinfo.py
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ def grdinfo(grid, **kwargs):
     """
     with GMTTempFile() as outfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
             with file_context as infile:
                 lib.call_module(
                     module="grdinfo",
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdproject.py b/pygmt/src/grdproject.py
index c934bea2e02..3add55e421b 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdproject.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdproject.py
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ def grdproject(grid, **kwargs):
         raise GMTInvalidInput("The projection must be specified.")
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
             with file_context as infile:
                 if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None:
                     kwargs["G"] = outgrid = tmpfile.name  # output to tmpfile
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdsample.py b/pygmt/src/grdsample.py
index 8e0db8c281e..2cdc30d3373 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdsample.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdsample.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ def grdsample(grid, **kwargs):
     """
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
             with file_context as infile:
                 if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None:
                     kwargs["G"] = outgrid = tmpfile.name  # output to tmpfile
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdtrack.py b/pygmt/src/grdtrack.py
index 1d0daa1b800..8859e642fdb 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdtrack.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdtrack.py
@@ -292,9 +292,9 @@ def grdtrack(grid, points=None, newcolname=None, outfile=None, **kwargs):
 
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".csv") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            with lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+            with lib.virtualfile_in(
                 check_kind="raster", data=grid
-            ) as grdfile, lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+            ) as grdfile, lib.virtualfile_in(
                 check_kind="vector", data=points, required_data=False
             ) as csvfile:
                 kwargs["G"] = grdfile
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdview.py b/pygmt/src/grdview.py
index d43a9c9a160..7ff4a5f7599 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdview.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdview.py
@@ -144,9 +144,9 @@ def grdview(self, grid, **kwargs):
     """
     kwargs = self._preprocess(**kwargs)
     with Session() as lib:
-        with lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+        with lib.virtualfile_in(
             check_kind="raster", data=grid
-        ) as fname, lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+        ) as fname, lib.virtualfile_in(
             check_kind="raster", data=kwargs.get("G"), required_data=False
         ) as drapegrid:
             kwargs["G"] = drapegrid
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdvolume.py b/pygmt/src/grdvolume.py
index 70d99e19b82..d64b7eb70e0 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdvolume.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdvolume.py
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ def grdvolume(grid, output_type="pandas", outfile=None, **kwargs):
 
     with GMTTempFile() as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="raster", data=grid)
             with file_context as infile:
                 if outfile is None:
                     outfile = tmpfile.name
diff --git a/pygmt/src/histogram.py b/pygmt/src/histogram.py
index b10200a490d..c059cf631eb 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/histogram.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/histogram.py
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ def histogram(self, data, **kwargs):
     """
     kwargs = self._preprocess(**kwargs)
     with Session() as lib:
-        file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="vector", data=data)
+        file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="vector", data=data)
         with file_context as infile:
             lib.call_module(
                 module="histogram", args=build_arg_string(kwargs, infile=infile)
diff --git a/pygmt/src/info.py b/pygmt/src/info.py
index 71fc96cdf35..abf5c4ebd5f 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/info.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/info.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ def info(data, **kwargs):
         - str if none of the above parameters are used.
     """
     with Session() as lib:
-        file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="vector", data=data)
+        file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="vector", data=data)
         with GMTTempFile() as tmpfile:
             with file_context as fname:
                 lib.call_module(
diff --git a/pygmt/src/meca.py b/pygmt/src/meca.py
index acaeb3957a3..b66a9529858 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/meca.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/meca.py
@@ -488,6 +488,6 @@ def meca(  # noqa: PLR0912, PLR0913, PLR0915
     # Assemble -S flag
     kwargs["S"] = f"{data_format}{scale}"
     with Session() as lib:
-        file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="vector", data=spec)
+        file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="vector", data=spec)
         with file_context as fname:
             lib.call_module(module="meca", args=build_arg_string(kwargs, infile=fname))
diff --git a/pygmt/src/nearneighbor.py b/pygmt/src/nearneighbor.py
index ba839f91aa3..5627cd6a280 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/nearneighbor.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/nearneighbor.py
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ def nearneighbor(data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, **kwargs):
     """
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            table_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+            table_context = lib.virtualfile_in(
                 check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, z=z, required_z=True
             )
             with table_context as infile:
diff --git a/pygmt/src/plot.py b/pygmt/src/plot.py
index 3c6fe515acb..0c28b81b5a6 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/plot.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/plot.py
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ def plot(  # noqa: PLR0912
             kwargs[flag] = ""
 
     with Session() as lib:
-        file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+        file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(
             check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, extra_arrays=extra_arrays
         )
 
diff --git a/pygmt/src/plot3d.py b/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
index d313e062811..b783aba0d22 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ def plot3d(  # noqa: PLR0912
             kwargs[flag] = ""
 
     with Session() as lib:
-        file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+        file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(
             check_kind="vector",
             data=data,
             x=x,
diff --git a/pygmt/src/project.py b/pygmt/src/project.py
index 6ce7da4b521..bde40f150ed 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/project.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/project.py
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ def project(data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, outfile=None, **kwargs):
             outfile = tmpfile.name
         with Session() as lib:
             if kwargs.get("G") is None:
-                table_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+                table_context = lib.virtualfile_in(
                     check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, z=z, required_z=False
                 )
 
diff --git a/pygmt/src/rose.py b/pygmt/src/rose.py
index 5cc383d4c32..74c5592bc63 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/rose.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/rose.py
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ def rose(self, data=None, length=None, azimuth=None, **kwargs):
     kwargs = self._preprocess(**kwargs)
 
     with Session() as lib:
-        file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+        file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(
             check_kind="vector", data=data, x=length, y=azimuth
         )
 
diff --git a/pygmt/src/select.py b/pygmt/src/select.py
index 4c057f83063..d819cadac73 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/select.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/select.py
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ def select(data=None, outfile=None, **kwargs):
 
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".csv") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            table_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="vector", data=data)
+            table_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="vector", data=data)
             with table_context as infile:
                 if outfile is None:
                     outfile = tmpfile.name
diff --git a/pygmt/src/sph2grd.py b/pygmt/src/sph2grd.py
index 40342d691cf..9cf5bcf1fdc 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/sph2grd.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/sph2grd.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def sph2grd(data, **kwargs):
     """
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="vector", data=data)
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="vector", data=data)
             with file_context as infile:
                 if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None:
                     kwargs["G"] = outgrid = tmpfile.name  # output to tmpfile
diff --git a/pygmt/src/sphdistance.py b/pygmt/src/sphdistance.py
index cfebb71c8d8..c57431f935e 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/sphdistance.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/sphdistance.py
@@ -117,9 +117,7 @@ def sphdistance(data=None, x=None, y=None, **kwargs):
         raise GMTInvalidInput("Both 'region' and 'spacing' must be specified.")
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
-                check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y
-            )
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y)
             with file_context as infile:
                 if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None:
                     kwargs["G"] = outgrid = tmpfile.name  # output to tmpfile
diff --git a/pygmt/src/sphinterpolate.py b/pygmt/src/sphinterpolate.py
index 2a5d9e93b54..7be24a8523e 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/sphinterpolate.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/sphinterpolate.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def sphinterpolate(data, **kwargs):
     """
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="vector", data=data)
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="vector", data=data)
             with file_context as infile:
                 if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None:
                     kwargs["G"] = outgrid = tmpfile.name  # output to tmpfile
diff --git a/pygmt/src/surface.py b/pygmt/src/surface.py
index 5d96a05ef29..37487ca5fdd 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/surface.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/surface.py
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ def surface(data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, **kwargs):
     """
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(
                 check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, z=z, required_z=True
             )
             with file_context as infile:
diff --git a/pygmt/src/ternary.py b/pygmt/src/ternary.py
index 66ad4e2d7d9..bf3434c639b 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/ternary.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/ternary.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def ternary(self, data, alabel=None, blabel=None, clabel=None, **kwargs):
         data = data.to_numpy()
 
     with Session() as lib:
-        file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="vector", data=data)
+        file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="vector", data=data)
         with file_context as infile:
             lib.call_module(
                 module="ternary",
diff --git a/pygmt/src/text.py b/pygmt/src/text.py
index cd221b34672..16d409136a6 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/text.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/text.py
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ def text_(  # noqa: PLR0912
         )
 
     with Session() as lib:
-        file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+        file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(
             check_kind="vector", data=textfiles, x=x, y=y, extra_arrays=extra_arrays
         )
         with file_context as fname:
diff --git a/pygmt/src/tilemap.py b/pygmt/src/tilemap.py
index 99e82ce63e5..d2aeaad04d9 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/tilemap.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/tilemap.py
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ def tilemap(
         kwargs["R"] = "/".join(str(coordinate) for coordinate in region)
 
     with Session() as lib:
-        file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="raster", data=raster)
+        file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="raster", data=raster)
         with file_context as infile:
             lib.call_module(
                 module="grdimage", args=build_arg_string(kwargs, infile=infile)
diff --git a/pygmt/src/triangulate.py b/pygmt/src/triangulate.py
index 73eba530686..e73ab92fe5e 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/triangulate.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/triangulate.py
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ def regular_grid(data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, **kwargs):
         # Return an xarray.DataArray if ``outgrid`` is not set
         with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
             with Session() as lib:
-                with lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+                with lib.virtualfile_in(
                     check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, z=z, required_z=False
                 ) as vintbl:
                     if (outgrid := kwargs.get("G")) is None:
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ def delaunay_triples(
 
         with GMTTempFile(suffix=".txt") as tmpfile:
             with Session() as lib:
-                with lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+                with lib.virtualfile_in(
                     check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, z=z, required_z=False
                 ) as vintbl:
                     if outfile is None:
diff --git a/pygmt/src/velo.py b/pygmt/src/velo.py
index 90e16296bb3..1a81a66b10e 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/velo.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/velo.py
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ def velo(self, data=None, **kwargs):
         )
 
     with Session() as lib:
-        file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(check_kind="vector", data=data)
+        file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(check_kind="vector", data=data)
 
         with file_context as fname:
             lib.call_module(module="velo", args=build_arg_string(kwargs, infile=fname))
diff --git a/pygmt/src/wiggle.py b/pygmt/src/wiggle.py
index 462218b3a49..0b31f179aab 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/wiggle.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/wiggle.py
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ def wiggle(
             kwargs["G"].append(fillnegative + "+n")
 
     with Session() as lib:
-        file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+        file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(
             check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, z=z, required_z=True
         )
 
diff --git a/pygmt/src/xyz2grd.py b/pygmt/src/xyz2grd.py
index 693d9f0eab7..fed9b82ed7f 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/xyz2grd.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/xyz2grd.py
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ def xyz2grd(data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, **kwargs):
 
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
         with Session() as lib:
-            file_context = lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+            file_context = lib.virtualfile_in(
                 check_kind="vector", data=data, x=x, y=y, z=z, required_z=True
             )
             with file_context as infile:
diff --git a/pygmt/tests/test_clib_virtualfiles.py b/pygmt/tests/test_clib_virtualfiles.py
index 73e05d0b8f8..8b4ae0ad957 100644
--- a/pygmt/tests/test_clib_virtualfiles.py
+++ b/pygmt/tests/test_clib_virtualfiles.py
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ def test_virtual_file_bad_direction():
     ("array_func", "kind"),
     [(np.array, "matrix"), (pd.DataFrame, "vector"), (xr.Dataset, "vector")],
 )
-def test_virtualfile_from_data_required_z_matrix(array_func, kind):
+def test_virtualfile_in_required_z_matrix(array_func, kind):
     """
     Test that function works when third z column in a matrix is needed and provided.
     """
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def test_virtualfile_from_data_required_z_matrix(array_func, kind):
     )
     data = array_func(dataframe)
     with clib.Session() as lib:
-        with lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+        with lib.virtualfile_in(
             data=data, required_z=True, check_kind="vector"
         ) as vfile:
             with GMTTempFile() as outfile:
@@ -154,20 +154,18 @@ def test_virtualfile_from_data_required_z_matrix(array_func, kind):
         assert output == expected
 
 
-def test_virtualfile_from_data_required_z_matrix_missing():
+def test_virtualfile_in_required_z_matrix_missing():
     """
     Test that function fails when third z column in a matrix is needed but not provided.
     """
     data = np.ones((5, 2))
     with clib.Session() as lib:
         with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
-            with lib.virtualfile_from_data(
-                data=data, required_z=True, check_kind="vector"
-            ):
+            with lib.virtualfile_in(data=data, required_z=True, check_kind="vector"):
                 pass
 
 
-def test_virtualfile_from_data_fail_non_valid_data(data):
+def test_virtualfile_in_fail_non_valid_data(data):
     """
     Should raise an exception if too few or too much data is given.
     """
@@ -179,7 +177,7 @@ def test_virtualfile_from_data_fail_non_valid_data(data):
             continue
         with clib.Session() as lib:
             with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
-                lib.virtualfile_from_data(x=variable[0], y=variable[1])
+                lib.virtualfile_in(x=variable[0], y=variable[1])
 
     # Test all combinations where at least one data variable
     # is not given in the x, y, z case:
@@ -189,14 +187,14 @@ def test_virtualfile_from_data_fail_non_valid_data(data):
             continue
         with clib.Session() as lib:
             with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
-                lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+                lib.virtualfile_in(
                     x=variable[0], y=variable[1], z=variable[2], required_z=True
                 )
 
     # Should also fail if given too much data
     with clib.Session() as lib:
         with pytest.raises(GMTInvalidInput):
-            lib.virtualfile_from_data(
+            lib.virtualfile_in(
                 x=data[:, 0],
                 y=data[:, 1],
                 z=data[:, 2],