Glossary of Common Terms in Web Development

Above the Fold

The portion of a Web page visible immediately in the browser window after the page loads. The term originally referred to the area of a folded newspaper visible in a news stand. For advertisers, the "above the fold" area is the most desirable because it provides highest level of exposure for their ads. For Web pages, the size of the "above the fold" portion varies depending on the monitor size and resolution, so it is of no real importance.

Accessibility

Accessibility defines a degree to which a Web site is usable for all visitors regardless of their possible visual, hearing, physical, or neurological disabilities. Low accessibility means poor experience and even inaccessible Web site areas for a part of your target audience and as a result, lost revenue for your business.

Back-end and Front-end

Back-end refers to a database and scripts (programs) powering a Web site. Front-end is the part of a Web site visible in a Web browser, such as layout, navigation, and various forms.

Backup

A copy of files kept at a safe location in case of computer or Web host malfunction.

Bandwidth

An amount of data that can be transferred from and to a Web site in a given period of time. Web hosts usually limit bandwidth to a certain monthly limit. For Web sites with audio and video files on their pages, high bandwidth usage may limit their hosting choices.

Blog

Short for weblog. This is a page with short updates on your business or industry. A business blog allows you to post news and tidbits of useful information for your customers daily, it adds value to your Web site, and can be a great marketing tool.

Browser

Program to view and interact with Web pages on the Internet. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Mozilla are browsers.

Browser Cash

When a Web page is viewed in the browser, it is copied to the user's computer along with images and other page elements. To speed up the browsing process, the browser can access the copied files instead of downloading them every time the page is displayed.

Content Management System (CMS)

A server-side script to edit, add, delete, and organize content of a Web site. Because content management systems allow to separate content from the code, people with no programming or coding skills can easily make changes to their Web sites.

E-mail List

See "Mailing List."

Encryption

A process of encoding data to ensure it is accessible only by intended recipients. Credit card information and sensitive personal data like SSN must be encrypted before being sent over the Internet.

Information Architecture

The way a Web site functions and presents its content.

Mailing List

A mailing list is a script running on your Web host or a third-party service that allows to distribute information to subscribers via e-mail. Mailing lists can be effectively used to keep in touch with your customers and regularly update them with latest promotions, special offers, and company news. A mailing list is sometimes called an e-mail list.

Navigation

On a Web site, navigation is a system of menus that shows visitors where they currently are and where they can go from here. To visitors, navigation looks like organized text links or graphic buttons. When text links are used for navigation, visitors can see places they've already been to colored or formatted differently. This helps them to find their way through the Web site easier.

Program

See "Script."

Programming Language

Vocabulary and a set of instructions that are used to create dynamic Web pages. A programming language tells the Web server what to show on a Web page in response to visitor's actions. ASP and PHP are programming languages.

Script

An organized set of instructions that powers dynamic Web pages and shows different content depending on visitor's actions. Scripts are also called programs.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)

Secure socket layer technology encrypts sensitive information and protects it from unauthorized access. Secure socket layer is used in various e-commerce solutions, membership modules on the Internet that deal with confidential data, intranets. Secure socket layer certificates issued by Thawte, Verisign, and others ensure that the Web site actually belongs to a company that can be trusted.

Shopping Cart

A script or third-party service that allows you to collect items while they browse through a catalog of products or services on a Web site. When finished, a visitor is taken to the check-out where the final cost is calculated and payment details are taken. Shopping carts differ greatly in the number and complexity of features they offer.

Usability

Measure of quality of the visitors experience when interacting with a Web site. The easier it is for the visitor to navigate through the Web site, memorise it's structure, and complete the desired task, the better usability of this Web site is.

Web Browser

See "Browser."

Web Page

A document written in HTML and meant to be viewed with a Web browser on the Internet.