A
Accessibility
The practice of designing websites and applications to be usable by people of all abilities and disabilities.
Adobe XD
A vector-based design tool for web and mobile app prototyping and design.
API
Application Programming Interface – a set of rules and protocols for building and interacting with software applications.
Above the Fold
The portion of a web page that is visible without scrolling.
Alt Text
Descriptive text added to images for accessibility purposes, or when the image cannot be displayed.
Animation
The movement or transition of elements on a web page, often used to enhance user experience.
Aspect Ratio
The proportional relationship between an image or video’s width and height.
A/B Testing
A method of comparing two versions of a web page or app to determine which performs better in terms of user engagement or conversion rates.
Anchor Text
The clickable text in a hyperlink, often used to provide context about the linked page.
Adaptive Design
A design approach that allows a website to adapt its layout and content based on the device or screen size being used.
B
Bootstrap
A popular front-end framework for developing responsive and mobile-first websites.
Browser Compatibility
The ability of a website to function correctly across different web browsers.
Back-end
The server-side of a website that is responsible for handling data, logic, and interactions.
Blog
A type of website or section of a website that is regularly updated with written content.
Broken Link
A hyperlink that leads to a webpage that no longer exists or has been moved.
Byte
A unit of digital information that consists of 8 bits.
Backend Developer
A web developer who specializes in creating and maintaining the server-side of websites.
Browser Cache
A temporary storage location on a user’s device that stores web page elements to reduce loading times.
C
CSS
Cascading Style Sheets, a style sheet language used for describing the presentation of a document written in HTML
Color Theory
The study of how colors interact with each other and how they can be combined to create visually appealing designs
Content Management System (CMS)
A software application used to create and manage digital content on websites, allowing users to update content without needing technical knowledge
Call-to-Action (CTA)
A prompt on a website that encourages users to take a specific action, such as signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase
Cross-Browser Compatibility
Ensuring that a website or web application functions correctly on different web browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari
Content Strategy
Planning, creating, and managing content on a website to attract and engage visitors, often involving the use of SEO and user personas
Compression
Reducing the file size of images, videos, or other media on a website to improve loading times and overall performance
Code Validation
Checking the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code of a website for errors and compliance with web standards to ensure proper functionality and accessibility
D
Domain Name
The unique name that identifies a website on the internet.
Design Mockup
A visual representation of a website’s layout and design before it is developed.
Dynamic Content
Website content that changes based on user interactions or other factors.
Database
A structured collection of data that is accessed and managed electronically.
Debugging
The process of identifying and fixing errors or bugs in a website’s code.
Drag and Drop
A feature that allows users to click and drag elements on a website to rearrange them.
Domain Hosting
A service that provides server space for storing website files and making them accessible online.
Digital Accessibility
Ensuring that websites are usable by people with disabilities, including those using assistive technologies.
E
E-commerce
The buying and selling of goods and services over the internet.
Embed
To insert or include content, such as videos or social media posts, from one website into another.
Encryption
The process of converting data into a code to prevent unauthorized access.
Error 404
A standard HTTP status code indicating that the server could not find the requested webpage.
Exit Intent Popup
A popup that appears when a user tries to leave a website, often used to capture their attention or offer a deal.
Eye Tracking
A research technique that measures where and how long users look at specific elements on a webpage.
Event Handler
A function that executes in response to a specific event, such as a mouse click or keyboard input.
Experiential Design
Design focused on creating engaging and memorable user experiences.
Exit Strategy
A plan for transitioning or closing a website or online business.
F
Favicon
A small icon displayed in the browser tab to represent a website or webpage.
Form
A user interface element used to collect and submit data on a webpage.
Front-End Development
The practice of creating the visual and interactive aspects of a website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Flat Design
A design style that emphasizes simplicity and uses flat colors, minimalistic elements, and clean typography.
Fluid Layout
A responsive web design approach where elements on the webpage resize proportionally based on the screen size.
Fixed Width
A design layout where the width of the webpage or elements is set to a specific pixel value and does not change.
Full-Stack Developer
A developer who is proficient in both front-end and back-end web development.
FTP
File Transfer Protocol, a standard network protocol used to transfer files between a client and a server on a computer network.
G
Grid System
A structure that allows designers to organize content within a layout using rows and columns for better alignment and consistency.
GIF
Graphics Interchange Format, a popular image file format that supports animation and transparency.
Gradient
A gradual transition between two or more colors used in web design to create depth and visual interest.
Gallery
A collection of images or videos displayed on a website to showcase work or products.
Google Fonts
A library of free and open-source web fonts provided by Google for use in web design projects.
GUI
Graphical User Interface, the visual elements and controls that allow users to interact with a website or software.
Grid Layout
A layout system that uses a grid to organize and align elements on a webpage for a responsive design.
GitHub
A web-based platform used by developers to store, share, and collaborate on code and projects.
Graphic Design
The art of creating visual content for websites, including logos, images, and other visual elements.
Gutenberg
A block-based editor for WordPress that allows users to create rich content layouts without coding.
H
HTML
Hypertext Markup Language, the standard markup language for creating web pages.
HTTP
Hypertext Transfer Protocol, the foundation of data communication on the World Wide Web.
Hosting
Service that allows individuals and organizations to make their website accessible via the World Wide Web.
Homepage
The main or introductory page of a website.
Header
The top section of a website, usually containing the logo, navigation menu, and other key elements.
Hex Code
A six-digit code used in HTML and CSS to represent colors.
Hyperlink
A clickable link that directs users to another webpage or resource.
Hierarchy
The organization of content on a website, typically displayed through headings and subheadings.
Horizontal Scroll
The ability to scroll left and right on a webpage, often avoided in web design.
Hover Effect
An effect that occurs when a user hovers their cursor over an element, such as a change in color or animation.
I
Interface
The point of interaction between the user and the website, including elements like buttons, menus, and forms.
Interaction Design
The practice of designing interactive digital products, such as websites, to facilitate user interactions and create engaging experiences.
Information Architecture
The organization and structure of content on a website to help users navigate and find information easily.
Image Optimization
The process of reducing the file size of images on a website without compromising quality, to improve loading times and performance.
Infinite Scroll
A design technique where content continuously loads as the user scrolls down the page, eliminating the need for pagination.
Interactive Elements
Elements on a website that respond to user input, such as hover effects, animations, and clickable buttons.
Iterative Design
A design approach that involves making incremental improvements to a website through multiple rounds of feedback and testing.
Inclusive Design
Designing websites to be accessible and usable by people of all abilities, including those with disabilities.
Inline Styles
CSS styles applied directly to individual HTML elements using the ‘style’ attribute, instead of using an external stylesheet.
Image Carousel
A slideshow of images on a website that automatically transitions or allows users to navigate through images manually.
J
JavaScript
A programming language used to create interactive effects within web browsers.
JPEG
A common image format used for web graphics and photographs.
jQuery
A fast and concise JavaScript library that simplifies HTML document traversing, event handling, animating, and Ajax interactions for rapid web development.
JSON
A lightweight data interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write and easy for machines to parse and generate.
Justified
A text alignment option where the text is spaced out to align with both the left and right margins.
JavaScript Framework
A pre-written JavaScript code library that helps developers build web applications more efficiently.
Jumbotron
A large callout section at the top of a webpage used to showcase key content. Also, known as hero section.
Java
A high-level programming language used for developing desktop, web, mobile, and enterprise applications.
JavaScript Events
Actions that occur as a result of user interaction with a web page, such as clicking a button or hovering over an element.
JavaScript Framework
A pre-written JavaScript code library that helps developers build web applications more efficiently.
K
Kerning
The adjustment of space between characters in a font.
Keyword
A word or phrase that describes the content of a web page and helps with search engine optimization.
KPI (Key Performance Indicator)
A measurable value that demonstrates how effectively a company is achieving key business objectives.
Knowledge Graph
A knowledge base used by Google to enhance its search engine’s results with semantic-search information.
Kiosk Mode
A mode in web browsers that restricts the user to a specific website or set of websites.
Keyframe
A frame in an animation that is specifically designated as significant.
Kotlin
A programming language used for developing modern web applications.
Kubernetes
An open-source system for automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.
KISS Principle
Keep It Simple, Stupid – a design principle that states simplicity should be a key goal in design.
Knowledge Base
A centralized repository for information, frequently asked questions, and troubleshooting guides.
L
Layout
The arrangement of elements on a web page, including text, images, and other media.
Logo Design
The creation of a unique symbol or graphic that represents a company or brand.
Loading Time
The amount of time it takes for a web page to fully load in a browser.
Landing Page
A standalone web page created specifically for a marketing or advertising campaign.
Link Building
The process of acquiring hyperlinks from other websites to improve search engine optimization.
M
Mockup
A visual representation of a website design before it is finalized and developed.
Mobile Optimization
The process of ensuring that a website is optimized for viewing on mobile devices.
Minimalism
A design approach that emphasizes simplicity and the removal of unnecessary elements.
Mouseover
An event triggered when a user moves their mouse pointer over a particular element on a website.
Multimedia
The integration of various forms of media, such as text, images, video, and audio, on a website.
Metadata
Data that provides information about other data, such as keywords, descriptions, and tags used to optimize web content for search engines.
Motion Graphics
Graphics that use animation, video, and other visual effects to bring static web content to life.
MySQL
An open-source relational database management system often used in web development to store and manage data.
Modal Window
A temporary window that appears on top of a webpage to display additional information or require user input.
N
Negative Space
The empty or blank space around and between elements on a webpage, used to improve readability and visual appeal.
Netiquette
The etiquette or code of conduct observed when interacting with others online, including on websites and social media.
Node.js
An open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment that allows developers to build server-side applications.
Notification
A message or alert that appears on a website to inform users of updates, events, or actions.
Niche
A specialized segment of the market or target audience that a website caters to, often with specific content or products.
Native App
An application developed specifically for a particular platform or device, such as iOS or Android.
Newbie
A newcomer or inexperienced person in the field of web design, development, or online technology.
O
Optimization
The process of improving a website’s performance, speed, and efficiency.
Overflow
A CSS property that controls how content overflows its containing element.
Opacity
A CSS property that controls the transparency of an element.
Outlining
Creating a visual outline around an element using CSS.
Orphan
A single line of text at the beginning or end of a paragraph that appears alone on a page.
Overlay
A design element that appears on top of another element, often used for pop-ups or notifications.
Off-canvas
A design pattern where content is hidden off-screen and can be revealed by user interaction.
Object-fit
A CSS property that specifies how an element should be resized to fit its container.
Ornamentation
Decorative elements added to a website design for aesthetic purposes.
Open graph
A protocol that allows web pages to become rich objects in social media sharing.
P
Parallax Scrolling
A technique where the background images move slower than the foreground images to create an illusion of depth and immersion.
Pixel
The smallest unit of a digital image or display, typically a square or dot that can be a different color.
PNG
A file format for images that supports lossless data compression, commonly used for web graphics.
Prototype
A preliminary version of a website or web application used to test and validate design ideas before full implementation.
Page Layout
The arrangement of visual elements on a web page, including text, images, and other media.
Pop-up
A small window that appears on top of a web page to display additional content or messages.
Plug-in
A software component that adds specific features or functionality to a web browser or website.
PHP
A server-side scripting language commonly used for web development to create dynamic web pages.
Password Strength Meter
A visual indicator that shows the strength of a password entered by a user, often used in registration forms.
Q
Quality Assurance
The process of ensuring that a website meets certain standards and functions correctly across different devices and browsers.
Query
A request for information from a database or API, commonly used in web development to retrieve specific data.
Quick Response (QR) Code
A type of barcode that can be scanned with a smartphone to quickly access a website or other information.
Quick Links
Clickable text or buttons that provide easy access to important pages or sections of a website.
Quick Edit
A feature in content management systems that allows users to make minor changes to website content without accessing the full editing interface.
Quality of Experience (QoE)
A measure of how users perceive the overall quality of a website, including factors such as speed, usability, and design.
Quickstart Guide
A document or tutorial that provides users with a quick overview of how to get started with a website or web application.
Quote Form
An online form that allows users to request a price quote or estimate for services or products offered on a website.
Quick Response Time
The speed at which a website responds to user interactions, such as loading pages or submitting forms.
Quality Content – Highly relevant, valuable, and engaging content that is created to attract and retain website visitors.
R
Responsive Design – A design approach that ensures web pages render well on a variety of devices and window or screen sizes. Also, known as Responsive Web Design.
RGB – A color model that uses varying intensities of red, green, and blue light to create a wide array of colors on digital displays.
Retina Display – A high-resolution screen technology used in some devices that offers a pixel density so high that the human eye is unable to discern individual pixels at a typical viewing distance.
Responsive Images – Images on a website that can adapt to different screen sizes and resolutions, optimizing load times and visual appeal.
Raster Graphics – Images made up of a grid of pixels, where each pixel has its own color value, such as photographs or digital paintings.
Rich Media – Interactive multimedia elements like videos, animations, and audio that enhance user engagement on a website.
Retargeting – A marketing strategy that involves displaying targeted ads to users who have previously visited a website, encouraging them to return.
Responsive Typography – The practice of using flexible font sizes and styles that adjust based on screen size and resolution to improve readability and aesthetics.
Robustness Principle – A design guideline in web development that states that systems should be tolerant of input variations and strict in output formats.
S
Sitemap – A visual or textually organized model of a website’s content that allows users to navigate through the site.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) – The practice of increasing the quantity and quality of traffic to a website through organic search engine results.
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) – A standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser, ensuring that all data passed between them remains private.
Scalability – The ability of a system to handle a growing amount of work or its potential to accommodate growth.
Scrolling – The action of moving text or images up or down on a computer screen to view different parts of a webpage.
Social Media Integration – The incorporation of social media platforms into a website to allow users to share content and interact with the site through their social accounts.
T
Typography – The style, arrangement, and appearance of text on a website.
Template – A pre-designed layout or format that can be used as a starting point for a website.
Target Audience – The specific group of people that a website is designed for.
Testing – The process of evaluating a website’s functionality, performance, and usability.
Tabs – Navigation elements that allow users to switch between different sections of a website.
Thumbnail – A small image that represents a larger image or video on a website.
Toolbar – A set of icons or buttons that provide quick access to commonly used functions on a website.
Text Alignment – The positioning of text within a block or column on a website.
Tracking Code – Code embedded in a website to track user behavior and gather analytics data.
Table – A grid of rows and columns used to organize and display data on a website.
U
UI Design – The process of designing user interfaces for websites or applications to enhance user experience.
UX Design – The process of enhancing user satisfaction by improving the usability, accessibility, and pleasure provided in the interaction with a website or application.
Usability Testing – The process of evaluating a website or application by testing it with real users to identify usability issues.
User-Centric Design – An approach to design that prioritizes the needs and preferences of the end user throughout the design process.
User Flow – The path a user takes through a website or application to complete a specific task or achieve a goal.
User Interface – The visual elements of a website or application, including buttons, menus, and other interactive elements that users interact with.
User Experience – The overall experience of a user when interacting with a website or application, including usability, accessibility, and satisfaction.
URL – Uniform Resource Locator, the address used to access a specific website or web page on the internet.
Uniformity – Consistency in design elements across a website or application to create a cohesive user experience.
User Persona – A fictional representation of a target user based on research and data, used to guide design decisions and strategies.
V
Viewport – The visible area of a web page within a browser window.
Vector Graphics – Graphics that are based on mathematical equations to create shapes and designs.
Visual Hierarchy – The arrangement of elements on a webpage to guide users’ attention in a certain order.
Validation – The process of checking if user input meets specified criteria, such as email format or password length.
Viewport Width – The width of the browser window, which can be used in responsive design to create layouts that adapt to different screen sizes.
Video Background – Using a video as the background of a website to create a dynamic visual experience.
Vertical Rhythm – The consistent spacing and alignment of text and other elements on a webpage to improve readability and aesthetics.
Viewport Meta Tag – An HTML meta tag that controls how a webpage is displayed on different devices by setting the viewport size.
W
Wireframe – A visual guide that represents the skeletal framework of a website.
Web Development – The process of building and maintaining websites.
Web Hosting – A service that allows individuals and organizations to make their website accessible via the World Wide Web.
Web Accessibility – The practice of ensuring that websites are usable by people of all abilities and disabilities.
Web Typography – The style and appearance of text on a website.
Web Usability – The ease of use and learnability of a website.
Web Design – The process of creating websites, including layout, color, graphics, and content.
Web Content – The text, images, videos, and other elements that make up a website.
Web Browser – A software application used to access information on the World Wide Web.
X
XHTML – Extensible Hypertext Markup Language, a reformulation of HTML as an XML application.
XML – Extensible Markup Language, a markup language that defines rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable.
XAMPP – Cross-platform Apache, MySQL, PHP, and Perl, a free and open-source web server solution stack package.
XSS – Cross-Site Scripting, a security vulnerability typically found in web applications where attackers inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
XHR – XMLHttpRequest, a JavaScript object that allows for making network requests to retrieve data from a server without needing to reload the page.
XAMARIN – A platform that allows developers to build cross-platform mobile applications using C# and .NET.
XQUERY – A query and functional programming language designed for querying and transforming collections of structured and unstructured data in XML format.
Y
Y-axis – The vertical axis on a webpage, used for positioning elements from top to bottom.
Yarn – A package manager that doubles down as a project manager for web development projects.
YouTube Embed – The process of integrating a YouTube video into a webpage using embed code.
YAML
YAML Ain’t Markup Language, a human-readable data serialization format used in configuration files.
YSlow – A tool that analyzes web pages and suggests ways to improve their performance based on Yahoo’s rules for high performance websites.
YAML Front Matter – Metadata information at the top of a file in YAML format, commonly used in static site generators.
Z
Z-index – A CSS property that specifies the stack order of an element, determining which elements are displayed in front of others.
Zoom – A feature that allows users to magnify or shrink the content on a webpage, typically controlled through browser settings or CSS.
Zurb Foundation – A responsive front-end framework for web development, providing a grid system, UI components, and other tools for designing websites.
Zip file – A compressed file format that bundles multiple files and folders together, commonly used for downloading and sharing website resources.
Zapier – A web automation tool that connects different apps and services to automate workflows, allowing for seamless integration between various web platforms.
Zero-day exploit – A cyber attack that targets a vulnerability in software or hardware on the same day it is discovered, before a fix or patch is available, posing a significant security threat to websites.