Simple web design, web development, information technology, & technical communication

Articles and resources for web developers and the average person. Topics include web development, web design, technical writing and communication, and all aspects of information technology.

Web Glossary

I will continue to add to this list as time permits. Please drop me a line if you’d like me to add a term sooner rather than later.

Active Server Pages
See ASP.

AJAX
Acronym for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML. AJAX is a technology used by Web developers to create more interactive Web applications. It allows data to be fetched from an external source (e.g. database, XML file, etc) and brought into the existing user interface without refreshing the page.

ASP
Acronym for Active Server Pages, a Microsoft server-side technology that allows Web developers to create dynamic Web sites. See the ASP Programming page for additional information.

DNS
Acronym for Domain Name System. In simplest terms, DNS tells the rest of the Internet where your particular website (the actual physical computer) lives. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to find your favorite website by typing www.mywebsite.com. Instead, you’d have to type a number like 137.46.32.1. Thank god for DNS.

DSL
Acronym for Digital Subscriber Line. A type of broadband, or high speed, Internet access. Provided by a phone company and implemented over standard existing phone lines.

HTML
Acronym for Hypertext Markup Language. This is the standard coding format by which Web pages are produced. HTML is interpreted by a Web browser, producing the Web page that one sees on a computer screen.

ISP
Acronym for Internet Service Provider. A company that provides the means for a user to connect to the Internet. Common ISPs are Comcast (for cable internet), SBC (for DSL internet), AOL, and NetZero (dial-up). Satellite providers (like DirecTV) and cellular providers (like T-Mobile) have also entered the ISP market by offering their own brands of wireless Internet access.

JavaScript
A scripting language used by Web developers to make interactive Web pages. JavaScript code is interpreted by a Web browser, meaning its effectiveness is subject to an individual user’s Web browser and personal browser settings.

Modem
Stands for modulation / demodulation. A piece of hardware inside or outside a computer that allows communication of data over the Internet. Without a modem of some kind, there is no way to pass or receive data over the Internet (view Web pages, send email, etc.).

SEO
Acronym for Search Engine Optimization. Refers to the process of increasing the amount of non-paid (also called natural, organic, or algorithmic) traffic coming from search engines like Google and Yahoo!. Can also refer to a person who performs these services.

SEM
Acronym for Search Engine Marketing. The process of marketing and advertising through search engine technology, such as Google, Yahoo, Ask, or MSN. This term encompasses both paid strategies as well as SEO.

Search Engine Marketing
See SEM.

Search Engine Optimization
See SEO.

TLD
Acronym for Top Level domain. A domain is the suffix of a Web pages address. Common TLDs include .com, .net, .edu, .org, .us, and .biz.

XML
Stands for Extensible Markup Language. XML is a way to transport data via a “feed” format that can be read in a variety of different software applications and programming languages.

Web 2.0
A phrase that refers to the social networking, community driven, user-generated content state of the Internet today. Also encompasses all of the characteristics of these types of Web sites, such as design style, technologies used (AJAX for example), features, and tools.

Web Browser
Software on a computer that interprets HTML (and other languages), and renders web pages and web applications on the computer screen. Common Web browsers are Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Opera.

Web Host
Company that renders the service of providing a computer (Web server) to host your website’s files. In addition to giving your website a “home,” Web hosts usually provide technical support and run standard backups of your website files.

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