Many companies are looking to redesign their web shortly. However, starting to redesign a website can be daunting due to the technical terminology that is used daily.
If you want to redesign a website, there are several terms used by project managers, designers, and developers that you may not be familiar with. We hope this article helps you be more prepared when meeting with web admins for your next big design.
Web Application Terms
redirect 301 – Permanently redirect from one URL to another, usually from your old website to your new website. (For example, “website.com/about-us” now directs visitors to “website.com/our-company” on the new website.)
404 – The error page that the user sees when trying to access a page on your website. This is usually due to a visitor mistyping the URL or trying to access a page that has been removed from the site. A useful 404 error page should state why the page is missing and what users can do next.
Accessibility – refers to the accessibility of the website to people with disabilities. All websites created must follow the guidelines set out in the American Disability Act (ADA)…
Tag ALT – Alternative descriptive text displayed in the image storage memory or read by the page reader when the page is loaded. ALT text is involved in optimizing a website for ADA compliance, helping with SEO rankings and overall web access.
Breakpoints – points where content and the website design are adjusted to fit different screen sizes to provide the user with the best possible layout for viewing content on each device. In responsive design, breakpoints are often defined by the width of common devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and desktops above 1024 px.
Caching – is a temporary information storage mechanism that helps speed up the site by storing the relevant information on the computer the first time you visit the website. Then your computer does not have to download that information every time you re-access the site. When you make small changes to your website, you have to clear the cache to see the changes in appearance.
(Call to Action (CTA) – A specific text, image, banner, or button that uses pragmatic language to persuade a website visitor to take action. Are predicted and pre-designed (e.g., Download a Whitepaper, Register for a Webinar, Contact Us, Learn More, etc.).
Cookies – A small text file containing a unique anonymous ID and visitor information sent from a website to a browser and stored on the visitor’s computer hard drive. This data can provide information about who visits the website, how often they visit it, what parts of the site they visit the most, and their preferences.
Content Management System (CMS) – A software system used to edit the content of your website. This allows you to edit your website’s “back end” to edit text and images. Some examples include WordPress and Drupal CMS are designed to simplify the publication of website content without the need for technical knowledge of the code.
Conversion – When a user takes specific action about online marketing. Conversion involves completing a web form, submitting a request for information, subscribing to a newsletter, or purchasing e-commerce.
CSS – Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is the code developers use to determine how a web page is presented to visitors. H Sets hover mode, images, menus, and…
DNS – Domain Name Servers (DNS) are like the Internet version of the phonebook that controls your website domain name and email settings. When a user visits your website address, the DNS settings control which server they refer to.
Domain – is the name of a website that people type in a browser to visit. For example, the domain Circstudio.com.
Favicon – A thumbnail of an icon, often a company logo, appears in a browser’s title bar or header.
Hosting – Web servers on which your website files are maintained and serviced. A web server is a computer that runs webserver software and is connected to the Internet, allowing visitors to access the Web through a web browser or Internet-connected mobile device.
(HTML – Hypertext Markup Language) HTML is the markup language used to build web pages and display content such as text, images, video, and links on the Web. HTML often allows web developers to work with other languages. Add CSS, PHP, and JavaScript.
HTTPS – Secure Text Transfer Protocol (HTTPS) is the secure version of HTTP, the primary protocol used to send data between a web browser and a website. HTTPS typically uses a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate to encrypt all communications between your browser and the website for added security.
Information Architecture (IA) – This is usually a sitemap, wireframes for each page, and notes about the site’s navigation, content, and features.
Landing page – Technically, any page on your website that a user clicks on directly through a search result, marketing email, social media post, or online ad, but is typically a standalone page created for a specific campaign. Has been. They are designed with a call to action (e.g., asking visitors to fill out a form, download an e-book, etc.).
Lazy loading – A development optimization technique that delays downloading images and videos until the user scrolls to the bottom of the page.
Meta Tag – (Important for SEO ranking) A meta tag is an HTML tag used by search engines to rank a site. Meta tags store information about a web page, such as description, author, and copyright. Search engines use this information to categorize websites and display information in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Navigation – Navigation elements appear on a web page and guide the user across the site. While this primarily refers to the “menu bar” at the top of a website or along both sides, it can also include text links in a “footnote” at the bottom of the page.
Page speed – Measures the time to load all the content on a particular web page.
Page template – A unique layout for a web page (s). On average, a website has an 8-10 page template. For example, the home page and the contact page of a website look different and contain different elements, so they are two different page templates.
Plugin – Software programs that connect to a content management system such as WordPress to allow you to add new features and extend functionality.
Propagation – DNS is a term used to describe when it takes to make changes to your domain name server settings. Internet service providers worldwide may take up to 48 hours to update their cache with your updated DNS information. If you are launching a new website on another web server, some visitors may be redirected to your old server (website) for a while, while others may see the new website shortly after the change. They do.
Registrar – The company that registers your domain. Some examples include Netfraz, GoDaddy, or Network Solutions.
Responsive design – A website that adjusts to the screen it is viewing, whether a desktop, mobile, or tablet. Media queries are used to find the device’s resolution on which the website is displayed, and then flexible images, fluid grids, and the site menu are adjusted to fit the page.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) SEO increases the likelihood of your site being available in web browsers that search for relevant keywords. SEO rankings can help search engines understand your website information for higher rankings. Improve organic search results SEO includes having title tags, meta descriptions, and ALT tags for images on your website.
SERP stands for Search Engine Results Pages. These are pages provided to users when searching for a search term in a search engine such as Google.
Slider – A rotating banner of images that are sometimes placed on the website’s main page. This is a “slideshow” format that can highlight different content, including images or videos.
Site map – A document that shows the hierarchical layout of the pages and content of a website. A sitemap is usually one of the first steps in designing a website because it is important to know what content is needed on the website before you start designing.
SSL certificate -SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a standard security protocol required to establish encrypted communication between a web browser and a website. When a site is SSL certified, HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) appears in the URL, and the site is displayed as “secure.” Certificate details can be viewed by clicking on the lock icon next to the URL in the browser bar.
User experience (UX) – the user interaction with the user interface. From a planning perspective, the user experience is typically defined in wireframe, but all aspects of the web design and development process – from wireframe and text writing to design and programming. – Affects the user experience.
Wireframe – A visual guide to display the structure and content of a web page without any design elements. This helps to focus on the design.
WYSIWYG – stands for “What You See Is What You Get.” The interface inside the CMS automatically applies styles to text and graphics, allowing the user to see what the content is like on the front end. It also allows marketers to edit their website content without programming knowledge.
Familiarity with these terms will help you have fruitful conversations with web design agencies, whether under complete website maintenance or redesign. While a web design agency is sure to help you in the process, knowing these words can help streamline the process and save you time and money.