Common Website Terms and Glossary

Cache

Cached files are saved or copied (downloaded) by a web browser so that the next time the user visits the site, the page loads faster. Unfortunately, this also means that you will not see the changes unless you FORCE your browser to refresh using SHIFT+Refresh at the top of your browser when you revise your site.

Content

Content refers to the actual information that appears on your website, most commonly in the form of words, pictures and video.

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)

CSS is a style sheet language used to describe the layout of HTML code. In simpler terms, HTML is the text’s language, and CSS is the page design language. CSS saves a lot of work for web developers as it helps them format their HTML code into different layouts and styles.

Domain

The domain is the name by which a website is identified. The domain is associated with an IP address. Domains can be purchased with any combination of letters, hyphens (-), and numbers (though it can’t start with a hyphen). Depending on the extension (.com, .net, .org, etc.), a domain can be up to 26 to 63 characters long.

Download

Download refers to the process of getting files and information from another computer. Most often, this will be from the web server where your site is actually located.

FTP

FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. Generally, this is a program built into a website editing program like Dreamweaver or a stand-alone program.

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)

HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. It’s the primary language used to write web pages. HTML is used to provide content on websites (with CSS handling the layout and stylistic options), though it can also determine how that content is displayed.

Hyperlink

A hyperlink is a link from one web page to another location, page or website. Generally these are text or images and are highlighted in some way (text is often underlined or put in a different colour or font-weight). The inclusion of hyperlinks is the “hyper” part of “hypertext.”

Meta Data (Meta Tags)

Meta data is the header’s data that offers information about the web page that a visitor is currently on. The information in the meta data isn’t viewable on the web page (except in the source code). Meta data is contained within meta tags.

Navigation

Navigation refers to the system that allows visitors to a website to move around that site. Navigation is most often thought of in terms of menus. Still, links within pages, breadcrumbs, related links, pagination, and any other links that allow a visitor to move from one page to another are included in navigation.

Root Folder

Root or Root Folder refers to the specific location pointing to your website’s domain name or address.

Servers

Servers do a lot of work; they’re computers after a can of spinach. They store vast amounts of data, such as CSS sheets, and connect to other servers through internet connections. Web servers store web information like URLs; when a browser requests a page, it'll communicate with the server.

Splash (Landing) Page

A landing page is a page where a visitor first enters a website. A unique landing page is often created to elicit a specific action from the new visitor (Like putting HOME STUDY at the top of each school site).

Synchronize

The process of making sure your computer files are the same as the server. It does this by getting or putting files to and from your computer to the server and vice versa by FTP.


Upload

Upload refers to the process of putting files and information from your computer. Most often, this will be to the webserver where your site is actually located.

URL

URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. A site’s URL is its address, the item that specifies where on the Internet can be found.




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