Web talk can be pretty overwhelming when trying to figure out all the key web design and web development definitions and terms, particularly if you're new to this world. Knowing the meaning of a few acronyms and technical terms can simplify communication with designers and developers and enhance your comprehension of your own website's operations.
We'll demystify some of the most commonly used, and most commonly confused, acronyms and technical terms, making it simpler to collaborate with designers or developers.
1. Web Design Definitions
Accessibility
A website should be accessible for everybody, including dyslexic readers and hearing and visually impaired users.
Responsive / Mobile Optimised / Mobile-Friendly
The majority of web traffic takes place on some form of a smart device or cellphone. To make websites responsive / mobile-friendly / mobile optimised means to design and develop a website that will adapt to the device or screen they are being viewed on.
Usability
A professional website should be a user-friendly tool that engages smoothly with its visitors. Usability describes how usable your site is for the visitors it was designed for, i.e. with minimal obstacles, frustrations and the need to ask for help.
ATF, BTF
Above The Fold and Below The Fold. This term comes from the fold in newspapers with information more easily read above the fold. In website terms, below the fold is where scrolling starts, and fewer people read. For web pages, the “fold” is generally defined as the point where you have to start scrolling, but the principle is the same—information that is above the fold (ATF) is more accessible and visible than that below the fold (BTF).
Resolution
Resolution refers to the number of pixels that specifies the size of images displayed on a screen. The more the pixels per inch, the higher the quality of an image which are also powerful elements of your website’s SEO.
UX (User Experience) / UI (User Interface)
UX and UI design work together to enhance the user experience. UX aims to optimize the user's interaction with a website or application, while UI focuses on the visual and interactive aspects, like buttons and typography. Understanding the difference between UX and UI is important for ensuring a satisfying user journey.
2. Front End Website Definitions
Breadcrumb Navigation
Breadcrumb navigation guides your visitors between your website’s pages - forward as well as back. This is generally shown as a series of nested categories, like Home > Category > Year > Month > Post.
Favicon
A favicon, also called a website icon, is a small 16x16-pixel image that represents a website in a web browser's address bar and bookmark list. It is usually the company's logo and serves as a powerful branding element that can increase brand awareness subconsciously.
Front-End
Refers to the visible parts of a website that users interact with, such as images, text, and content. It is what people see and engage with when they first visit a website.
Hamburger Icon
The hamburger icon is a small symbol on a website or mobile app that looks like three horizontal lines stacked on top of each other. When clicked, it opens a hidden menu with more options. It's commonly used on mobile devices where screen space is limited, to make the interface simpler and easier to use.
Landing Page
A landing page is the first page that visitors see when they visit your website. It's like the front door of a store, and it can be used to promote or market something to the visitors. A good landing page is designed to persuade visitors to take a specific action, like making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.
Navigation
Navigation on a website means how you move around and find different parts of the website. It's like a map that helps you get to where you want to go. The most common example of navigation is the menu bar at the top of the page.
3. Back End Website Definitions
Back End
The back end is where your website operates and manages your digital content, but it’s hidden from your visitors.
CMS
A Content Management System is a type of software used to build websites, with a back end tool to create and manage digital content. It hides the raw code, making web design and building easier. If you’ve ever used WordPress to build a website, you’ve used a CMS.
Template
In web design, a template is a pre-designed format used to keep a consistent look and feel across all pages of a website. CMS platforms provide templates for web design.
Plug-In
A tool that can be added to your website to add features and functions such as scheduling blog posts or managing customer leads.
Ecommerce
If you're selling products online, you'll need an Ecommerce Store, which is a part of your website that includes images and descriptions of your products, a checkout page, payment options, and customer information.
4. Basic Internet Terms
Domain Name
The name of your website, separated by [.] and chosen to be easy for people to remember and type in. A good domain name can improve your website's visibility on search engines.
URL
The full web address that you use to find a specific website or web page. It includes the domain name and the specific page you are looking for.
DNS
Domain Name Service helps find the web address you enter in your browser, even if the website is located somewhere else in the world.
Web Host
A company that makes your website available on the internet, so that anyone can access it at any time.
Web Server
A computer that stores your website and delivers it to visitors when they access your website's URL.
Cache
A temporary collection of data stored in your web browser's memory to help websites load faster when you revisit them.
Cookies
Small packets of information stored in your browser by websites. They can autofill forms and track a visitor's activity on the site for marketing purposes, which has led to concerns about privacy.
Web talk can be pretty overwhelming when trying to figure out all the key web design and web development definitions and terms, particularly if you're new to this world. Knowing the meaning of a few acronyms and technical terms can simplify communication with designers and developers and enhance your comprehension of your own website's operations.
We'll demystify some of the most commonly used, and most commonly confused, acronyms and technical terms, making it simpler to collaborate with designers or developers.
1. Web Design Definitions
Accessibility
A website should be accessible for everybody, including dyslexic readers and hearing and visually impaired users.
Responsive / Mobile Optimised / Mobile-Friendly
The majority of web traffic takes place on some form of a smart device or cellphone. To make websites responsive / mobile-friendly / mobile optimised means to design and develop a website that will adapt to the device or screen they are being viewed on.
Usability
A professional website should be a user-friendly tool that engages smoothly with its visitors. Usability describes how usable your site is for the visitors it was designed for, i.e. with minimal obstacles, frustrations and the need to ask for help.
ATF, BTF
Above The Fold and Below The Fold. This term comes from the fold in newspapers with information more easily read above the fold. In website terms, below the fold is where scrolling starts, and fewer people read. For web pages, the “fold” is generally defined as the point where you have to start scrolling, but the principle is the same—information that is above the fold (ATF) is more accessible and visible than that below the fold (BTF).
Resolution
Resolution refers to the number of pixels that specifies the size of images displayed on a screen. The more the pixels per inch, the higher the quality of an image which are also powerful elements of your website’s SEO.
UX (User Experience) / UI (User Interface)
UX and UI design work together to enhance the user experience. UX aims to optimize the user's interaction with a website or application, while UI focuses on the visual and interactive aspects, like buttons and typography. Understanding the difference between UX and UI is important for ensuring a satisfying user journey.
2. Front End Website Definitions
Breadcrumb Navigation
Breadcrumb navigation guides your visitors between your website’s pages - forward as well as back. This is generally shown as a series of nested categories, like Home > Category > Year > Month > Post.
Favicon
A favicon, also called a website icon, is a small 16x16-pixel image that represents a website in a web browser's address bar and bookmark list. It is usually the company's logo and serves as a powerful branding element that can increase brand awareness subconsciously.
Front-End
Refers to the visible parts of a website that users interact with, such as images, text, and content. It is what people see and engage with when they first visit a website.
Hamburger Icon
The hamburger icon is a small symbol on a website or mobile app that looks like three horizontal lines stacked on top of each other. When clicked, it opens a hidden menu with more options. It's commonly used on mobile devices where screen space is limited, to make the interface simpler and easier to use.
Landing Page
A landing page is the first page that visitors see when they visit your website. It's like the front door of a store, and it can be used to promote or market something to the visitors. A good landing page is designed to persuade visitors to take a specific action, like making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.
Navigation
Navigation on a website means how you move around and find different parts of the website. It's like a map that helps you get to where you want to go. The most common example of navigation is the menu bar at the top of the page.
3. Back End Website Definitions
Back End
The back end is where your website operates and manages your digital content, but it’s hidden from your visitors.
CMS
A Content Management System is a type of software used to build websites, with a back end tool to create and manage digital content. It hides the raw code, making web design and building easier. If you’ve ever used WordPress to build a website, you’ve used a CMS.
Template
In web design, a template is a pre-designed format used to keep a consistent look and feel across all pages of a website. CMS platforms provide templates for web design.
Plug-In
A tool that can be added to your website to add features and functions such as scheduling blog posts or managing customer leads.
Ecommerce
If you're selling products online, you'll need an Ecommerce Store, which is a part of your website that includes images and descriptions of your products, a checkout page, payment options, and customer information.
4. Basic Internet Terms
Domain Name
The name of your website, separated by [.] and chosen to be easy for people to remember and type in. A good domain name can improve your website's visibility on search engines.
URL
The full web address that you use to find a specific website or web page. It includes the domain name and the specific page you are looking for.
DNS
Domain Name Service helps find the web address you enter in your browser, even if the website is located somewhere else in the world.
Web Host
A company that makes your website available on the internet, so that anyone can access it at any time.
Web Server
A computer that stores your website and delivers it to visitors when they access your website's URL.
Cache
A temporary collection of data stored in your web browser's memory to help websites load faster when you revisit them.
Cookies
Small packets of information stored in your browser by websites. They can autofill forms and track a visitor's activity on the site for marketing purposes, which has led to concerns about privacy.
