The document is a glossary defining web design terms. It provides definitions for over 50 common terms used in web design and development, including formats like HTML, CSS, and JPEG; technologies like browsers, servers, and databases; and concepts like domains, links, and bandwidth. The glossary acts as a reference guide for understanding fundamental aspects of website creation and functioning.

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Web Design Glossary
above the fold
The top half of the web page that is viewable without having to scroll down. The area “above the fold” will
obviously vary depending upon the size and screen resolution of the viewers’ monitor.
animated GIF
Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) is an image file format that is used on the web for logos and flat color images.
An Animated GIF is a moving version of this file format that is created using software such as Adobe CS (versions 3
and up), and previously, Adobe ImageReady. See also: JPEG, GIF.
Apache server
Apache is a web server application. See also: Server.
back‐end
In web design, the back‐end is the database technology and/or software found at the server level. See also: Front‐
end.
bandwidth
The amount of digital information that can be transferred over a network within a given timeframe. See also:
Broadband.
blog
An online diary or journal that can be used as an interactive marketing tool. Blog writers compose posts, usually
on a specific niche topic, to attract readers and subscribers. These readers can, in turn, comment on the blog
posts.
broadband
An internet connection with larger capacity for digital data transmission.
browser
A program that allows you to see web pages on the internet. Examples of browsers: Internet Explorer, Firefox,
Opera, Chrome, Safari, etc.
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Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
Code that is used for styling and layout of websites. Paragraphs, text, fonts, colors, background images, etc., can
all be formatted using style sheets. CSS can be kept in an external file, and referred to in HTML pages, which allows
for faster page loading.
client/server
A relationship between two computer programs. One program, the client, request a service from another
program, the server, which fulfills the request. See also: Server (Web Server).
content management system (CMS)
A web page editing system that allows for easy content changes to an existing website. CMS uses a WYSIWYG
(what you see is what you get) interface, so users can make changes to a web page visually without having to
know any programming languages.
cross browser compatibility
A design goal for web developer: ideally, websites should look identical, or as close as possible, on all of the
different browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.).
domain
A form of internet “real estate” that is given an identifiable name (a domain name). Domain names are sub‐
divided into categories such as .com (commercial), .gov, (governmental), .org, (non‐profit), .edu (educational), and
also country specific (.co.uk for the United Kingdom, etc.).
Domain Name System (DNS)
A series of internet computers that act as servers.
downloads
Copying data from one computer to another.
dynamic web pages
Dynamic web pages are generated using information from a database stored at the server level. Server or scripting
technologies include PHP, ASP and .NET.
e‐commerce
Electronic commerce is a general term for online or web‐based commerce and monetary transactions.
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extranet
An extranet is like an intranet, but instead of being restricted to use by employees, outside parties, such as clients
and vendors, are allowed access. See also: Intranet.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
Allows for file uploads and downloads to and from a remote server. A way for designers to upload website files to
a server space.
firewall
A firewall protects a computer, server or network against security risks and other unauthorized access.
Flash
Software developed by Macromedia (now owned by Adobe) that uses a form of scripting called ActionScript. Flash
is used to create animations and video games, and to embed video to a web site.
front‐end
Web technology that runs directly from the browser, as opposed to back‐end technology, that runs at the server
level. Examples of front‐end technology are HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
Graphics Interchange Format (GIF)
A graphic file format, most commonly used to create logos and other flat, colored graphics. See also: JPEG.
Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML)
HTML is a mark‐up language for the web that allows documents to be viewable on a browser. See also: Front‐end.
home page
The top‐most page of a web site (www.domain.com or www.domain.com/index.html).
host (webhost)
A company that provides server space for websites.
hypertext
A formatted document file, such as HTML, that contains links to other documents.
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Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
HTTP is a set of rules that allows for the transfer of files (text, graphics, sound, video, etc.) on the World Wide
Web. See also: Server (Web Server).
internet
The international networked collection of computers that communicate via network protocols (IP, WWW, FTP,
etc.). This term is often confused with World Wide Web (WWW); however, they are technically not the same.
IP (Internet Protocol) address
An IP is a unique identifying number given to every computer on the internet, and also assigned to every website.
IPs given to websites are translated to a domain name via Domain Name Servers (DNS).
internet service provider (ISP)
Company that provides users with internet connections via dial‐up modem or broadband. Many also provide
email, web hosting and domain name purchasing.
intranet
A private network, usually used by a single company or organization, that provides resources and communication
among employees. Access to the network is limited to employees only. See also: Extranet.
JavaScript
A front‐end design language that can be used for more advanced website functions such as image rollovers, drop‐
down menus, etc.
JPEG or JPG
A file format that is typically used to compress larger photographic images, allowing for smaller file size and easier
download from a website.
link
An area on a web page, either text or a graphic, that, when clicked, takes the user to another page. See also: URL.
Linux
A unix‐based operating system developed by a programmer named Linus Torvalds.
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mirror site
A duplicate of a website. Sometimes used with very busy sites or sites that provide software downloads to control
bandwidth and prevent server overload.
Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG)
An MPEG is a video file format. Video and audio files are compressed so that they can be distributed and viewed
on the internet. The extension for this type of file is .mpg or .mpeg.
nameserver
A computer server that translates a domain name (www.domain.com) into its corresponding numeric IP address
(and vice versa).
network
Interconnected computers that have the capability to exchange information with each other.
online
Connected to the internet.
ping
Pinging is a way that one computer tests its connection to another computer.
PHP
A server‐side (back‐end) language used to create dynamic web pages.
server (web server)
A program/computer that stores and distributes files to end users. For example, website files are stored on a web
server, which in turn "serves" the files for websites to web users using the client/server method. See also: HTTP
and Client/Server.
top level domain (TLD)
The highest hierarchical level of a domain. Examples include .com, .net, .org, .gov and .edu.
upload
Copying files from your computer to a remote server space.
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Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)
A generic term for an internet address (i.e. www.domain.com).
Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
Specifies the actual linking address (i.e. www.domain.com/index.html, etc.). This term is used more frequently
than Uniform Resource Identifies (URI), and often used instead of URI.
w3c (World Wide Web Consortium)
An international organization that promotes standards and guidelines for the web.
vlog
An online diary or journal of short video clips. Like a blog, but uses video instead of text. See also: Blog.
web pages
Documents designed for viewing on the web.
website
A collection of web pages, usually linked together.
World Wide Web (WWW)
Developed by Tim Berners‐Lee. Technology that allows for graphical and hypertext information to be viewable
over the internet through a web server and on a web browser.
zip
A compressed file format. Compression allows for easier transfer and/or storage of large files. The extension for
this type of file is .zip.
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