Over the years we have been known to use industry specific terminology. Here is our ever evolving glossary of web design and web development terms.
Glossary Terms
404 PAGE
A web page displayed when a user tries to access a URL that doesn't exist, often customized to enhance the user experience and redirect users.
ACCESSIBILITY
Designing websites to be usable by people with a wide range of abilities, including those with disabilities, often following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
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ALPHA PAGES
Alpha pages are Static HTML versions of the approved design. These pages are presented to test the design at different screen resolutions. Once these pages are approved, they get coded into the CMS as dynamic templates as part of the beta site.
AODA
AODA is the acronym which stands for the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. It’s an Ontario act which outlines the development, implementation and enforcement of accessibility standards to benefit all Ontarians. This applies to all elements of daily life including "goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, structures and premises.”
With respect to the web, section 2.14 outlines the guidelines for accessible websites and web content.
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API (Application Programming Interface)
API's are simply a method of communicating between 2 servers to share data. They allow us to go get data from outside sources or share our website data with other authorized websites. Often an API can be used to authenticate users accounts from a 3rd party to provide a Single-Sign-On from one website to another.
BETA RELEASE
The beta release of your website is a fully working proto-type ready for client testing. All functionality is in place however all the content doesn't need to be in place since the client may use the CMS to administer content any time throughout. The release is available for a limited time with a link for external review and a round of issue tracking. At this point in the project internal testing has been completed and the goal for the beta release is for the client to find and Inorbital to address bugs and errors before the final release of the website.
A secondary navigation system that helps users understand their current location within a website and easily backtrack to previous pages.
CACHE
When a web browser accesses a webpage, there are files associated with that webpage that are stored in the browser memory. These files could be HTML markup, images, CSS, JavaScript files and other web assets. This browser memory is termed as the browser cache, or cache for short. This is beneficial for when you visit the same webpage at a later time, the browser would determine whether it needs to re-download the files from the web server. If not, it will access the files stored in the cache. Since this cache is located on the user’s device, it will help load the webpage quicker in the browser.
CARD LAYOUT
A design style that uses card-like elements to display information, often seen in modern web and app designs for better organization.
CLEARING CACHE
Extending the browser cache definition, if the cache is cleared, the browser would have to access all files related to a webpage from the server. This is helpful when the user would like to see the latest version of the webpage available on the server.
You can clear your browser cache by following the instructions on this page. Each browser is different so there are multiple ways clear your browser cache, not to be confused with your browser history.
CONTENT INVENTORY
A document that is used to organize the website's information architecture. The document starts as a content audit of the current site content and evolves into a sequenced list of all pages of the site. This document is referenced throughout the content migration process.
CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CMS)
A platform that allows users to create, manage, and modify website content without needing extensive technical knowledge. Examples include WordPress and Kentico.
CREATIVE BRIEF
The Creative Brief is a document that outlines the design vision of a project. This document includes mood boards, typography, colours, branding, photography and UI examples. We prepare this document once the wireframes are complete and once this document is approved we apply the vision to the designed pages.
CSS
It's basically code that is also referred as Cascading Style Sheets, CSS is used to define the look and feel of a web site outside of the actual HTML file(s) of the site.
DYNAMIC CONTENT
Website content that changes based on user interaction, such as personalized recommendations or location-based services.
GRID SYSTEM / LAYOUT
A framework used in web design that helps to align elements consistently by dividing a page into columns and rows. A grid layout is method for organizing content on a page into a structured grid, allowing for better visual balance and organization.
FRONT-END
The front-end is basically the opposite of the back-end. It’s all the components of a website that a visitor to the site can see (pages, images, content, etc.) Specifically, it’s the interface that visitors use to access the site’s content. It’s also sometimes referred to as the User Interface.
ECOMMERCE
Electronic commerce, commonly known as e-commerce or ecommerce, is a type of industry where the buying and selling of products or services is conducted over the internet. Any online retailer or registration form is considered ecommerce since they sell online and process the transaction online using a payment gateway to charge the customer’s credit card.
FAVICON
A small icon associated with a website, typically displayed in the browser tab, bookmarks, and other areas for easy recognition.
A minimalist menu icon, usually three horizontal lines, used to indicate a hidden navigation menu on mobile and responsive websites.
HEADLESS CMS
A back-end-only CMS architecture that allows content to be delivered via APIs to any front-end framework, decoupling content management from presentation.
HERO IMAGE
A large, prominently placed image or video at the top of a webpage, often used to create a strong visual impact.
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE (IA)
The information architecture (IA) serves as the foundation of the content of your website and should reflect your digital strategy. Information architecture includes: navigation systems, all pages (menu and non menu), as well as organization of content types, media and documents.
LANDING PAGE
A standalone web page designed for a specific marketing campaign or purpose, usually focused on driving conversions through a single CTA.
LAZY LOADING
A performance optimization technique that delays loading images or resources until they are actually needed, improving initial page load times.
MICROANIMATIONS / MICROINTERACTIONS
Small animations or visual feedback that occur in response to a user's actions, such as button clicks or hover effects, enhancing the user experience.
MINIMALIST DESIGN
A web design trend that focuses on simplicity by using fewer elements, often with lots of white space and limited color schemes.
MOBILE FIRST DESIGN
A design strategy that prioritizes mobile device layouts and experiences before scaling up for larger screens like desktops.
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MOCK-UPS
Mock-ups are high-fidelity visual representations of a website, showing the design's final appearance with colors, typography, images, and branding elements in place. Unlike wireframes, which focus on structure, mock-ups provide a realistic preview of how the website will look, allowing stakeholders to visualize the end result. They are a crucial step in the web design process, enabling feedback on aesthetics and layout before development begins.
MODAL WINDOW
A pop-up window that overlays the current page, often used for dialogs or forms, requiring user action to dismiss it.
OPEN SOURCE
Open source refers to the source code of a computer program being made available to the general public. Open source software includes both web-based and desktop applications. Open source programs are generally free or very low cost and are developed by teams of people, often comprised of volunteers.
PARALLAX
A design technique where background content moves at a slower pace than the foreground, creating a 3D-like effect as the user scrolls.
PAYMENT GATEWAY
It is the equivalent of a physical point of sale terminal located in most retail outlets. Payment gateways protect credit card details by encrypting sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, to ensure that information is passed securely between the customer and the merchant and also between merchant and the payment processor. For online stores the payment gateway is the company that actually connects the customer’s credit card with the stores bank. Some payment gateway companies are: Moneris, Beanstream, Chase Paymentech and of course Pay Pal.
PCI COMPLIANCE (Payment Card Industry)
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a proprietary information security standard for organizations that handle cardholder information for the major debit, credit, prepaid, e-purse, ATM, and POS cards. PCI compliance is important for websites that process transaction’s and is required by the payment card processors. Essentially Visa won’t approve transaction processing on your site if it’s not PCI compliant. There are 3rd party scanning services who scan and report your website or web server that are not compliant and will also issue a certificate if they are. This is a bit of a moving target as compliance standards do change over time so scans should be scheduled every few months.
PERSONAS
Personas are used to identify different types of web users and to understand how to help them achieve their goals on a website. Persona research is one of the core elements of UX design because the information gathered focuses efforts on customer journey mapping and designing for user goals.
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PROTOTYPE
A higher-fidelity, interactive mock-up of a website that allows designers and clients to test user flows before development.
RESPONSIVE DESIGN
A design approach that ensures websites adapt seamlessly to various screen sizes and devices, offering an optimal viewing experience on mobile, tablet, and desktop.
SSL CERTIFICATE
A security feature that encrypts data between a web server and a browser, protecting sensitive information and giving users confidence in the website's safety.
SCREEN RESOLUTION
A screen resolution depicts the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed. The first number usually conveys the width, and the second number conveys the height, both in pixel units.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
The practice of optimizing web pages to rank higher in search engine results, which involves using keywords, meta tags, and content optimization.
SITEMAP
A sitemap is a document that outlines the structure of a website, typically represented as a list, chart, or visual diagram. It displays the hierarchical organization of a site's pages and serves as a planning tool for web design. By illustrating the site's navigation and content layout, a sitemap provides an overview of the site's architecture and page hierarchy.
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SOFT LAUNCH
A soft launch is the release of a website (or other product or service) to a limited audience. Usually this means allowing access to your new website to a small controlled audience prior to a "hard" fully public launch. The intention is to catch anything that could have been missed internally by a more forgiving and friendly audience before it goes out to everyone. Sometimes a soft launch can mean just friends and family.
A navigation bar or header that remains visible at the top of the screen as the user scrolls, improving access to navigation.
STRATEGY
Strategy can mean many things in the world of web design and marketing. For us as an agency, strategy refers to the process of identifying project goals and outlining the steps needed to achieve them. This can involve tasks such as conducting persona research, analyzing Google Analytics, performing competitive analysis, consolidating sitemap items, prototyping user journeys, and wireframing. Since every project is unique, our approach is tailored to meet the specific needs required to reach the project's objectives.
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SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
A file format for vector-based images that are resolution-independent and scalable without loss of quality, ideal for logos and icons.
TAXONOMY
Taxonomy is a term used when developing a website's information architecture to identify different content types. Taxonomy includes feeds or related content items that are not on menu systems so understanding the categorization of this content is instrumental in designing a solution for users to navigate it.
TEMPLATE
A template is a file used to create a consistent design across a website. Templates are often used in conjunction with a CMS and contain both structural information about how a site should be set up, but also stylistic information about how the site should look.
USABILITY
Usability refers to how easy it is for a visitor to your site to use your site in its intended manner. In other words, are navigation, content, images, and any interactive elements easy to use, functioning the way they were intended, and that your intended target visitor will not need any special training in order to use your site.
USER INTERFACE DESIGN (UI)
The layout and visual elements of a website that users interact with, including buttons, menus, and other graphical components.
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USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN (UX)
Refers to the overall experience a user has while interacting with a website, focusing on ease of use, goals, journey mapping, efficiency, and satisfaction.
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VIEWPORT
The visible area of a web page on a user's device, critical for designing responsive layouts that fit various screen sizes.
WIREFRAMES
Wireframes are basic, low-fidelity visual blueprints used in the web design process to outline the structure and layout of a webpage. They focus on the placement of key elements like navigation, content, and functionality, without incorporating detailed design elements such as color or typography.
WORK PLAN
Is the project plan that outlines the major tasks that both Inorbital and the client will be involved in. The project plan also includes pertinent dates that work in the main milestones based on the schedule. Work plans are usually in the form of tables or spreadsheets and can evolve as the project progresses, giving everyone on the project team a clear timeline for when tasks need to be done.
Alex
Senior Project Manager
Alex has over 10 years of experience managing digital projects with a background in Psychology and Web Design.