There is almost nothing more frustrating than jargon, especially when you are trying to learn something new. This glossary will define common internet and web design terms you will hear or read about often.
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If a letter is not linked, that means there are currently no glossary entries for that letter at this time.
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A
A11y
A11y stands for accessibility in webspeak. Accessibility refers to designing and developing digital products so that all users can experience them easily and equally, especially those with disabilities.
ADA
ADA is shorthand for the American Disabilities Act, a law that sets compliance standards and governance for web accessibility.
API
API stands for “application program interface.” APIs let different different programs interact with one another and use its features. It allows for developers to build on existing technology, rather than having to continually start from scratch to reinvent the wheel.
C
CMS
CMS stands for content management system. Content management systems allow users to edit, create, upload, and manage web content. WordPress, Squarespace, and Shopify are examples of content management systems.
CRM
CRM stands for customer relationship manager. CRMs allow you to manage all interactions between your company and your customer at any stage of their buying journey.
Features of CRMs can vary, but can include things like customer support tickets, contact forms, chatbot builders, lead tracking, and more. Some well-known CRMs include HubSpot and Salesforce.
CSS
CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets. While HTML is the basic building block code of the web, CSS controls the look, movement, and pizzazz of the site.
CTA
CTA stands for Call to Action. It is the main action you want a user to do. Buy now, Add to cart, Sign-up today, Enroll now, are all examples of call to actions.
E
EAT
EAT is an SEO acronym that stands for expertise, authority, and trustworthiness. Expertise, authority, and trustworthiness are part of Google’s algorithm and impact how your content ranks in Google search results.
H
HTML
HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. HTML is the basic language that all webpages are created with.
J
JS
JS stands for JavaScript. JavaScript is a programming language that controls behaviors, actions, and more of a webpage.
P
PPC
PPC stands for Pay Per Click. Pay-per-click advertising is when you are charged a monetary amount per click on your ad.
R
RFI
RFI stands for Request for Information. It is usually a form where someone can submit their information and contact you to show their interest in your business, service, or product.
S
SEM
SEM stands for Search Engine Marketing. SEM is a form of marketing that focuses on search engine results pages, and often involves paying for ads to show up strategically on results pages.
SEO
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. There are many tactics that go in to SEO, but the main goal of these efforts is to get your webpages to rank as high as possible in search results for certain keywords.
SERP
SERP stands for Search Engine Results Page.
SSL
SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer, but no one will ever refer to it as its full name. SSL certificates help with your site’s encryption. If you ever go to a site and get a warning that says, “This site is not secure,” it is more than likely because an SSL certificate has expired.
T
TLD
TLD stands for Top Level Domain. Top level domains are the letters after the period in a web address. Examples include .com, .org, .biz, and .edu.
W
WCAG
WCAG, pronounced wick-ag, stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. These guidelines were created to set a global standard for web accessibility. You will often here WCAG 2.0 or WCAG 2.1 referenced.
WWW
Why we are all here… WWW stands for the World Wide Web.
WYSIWYG
WYSIWYG = “What you see is what you get.” Pronounced wizzy-wig, WYSIWYGs allow you to compose text as you would see it on a website, as opposed to creating it in an HTML document.
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