Web Design & Development terms used In Lebanon

If you are considering website design & development services, there are quite a few terms designers and developers use that you may not be familiar with.

 

301 redirect – A permanent redirect from one URL to another, usually from your old website to the new website.

404 – An error page that a user sees when they try to reach a non-existent page on your website.

Accessibility – Website accessibility concerns making a website accessible by people with disabilities.

ALT tag – Alternate descriptive text that is displayed inside the image placeholder while the page is loading.

Breakpoints – The points at which a website’s content will adjust to accommodate various screen sizes to provide the user with the best possible layout to view content.

 

Caching – A cache is a temporary data storage mechanism that aids in site speed by storing relevant information on your computer.

Call to Action (CTA) – Specific text, image, banner or button that uses action-oriented language that urges a visitor on a website to act. CTAs are designed to move a visitor from one page to the next and persuade them to take an expected, predetermined action.

Cookies – A small text file that includes an anonymous unique identifier and visits information that is sent to a browser from a website and stored on a visitor’s computer hard drive.

Content Management System (CMS) – A software system that is used to control the content on your website.

 

Conversion – When a user takes a specific desired action related to online marketing and lead generation.

CSS – Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) are the code that developers use to designate how a web page should be presented to visitors.

DNS – Domain Name Servers (DNS) are like the Internet’s version of a phone book, controlling your domain name’s website and email settings.

Domain – The name of the website that people type into a browser to visit it. For example, our domain is circlesstudio.com.

Favicon – A small icon image that displays on the title bar or tab of a browser and is associated with a specific website, usually containing the company logo or a variation.

Hosting – The web servers where your website files are housed, served, and maintained.

 

HTML – Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the markup language that is used to construct web pages and display content like text, images, video and links on the web.

HTTPS – HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is the secure version of HTTP, the primary protocol used to send data between a web browser and a website.

Information Architecture (IA) – The information blueprint of content and navigation of a website. It typically includes a sitemap, wireframes for each page and any necessary notations regarding navigation, content, and features that will be included on the site.

Lazy loading – A development optimization technique that defers loading of images and video until it is needed as a user scrolls down the page.

Meta Tag – An HTML tag that is used by search engines to index a site. Meta tags store information about a web page, such as its description, author, copyright, etc.

Navigation – The navigational elements that appear on a website, such as in the “menu bar” throughout the site.

Page speed – A measurement of the length of time it takes to load all the content on a specific web page.

Page template – A unique page layout for the page(s) of a website. On average, a website has 8-10 page templates.

Plugin – Software apps that “plug in” to a Content Management System such as WordPress to allow you to add new features and extend the functionality.

 

Propagation – DNS propagation is a term used to describe the time period required for changes to your domain’s DNS settings to take effect.

Registrar – The company used to register your domain name. Some examples include GoDaddy or Network Solutions.

Responsive design – A website that adjusts to the screen it is being viewed on, whether desktop, mobile or smartphone.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – Helping search engines understand the information on your website in order to rank higher in organic search results.

SERP – Stands for Search Engine Results Pages. These are the pages served up to users when they query a search term in a search engine, such as Google.

Slider – A rotating banner of images that are sometimes placed on the homepage of a website.

Sitemap – A document that shows a hierarchical blueprint of a website’s pages and content.

SSL certificate – SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a standard security protocol necessary for establishing encrypted communication between a web browser and a website.

User experience (UX) – The interaction a user has with an interface.

Wireframe – A visual guide to show the content of a web page without any design elements.

WYSIWYG – Stands for “What You See Is What You Get.” It’s the interface inside a CMS that automatically apply styles to text and graphics and allows the user to see what the content will look like.

 

Source: business2community