This document provides definitions for 26 common website terms: 1. URL refers to the web address typed into a browser to access a website. 2. A browser is the program, like Chrome or Firefox, used to access websites. 3. Coding is the programming language used by developers to build websites and determine their look, feel, and functionality. 4. A domain name is the subset of a URL that identifies the website, like "example.com". The document states that understanding these basic website terms can help one speak more intelligently about websites. It provides examples and brief explanations for each term.

2. This is Part I of III on website definitions that
you should know so you can speak more
intelligently about websites to anyone asking.

3. URL
(you-are-el)
#1
URL is short for Uniform Resource Locator, but what it really
means is the words you type in to go to a website. Your URL is the
phrase you need to go somewhere on the internet, like
www.cowleyweb.com/blog <- that’s a URL. A URL has also been
identified as a “Web Address.”

4. URL
Type in the URL
www.cowleyweb.com/blog here

5. Browser
(brou-zer)
#2
This is the program you open up on your computer, tablet, or phone
so you can go explore the internet. Its purpose is to be your
gateway into the online world. Some of the most popular include
Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Internet Explorer (even though
Internet Explorer is awful and you should get another browser as
soon as you can).

6. Here are some of the different browser types
Google Chrome Safari Mozilla Firefox Internet Explorer
Browser

7. Coding
(coh-deeng)
#3
It’s a language all it’s own and a complicated string of phrases in
which a developer makes your website. The code gives your site
the look, feel, and functionality it needs to operate. Will you ever
have to write code? Probably not, but you should understand that
not everyone can do it and that without code your website doesn’t
exist.

8. This is some sample coding….
<div style=“background-color:black; color:white; margin: 20px;”>
<h1>Coding</h1>
<p>It’s a language all it’s own and a complicated string of phrases in which
a developer makes your website. The code gives your site the look, feel,
and functionality it needs to operate. Will you ever have to write code?
Probably not, but you should understand that not everyone can do it and
that without code your website doesn’t exist.</p>
Coding

9. Domain Name
(doh-mayne nayme)
#4
The domain name is a subset of the URL we just covered. The
formula goes: www. - yourdomainname - .com (or .edu, .org, etc.).
You have to purchase a domain name so you can put your website
on it. For example, we bought cowleyweb as our domain name.

10. Sorry! You can’t have this one.
Domain Name

11. UI
(you-eye)
#5
UI stands for User Interface and this covers how your website is
laid out. The UI takes into account where buttons are, any
navigation or menus, photos, words…all of the things you have on
your website go into its UI. For a website to be visually appealing
and have a good UI, you’ll need to hire a designer who knows what
they’re doing and can implement best practices for web design.

12. Check out the UI on www.tuccirealty.com!
UI

13. UX
(you-ex)
#6
Not to be confused with UI, UX is the User Experience. This is how
a visitor interacts with your website and how they feel about using
it. UI and UX are closely related, but their key difference is UI deals
with the visuals, and UX focuses on feelings and actions.

14. More from www.tuccirealty.com, this time the UX:
UX

15. Main Navigation
(mayne nav-i-gey-shun)
#7
If your website has multiple pages, then there needs to be a way to
go to them. Many times, that starts with the main navigation, which
is usually placed at the top or left side of the website. A user can
click in the main navigation to go to your core pages such as the
home page, your about section, and contact form. Without a main
navigation, your users will be lost and most likely never come back
again.

16. Let’s look at www.cowleyweb.com as an example:
Main Navigation

17. Secondary Navigation
(sec-un-dairy nav-i-gey-shun)
#8
Whenever you have more information that you want people to go to
quickly, then you’ll have a secondary navigation. These items are
attached to the main navigation and are usually shown in drop-down
menus.

18. www.notredameutica.org is a perfect example!
Secondary Navigation

19. Top-Top Navigation
(top top nav-i-gey-shun)
#9
If you have separate information you want someone to get to
easily, then you can implement a top-top navigation bar. Like the
name, it goes directly at the top of the page and is smaller than
both the main and secondary navigation items. Usually, the top-top
is for returning users to your site so they can easily get where they
need to go (like a login button or shopping cart).

20. We can use www.notredameutica.org again:
Top-Top Navigation

21. Footer
(foo-ter)
#10
A footer goes directly at the bottom of your website and will many
times stay consistent across all of your pages. You can put any
information you want into your footer, but for the most part it’s the
basics like main navigation items, physical addresses, and other
links.

22. Check out www.campfitters.com’s footer:
Footer

23. Search Bar
(surch bahr)
#11
When there is a lot of content on your site, you might have a
search bar. It allows the user to type in what they want to find and
then display those results. Think of it like Google, but specifically
for your website.

24. Take a look at www.campfitters.com’s again:
Search Bar

25. Server
(sir-ver)
#12
A server can be a physical object or in “the cloud,” and it’s the
place where all of your files are stored. So, any pictures you upload
or pages you create, all go on the server so your website can
function.

26. Sometimes it’ll look like this:
Server

27. CMS
(see-em-es)
#13
CMS stands for Content Management System and it’s a way for a
website owner to add content, like blog or news articles, on their
own while keeping the style in line with the established site. Some
of the most common CMS’ include Drupal, Wordpress, and Joomla,
to name a few.

28. Drupal is our CMS of choice.
Head over to www.cowleyweb.com/freebies to see how it works.
CMS

29. HTML
(H-tee-em-el)
#14
HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language and is a language of
coding. Developers use HTML to make the site look and feel like it
does, and allows the site to take form.

30. Remember coding? That’s good looking HTML!
<div style=“background-color:black; color:white; margin: 20px;”>
<h1>HTML</h1>
<p>HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language and is a language of
coding. Developers use HTML to make the site look and feel like it does,
and allows the site to take form.</p>
HTML

31. Header/Banner Images
(hed-er/ban-er im-ah-jis)
#15
These are pictures or illustrations that go at the very top of the
website. You normally see them scrolling by with specified
messages or with pictures of people. The header or banner image
can also be static with only one of them showing.

32. www.bbempirestate.com has some great header images!
Header/Banner Images

33. Slide Show
(slyde shoh)
#16
When multiple pictures play one at a time in a certain place is
called a slide show. This is commonly used to filter through multiple
images without having to take up too much space.

34. Look at the www.landandcamps.com slideshows:
Slide Show

35. Site Map
(syte map)
#17
A Site Map is the structure and layout of your website. We use it to
plan where pages will go, what content goes on those pages, and
how the entire site flows. Site Maps are extremely important in the
early stages of development so everyone knows what goes where.

36. Here’s how a site map translate to a website:
Site Map

37. SEO
(es-ee-oh)
#18
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and it’s the process for
search engines (like Google) to find your website and put it higher
in the rankings. There are several elements to having good SEO,
and your site structure and content are some of them.

38. A simple image we found that displays SEO nicely:
SEO

39. Landing Page
(lan-deeng payge)
#19
The place or page that a website visitor first comes to for a section
(ie. about, portfolio, services, etc.) of your website. The landing
page can also be considered the first place a users gets to when
they come to your website.

40. Here’s a landing page for the restaurant gift certificates on
www.ohgoodygoody.com:
Landing Page

41. Splash Page
(splash payge)
#20
These are temporary pages that a user is pointed to. Usually it’s to
sell a specific product or service, and they are very simple in
nature. Splash pages have also been used in the past as a loading
page before a user got to your actual home page, but no one likes
this so don’t do it.

42. Here’s an example of a splash page:
Splash Page

43. Home Page
(hohm payge)
#21
The destination that you’d like a visitor on your site to start. It
contains all of your important information and links to go to the
different pages. It’s called a “home” page because it’s where your
heart is and will have your strongest messages.

44. www.samcenter.org has a great example of a home page:
Home Page

45. Secondary Page
(sek-un-diary payge)
#22
These kinds of pages are everything that the other types aren’t.
They all follow a similar theme and hold the content that you’re
sending people to.

46. This is a perfect secondary page on www.dbbllc.com:
Secondary Page

47. Web Form
(web fawrm)
#23
Forms are what you want people to fill out when they come to your
site. You want a visitor to like you so much that they actually want
to get a hold of you. Forms can capture any of the data you want,
but in fairness, simpler is better.

48. Contact forms are the most popular web forms:
Web Form

49. Hyperlink
(high-per-link)
#24
This is where you send someone somewhere off of your site with
the click of a button. Usually it’s a resource or an article, but always
remember to have them open in a new tab or window.

50. Hyperlinks should always open in a new window or tab.
Hyperlink
www.cowleyweb.com

51. Thumbnail
(thuhm-nale)
#25
Thumbnails are itty, bitty pictures of a larger images you have
somewhere else. The thumbnail is there to provide a sneak peak of
what more is to come.

52. Thumbnails generally go hand-in-hand with a slideshow:
Thumbnail

53. Responsive
(ri-spon-siv)
#26
We’ve all heard this buzzword, and it means that no matter what
size your browser is, the website will respond accordingly. So, your
design, look, and feel will always look great no matter what
computer or device your visitors are using.

54. Mobile is HUGE, so make sure your website plans for it!
Responsive

55. Stay tuned for more website definitions in
Section 102 coming soon!

56. www.cowleyweb.com