Web Terminology and Web Jargon Explained

Optimisation

Writing a web page correctly so search engines can find, read and list it effectively.

CMS

Content management system - gives you an easy admin area to update your own web site.

Web hosting

Web Hosting is the service used where a specific computer or server holds the files that make a web site. This server is connected to the internet allowing people to access the files and view a web site.

Domain name

The specific name of your web site i.e. www.creation-web-design.co.uk

E-commerce

Trading online via your web site for example and online store or shop.

Crawling

Crawling is the term used for the process that search engines use to gather information about a web site. A search engine will access a web site's home page and then crawl through all the pages linked from this page and others. The page information stored and listed in the search engine's database.

Database

A logical store of data, text etc that can be queried, accessed and manipulated. The format is similar to a spread sheet. Often a separate server is used for databases.

Database driven web site

A web site that's content and or functions use a database to retrieve and store information. The most common form of these sites are online shops where product information is stored and retrieved by the web site allowing users to search etc.

Web browser

A web browser is the software installed on your computer that allows you to access the internet, view and interact with web sites. Most common browsers are Internet Explorer and Firefox.

FTP

File Transfer Protocol - A method used to transfer files from one computer to another, commonly from a home or office computer to an online server via an internet connection.

Accessibility

Accessibility, in terms of web sites, is used to describe how easy web pages are to view or read, including people with disabilities and people using older computer systems or technology.

HTML XHTML

HyperText Markup Language - HTML is used in the construction of web sites and is a code or language that enables web browsers to display web pages.

PHP ASP .NET etc

These are server side programming languages enabling dynamic web development where connections to databases and external services are required. For example: Online shopping, message boards and storage / processing of user information.

Clicks

This is the general term used when someone clicks a link on a web page. Clicks are often recorded in the process of tracking advertising and sales information.

Web Site marketing

Promoting a web site using online advertising mediums for example search engine ads, banner adverting and affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is a process where you offer text, images and product data for other web sites (Affiliates) to display. These affiliates will be paid a commission for any product sales and sometimes clicks that result via their web site.

Cookies

These are small text files that may be placed on your computer by a web site. They are often used for tracking purchases and login information. They are heavily restricted in terms of size and the information that can be placed, therefore cannot contain viruses or software.