Web Design Dictionary

ISPs, overlays and breadcrumb navigation are all common jargon to the professional web designer with years of experience. But what if you are new to the whole thing? Well we thought we’d help you out a little bit.
Why not familiarise yourself with some of the highly talked about terms in the industry as you read through our DP Web design dictionary.

Backlinks: are the existing hyperlinks from other websites to your own. They may be called: Inbound links, inlinks and incoming links.
Interruptive Formats: these are online advertising formats which appear on users’ screens above the web content. They could be static or animated advertisements.

Interstitial Ads: These adverts are shown between two content pages. (May be referred to as splash pages and transition ads)

Log Files: The total number of hits a server has received over a certain amount of time.

Meta-tags: These consist of HTML tags which recognise the content of a web page for search engines.

Multiple Purpose Units: a square online advert normally rooted in a web page in a fixed placement otherwise known as ‘multiple purpose’ due to it being a blank canvas which you can add interactive content to.

Natural search results: these results appear in a separate section, away from the paid listings.

Site analytics: This is when a websites activity is reported and interpreted to uncover the user behaviour on the site.

Superstitials: A form of rich media advertising which enables a TV-like experience on the internet.

Outbound link: an HYPERLINK "http://webdesign.about.com/od/beginningtutorials/qt/external-links.htm" external link is a HYPERLINK "http://webdesign.about.com/od/beginningtutorials/g/bldefhyperlink.htm" hyperlink that points to another website on the internet.

PDF: The Portable Document Format is designed to be independent of the hardware or platform it was being viewed on.

Permanent link: It is a link that readers can use to bookmark the recent blog post.

RSS: stands for Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary.

301 Redirect: is an extremely well-organized and Search Engine Friendly method for webpage redirection. The HTTP code "301" is construed as "moved permanently".

Script: This is a small bit of code that allows browsers to do something rather than just displaying stationary results.

Semantic mark-up: This is XHTML that has been written to describe the context of the content covered in the markup.

SEO: otherwise known as Search Engine Optimisation is a technique that makes websites increasingly useful to browsers and at the same time more transparent to search engines.

ISP: Also referred to as Internet Service Provider, is a company that provides a connection to the internet.

Bandwidth: The transmission speed of a communication line which measures the amount of data that can be carried per second by your internet connection.

Breadcrumb Navigation: Breadcrumbs appear horizontally across the top of a web page and provide a trail for t he user to follow back to the entry point.

Cache Memory: Used to store web pages you have seen already and will load more quickly.

Cost per acquisition: the cost needed to acquire a new customer

Cost per click: The amount paid by an advertiser for a click on their sponsored search listing.

Flash: This is renowned Web design software that creates animation and interactive elements with a speedy download time.

HTML: also known as Hypertext Markup language which is the set of commands used by web browsers to interpret and display page content.

Keyword research: methodical process for assessment the value of phrases users type into search engines so that these words can be optimised for the search engines.

MPEG: File format used to compress and transmit video clips.

PPC: otherwise known as Pay per Click enables advertisers to bid for placement in the paid listings search results.

Rich Media: is the usage of advanced technology to harnesses broadband to build brands moreover enables the use of interactive and audio-visual elements.

Search Syntax: This refers to the query entered into a search box on a search engine like Yahoo or Google.

SEM: Search Engine marketing is the efforts and techniques used to get websites listed prominently in search-engine results through SEO.

Traffic: Number of visitors who come to a website.

VOIP: stands for Voice over internet protocol which allows the internet user to make telephone calls online.

WAP: Wireless Application Protocol is the Answer Standard for providing mobile data services on hand-held devices.

Web 2.0: this next generation of online use identifies the consumer as a major contributor in the development of the internet into a collaborative medium.