A locking element is arranged on one component, the locking element being bringable into locking engagement with a locking recess on the other component for the purpose of a vertical lock. The locking element is provided with functional elements, via which the components are substantially horizontally and vertically locked. The locking element can be designed as a profiled slide that has a locking projection with a first guiding surface which is positioned angularly with respect to the installation plane and which comes into contact with a locking surface or another circumferential section of the locking recess during the connecting process such that a force component that causes a movement from a release position into a locked position is applied to the profiled slide.