B Innovative Web Design Glossary of Terms
Application (apps)
Application software is a computer programme designed to help the user perform a particular task or interact e.g. Web browser, games, music player, etc
Back end (of a website)
The part of a website only accessible to authorised users
Breadcrumb
Typically appears near the top of a Web page showing the location of each page within the hierarchy of the website
eg. you are here >> home
Browser (see Web browser)
CMS (Content Management System)
A system built into a website for updating content by authorised users. The benefit of this is the ability to add & update website content regularly keeping it fresh for visitors and search engines (eg Google)
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
Programming language used to create the look and formatting of a web page
Domain name
This is the unique address of a website e.g. www.google.com, www.binnovative.co.uk, etc
E-commerce
Buying or selling products and services over the Internet
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
Standard method of copying files across the internet
Flash
Adobe platform to add animation, video and interactivity to Web pages. Download of the Flash software is required to view on computers. Apple systems such as iPad, iPhones don't support web design built in Flash
Form (Web)
Webforms allow a user to enter data that is sent to a server for processing
Front end (of a website)
Part of a website visible to all visitors of a website (see back end)
GIF
File format suited for simple images such as graphics or logos with solid areas of colour (see PNG)
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
Predominant language allowing images, objects and text to be used to create Web pages
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
The standard set of rules for exchanging files on the WWW
Home page
Front or main page of a website (or click the ‘home’ button)
Host/ hosting company
Internet server on which a website is stored and the company that provides the service
Hyperlink
A link to a different part of a website or another website. Usually identifiable by the ‘hand’ symbol
Internet
Global system of interconnected computer networks. Includes private, public, academic, business & government networks
JPEG
Type of file commonly used for optimising photographs for use on websites
Java
Programming language used to allow more complex functions to run on a Web page Download required to view on local computers
JavaScript
Programming language which allows greater functionality to Web pages
Landing page
The page a Web user reaches when clicking on the link on a search site’s results page i.e. not necessarily the Home page
Open source
Software products that are freely available and offered by development communities online
PHP
Programming language used to create dynamic Web pages
PNG
A graphics format specifically designed for use on the WWW. Developed to replace use of GIF files
Plug-in
Terms vary between add-in and add-on. A small computer programme that extends the capabilities of a larger programme. Commonly used in Web browsers to play sounds and video clips e.g. Quicktime
Search engine
A tool to search for information on the Web e.g. Google, Yahoo, Bing
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Techniques used to increase the ranking of a website with the major search engines
URL (or Web address)
The unique address of a Web page e.g. http://www.binnovative.co.uk
W3C (World Wide Web Consortium)
The organisation that sets standards for the Web
Web browser
Software used to display Web pages e.g. Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, Safari, etc
World Wide Web
Abbreviated to WWW and commonly known as the Web. A system of interlinked hypertext documents
contained on the internet
Web server
Refers to both the software and computer or device that holds the files for one or more websites
WWW (World Wide Web)
A system of linked documents accessed via the Internet
XHTML (Extensible Hypertext Markup Language)
Extends the widely used HTML language in which web pages are written
