November 11, 2024
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A-Z Website Jargon for Beginners
As a seasoned website designer, I know how easy it is to fall into the trap of using jargon—essentially when talking to complete beginners!
I aim to avoid using website jargon wherever possible, especially when talking to distressed business owners who are frustrated with trying to build and optimise their own websites.
This post represents a running log of jargon a website designer or web developer may use. …
Quick Links
A.
Alt Text (Alternative Text)
A description added to images in HTML to improve accessibility and help search engines understand the image's content.
Anchor Text
The clickable text in a hyperlink, often styled to stand out (e.g., underlined or in a different colour).
API (Application Programming Interface)
A set of rules and tools that allows different software applications to communicate with each other.
B.
Backend
The server-side part of a website where data is stored, managed, and processed.
Backlink
Also known as inbound links or incoming links, backlinks are clickable links from one website to a page on another website.
Bounce Rate
The percentage of visitors who leave a website after viewing only one page.
C.
Cache
A temporary storage location for website data to improve loading speed.
CMS (Content Management System)
A platform to create, manage, and modify website content without coding (e.g. WordPress).
Cookies
Small text files stored on a user's device by a website to track and save information about their visit, such as login details, preferences, or browsing behaviour. They help improve user experience and are often used for analytics and targeted advertising.
Crawl / Crawlability
The process by which search engines, like Google and Bing, browse the internet to discover website content.
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
A language used to style and format a website's visual presentation.
CTA (Call to Action)
A prompt on a website encouraging users to take a specific action, such as "Sign Up," "Learn More," or "Buy Now."
D.
Database
A structured collection of data stored electronically, often used to manage website content.
DNS (Domain Name System)
The system that translates domain names (e.g. www.synergycreativeco.com.au) into IP addresses (e.g. 192.158.1.38).
Domain Name
The website address that users type in their browser (e.g. www.synergycreativeco.com.au).
Domain Name Registrar
A company or organisation that manages the reservation of domain names and provides the tools to register, renew, and manage them (e.g., GoDaddy).
E.
Encryption
Securing data transmitted between a user and a website to prevent unauthorised access.
Engagement
The level of interaction and activity users have with a website, such as clicks, shares, or time spent on a page.
Embed
The integration of external content, such as videos, maps, or widgets, directly within a webpage.
Error 404
A standard HTTP response code indicating that the requested webpage could not be found on the server.
External Link
A hyperlink pointing to a webpage on a domain different from the one the user is visiting.
E-Commerce
The buying and selling of goods or services through a website.
F.
Favicon
The small icon displayed in a browser tab next to a website's name or URL.
Frontend
The client-side part of a website that users interact with, such as text, images, and buttons.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
A standard network protocol used to transfer files between a client and a server on a network.
G.
GBP (Google Business Profile)
Is a free tool provided by Google that allows businesses to manage how their business information (e.g. name, address, phone number, website URL, opening hours, etc.) appears in Google's search results and in Google Maps.
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
A European regulation that governs the collection and processing of personal data.
Geo-Targeting
Delivering content or advertisements to users based on their geographic location.
Google Search Console
A free tool by Google to monitor and improve website performance in search results.
Google Tag Manager
A tool that allows you to manage and deploy marketing tags (e.g., tracking pixels, analytics) on your website without modifying the code.
H.
Header
The top section of a webpage, often containing the site logo, navigation menu, and other key elements.
Hero Image
A large, prominent image at the top of a webpage, often used to grab attention and convey the main message.
Hosting Provider
A service that provides internet storage and access for a website, such as Synergy Wholesale.
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
The standard language used to structure content on the web.
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)
An encrypted version of HTTP, ensuring secure communication between users and websites.
H1 Tag
An HTML element used to define the main heading of a webpage, important for SEO and content hierarchy.
I.
Icons
Small graphical elements used to represent actions, content, or functionality on a website.
Index / Indexed / Indexing
An index is a database maintained by a search engine, like Google and Bing, that contains information about all the web pages it has discovered and deemed relevant enough to be stored on the internet. When internet users perform a search, the search engine looks through its index to find the most relevant results to display in the search results. If Google hasn't indexed your web pages, you may perform poorly in the search rankings or, worse, be invisible online!
Interactive Design
A design approach focused on creating engaging, user-friendly interactions within a website.
Internal Link
A hyperlink that connects one website page to another page on the same site.
Incremental Loading
A technique where content is loaded in stages, improving performance and user experience.
Integration
Combining different tools or systems to work seamlessly with a website (e.g., payment gateways, CRMs).
IP Address
A unique string of numbers assigned to each device connected to the internet.
J.
JavaScript
A programming language that adds interactivity and dynamic features to websites.
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
A common image format used on websites.
K.
Keyword
A specific word or phrase users type into search engines to find content.
Keyword Research
The process of identifying and analysing search terms that users enter into search engines to optimise content for SEO.
L.
Landing Page
A standalone webpage explicitly created for marketing or advertising campaigns.
Lazy Loading
A technique that delays loading non-essential images or resources to speed up initial page load time.
Lead Magnet
A piece of content or resource (e.g. a free e-book or guide) offered to website visitors in exchange for their contact information.
Lightbox
A design technique where an image, video, or other content opens in a pop-up overlay while dimming the background.
Load Time
The time it takes for a webpage to fully display on a user's device.
Log File
A file that records activity on a server, often used to analyze website traffic or diagnose issues.
M.
Metadata
Information that describes a webpage's content, helping search engines understand its purpose.
Mobile Responsiveness
The ability of a website to adapt and display appropriately on mobile devices.
N.
NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number)
Consistent business information listed on a website or across directories, critical for local SEO.
Navigation Bar
A menu typically located at the top or side of a website, allowing users to navigate between pages.
Niche
A specific focus or audience for a website or its content.
NoFollow Link
A type of hyperlink that tells search engines not to pass SEO authority to the linked page.
O.
Optimisation
Improving a website's performance, speed, or search engine rankings.
Open Source
Software with publicly accessible source code, such as WordPress, that can be modified or shared.
On-Page SEO
The practice of optimising individual web pages to rank higher and earn more relevant traffic in search engines.
Off-Page SEO
Strategies used outside of a website to improve its search engine rankings, such as backlink building and social media marketing.
Optimisation Tools
Software used to enhance website performance, speed, and SEO, such as WP Rocket.
Organic Traffic
Visitors who come to a website naturally through unpaid search results instead of paid advertising.
Overlay
A semi-transparent layer or pop-up that appears over a webpage, often used for forms or notifications.
Outbound Link
A hyperlink that points from your website to a different website.
P.
Page Builder
A tool or plugin that allows users to create and customise web pages using a drag-and-drop interface, often without needing to write code (e.g. Elementor).
Pagination
The division of content across multiple pages, often used in blogs or e-commerce sites to improve navigation.
Permalink
The permanent URL of a specific webpage or blog post.
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor)
A scripting language used in web development.
Pixel
A small square of light or colour that makes up an image on a screen.
Placeholder
Text or graphics temporarily used in place of actual content to show layout or design.
Plugin
An add-on that extends the functionality of a website (e.g. SEO tools, e-commerce capabilities).
Q.
Query
A request for information from a database or search engine.
Queue
A list of tasks or processes waiting to be executed, often used in server management or content scheduling.
R.
Redirect
A method of sending users from one URL to another.
Responsive Design
Refers to a website development approach that ensures websites provide an optimal viewing and interaction experience across various device types (e.g. desktop, tablet, mobile) and screen sizes.
Robots.txt
A file used to instruct search engine bots on which parts of a website they are allowed to crawl and index.
S.
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)
Strategies to improve a website's visibility on search engines.
SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages)
The pages displayed by search engines in response to a user's search query, containing organic results, ads, and featured snippets.
Server
A computer or system that hosts websites and serves them to users via the internet.
Session
A period of activity from a user on a website, typically ending after a certain period of inactivity.
Sitemap
A specific file that provides information on your website’s structure including your website pages, that helps search engines crawl it.
Slug
The part of a URL that identifies a specific page on a website, typically following the domain name (e.g. /blog/displaying-customer-reviews/)
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)
A security protocol that encrypts data exchanged between a website and its visitors.
T.
Tag
A keyword or term assigned to a piece of content for organisation or searchability.
Thumbnail
A smaller version of an image used to preview content or link to the full-sized version.
Traffic
The number of visitors to a website.
Typography
The design and arrangement of text on a website (e.g. Quicksand).
U.
UI (User Interface)
The visual layout and design of a website that users interact with.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
The web address used to access a specific webpage. URLs typically start with a 'http' or 'www', with various endings like '.com.au', '.com' and '.org'.
UX (User Experience)
A user's overall experience while navigating a website.
V.
Viewport
The visible area of a webpage on a user's screen.
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
A service that encrypts internet connections for privacy and security.
W.
Widget
A small application or tool embedded on a website to provide specific functionality (e.g., a weather forecast, social media feed).
Wireframe
A basic visual guide used to design the layout of a website.
X.
XML (Extensible Markup Language)
A language used to define rules for encoding documents, often used in sitemaps.
Y.
Yellow Hat SEO
Is a term occasionally used to describe ethical, user-focused SEO practices prioritising long-term results over quick wins.
Z.
Z-Index
A CSS property that determines the stack order of elements on a webpage, controlling which elements appear on top.
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Rachael Payne
Rachael is a passionate, results-driven individual on a mission to grow businesses by transforming their online presence.
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