Web Design Terms | Plenty of Pixels
By devin on 24 Jun 2022

Web Design Terms

Web design is full of technological terms and things that most people are not familiar with. Even if you are a web design veteran, it can be difficult to keep up. Read on for a list of common terms to know. 

Web Design Terms

HTML

HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language and is the language used to create web pages. HTML is written in tags, which are surrounded by angle brackets <>. In order to create a web page, you need to write the code for the page’s layout and then add the text and images.

CSS

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a style sheet language used for describing the presentation of a document written in a markup language. A style sheet is a collection of rules that tells a web browser how to display a document written in HTML or XML.

CSS is used to style all HTML tags, including the document’s body, headings, paragraphs, and other pieces of text. CSS can also be used to style the display of table elements, grid elements, and images.

SaaS

SaaS (Software as a Service) is a type of subscription software that allows users to access and use the software from a remote location. The SaaS provider host and manage the software application and related infrastructure, while the customer accesses it over the internet.

This type of software is typically used by businesses, as it offers a number of advantages over traditional software. Firstly, it is much more affordable, as users only pay for what they use. Secondly, it is easy to set up and use, and does not require any installation or configuration. 

A/B Testing

A/B testing, also known as split testing, is a method of marketing research that compares two versions of a web page or other experience to see which one performs better. Version A is the original experience, while version B is an altered experience that is randomly shown to some visitors. The goal of A/B testing is to determine whether the changes made to version B result in more conversions (such as purchases or sign-ups) than those made to version A.

Backlink

A backlink is a link from another website that points to your website. They are also called inbound links, and are one of the most important factors in SEO (search engine optimization).

Backlinks are incredibly valuable because they indicate that other websites trust your content and think it’s worth linking to. When other websites link to yours, it tells Google that your content is valuable and worth ranking higher in search results.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that can be transferred over a certain period of time. It’s usually expressed in bits per second (bps) or bytes per second (Bps). In most cases, your internet service provider (ISP) will provide you with a bandwidth limit, which is the maximum amount of data you’re allowed to transfer each month.

If you exceed your bandwidth limit, your ISP may charge you extra fees or throttle your internet connection. That means your internet speed will be reduced until the end of the month, which can be very frustrating if you’re in the middle of a download

Cache

Cache is a component of a computer’s memory that stores recently used data so that future requests for that data can be served more quickly. When you visit a website, your computer downloads all of the images and files associated with that page. Your computer then stores these files in its cache, so the next time you visit that page, your computer can serve up the images and files much more quickly, since they’re already stored on your computer.

CMS

A content management system (CMS) is a computer software application that enables the creation and management of digital content. A website built with a CMS allows for the easy addition, editing and removal of content from a web page without the need for basic coding knowledge.

DNS

DNS is the process that translates human-readable domain names (like www.example.com) into the numerical IP addresses that computers use to communicate with each other. DNS is a key part of the Internet infrastructure, and it is what allows us to use domain names instead of IP addresses when we browse the web or send email. DNS is a decentralized system, which means that there is no single point of control or ownership. Instead, it is managed by a network of servers that work together to keep the DNS system running. DNS servers are operated by ISPs, hosting companies, domain registrars, and anyone else who wants to provide DNS services. DNS is a standards-based system, which means that there are a set of rules that all DNS servers must follow. 

HTTPS

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is a protocol used to secure communication over the internet. HTTPS encrypts data before it is transmitted, making it more difficult for third parties to intercept and tamper with the data. HTTPS is often used for logging into websites, making online purchases, and accessing sensitive information. While HTTPS is not required for all websites, it is generally recommended for any site that handles sensitive information. If you are unsure whether or not a website uses HTTPS, you can check by looking for a padlock icon in the address bar. When visiting a website that uses HTTPS, the padlock should be locked. If the padlock is open, this indicates that the website is not using HTTPS and your data may not be secure.

Hyperlink

A hyperlink is a link from one piece of web content to another. More specifically, it is an HTML element that allows you to link to another page or resource on the web. Hyperlinks are what make the web so easy to navigate. Without them, we would have to type out the full URL of the page we want to visit every time we want to go somewhere new.

Imagemap

An image map is a graphical element consisting of a number of clickable areas, typically hyperlinks, each assigned to a different part of an image. When a user clicks on one of the areas, they are typically taken to a new page or given more information about the area they clicked on. Image maps can be used to create interactive applications, such as games, or to simply provide more information about an image. They are often used on websites to give users a more interactive experience. Creating an image map is typically done by writing some code, though there are a few tools that can help. Once created, an image map can be added to a webpage like any other image.

Landing Page

A landing page is a web page that allows you to capture a visitor’s contact information through a lead capture form. A lead capture form is a form that asks for a visitor’s name, email address, and other contact information. Landing pages are used to generate leads for businesses. The purpose of a landing page is to convert web traffic into leads. A lead is a potential customer who has expressed interest in your product or service. Landing pages are typically used in conjunction with lead generation campaigns, such as Google Ads or Facebook Ads. A well-designed landing page will have a strong call-to-action (CTA), leading to a high conversion rate. A CTA is an action that you want the visitor to take, such as submitting their contact information on the lead capture form. 

Meta Data

Meta data is data that describes other data. It provides information about a dataset, such as when it was created, what format it is in, what it contains, and who created it. Meta data is important because it helps you understand and interpret a dataset.

For example, imagine you are given a dataset containing information on every car that was sold in the United States last year. The dataset includes the make, model, and year of each car, as well as the sales price. At first glance, this dataset might seem confusing and difficult to interpret. However, if you had access to the meta data for this dataset, it would be much easier to understand. The meta data would tell you that the dataset contains information on car sales in the United States, and it would provide information on the variables in the dataset (make, model, year, and sales

Open Source

Open source software is software that is free to use, distribute, and modify. The source code for open source software is publicly available, so anyone can contribute to the development of the software. This collaborative approach to software development means that open source software is often more reliable and efficient than proprietary software.

Open source software is an important part of the development of the internet and the World Wide Web. Many of the most popular applications and websites, including Linux, Apache, and WordPress, are built on open source software. If you’re interested in contributing to open source software development, there are many ways to get involved. You can find open source projects to contribute to on websites like GitHub, or you can start your own open source project.

Permalink

A permalink is a URL that is intended to remain unchanged for many years into the future. A permalink is often used to point to specific blog posts or articles in order to make it easy for readers to find them. Permalinks can also be used to point to other types of resources, such as files or images.

Plug-in

A plug-in is a software component that adds a specific feature to an existing computer program. When a program supports plug-ins, it enables customization. The common examples are the plug-ins used in web browsers to add new features such as search engines, ad blockers, and browser extensions. These plug-ins are utilized by millions of people every day.

Script

A script is a set of instructions that a computer can follow to perform a task. Scripts are written in a scripting language, which is a form of programming language. Scripts can be used to automate tasks, such as website maintenance or data entry. There are many different scripting languages, each with its own syntax and rules. Some of the most popular scripting languages are PHP, Perl, and Ruby. To write a script, you will need to choose a scripting language and then learn the syntax.

Template

A website template is a pre-designed webpage that includes the basic structure and layout of a website. Website templates are typically built using HTML and CSS code and are then used by web developers to deploy websites. Many website templates are available for free online, and some can be purchased from commercial template providers. 

While website templates can be a helpful starting point for developing a website, it is important to note that they are not always flexible and may need to be customized in order to meet the specific needs of a website. Additionally, web developers should be aware of the potential security risks associated with using website templates.

URL

Every website has a unique address called a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). A URL is used by your browser to find and display the webpages you request. The structure of a URL is very simple – it is made up of a series of letters and numbers that identify the location of a specific resource on the internet.

The first part of a URL is the protocol identifier, which tells your browser how to connect to the server where the website is located. The most common protocol is HTTP, which stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. There are also otherprotocols, such as HTTPS and FTP, but HTTP is the most commonly used. After the protocol identifier, there is a colon and then two forward slashes (://). This is followed by the server name or IP address, which is where the website is located.