Web design glossary

Some things you might like to know

If you utilize The Logo Factory’s web design services, it will not be necessary for you to know all the technical terms and jargon related to designing your web site. However, you should be aware of some concepts, and design terms, so that you can work more closely with your designer in the various development phases, as well as understand some of the limitations and issues with publishing on the Internet.

Start up terms

Domain name: Your domain is quite simply your web site address. Your domain name usually takes the form of www.yourcompanyname.com. In this extremely competitive market, the .com is still the most desirable domain extension, followed by .net. There are many other domain extensions such as .org, biz, .tv, etc, all of which are perfectly functional, however the .com TLD (Top Level Domains) still are the ‘default’ standard of many browsers and the most commonly used.

Domain Registration: In order to own a domain name, you will have to register it with an accredited registrar. Domain names can be purchased for various time periods, ranging from one to ten years. All domain names are subject to availability restrictions, as well as trademark limitations. Due to the increasing sales of domains (as well as the influx of domain squatters) the availability of popular web domains may be limited. It is advisable to assess the availability of a domain during the naming process of your business, and to register any desired domain once this availability has been established.

Hosting: When your web site is ‘hosted’ on an ISP’s (Internet Service Provider) server, it can be located on the Internet using any browser and your web address. In very simplistic terms, hosting involves the rental of space on an ISPs computer as well as one of their IP numbers. This setup is then configured so that your domain name and your host’s IP number are linked throughout the Internet. Ultimately this means that when someone types in your web address, their browser is pointed towards your rented IP number, and then, the computer space where your web files are located. Hosting package prices can vary greatly, as can the features, add-on services and available options.

ISP: Internet Service Provider. This is the company that you can have as a host, or the company through which you have Internet connectivity.

IP Number: This is the number of the machine on which your web files will be located. Your domain name is matched up with this number, so that any time they type in your www.yourcompanyname.com address, they are automatically rerouted to this IP space. This allows Internet users to utilize actual domain names, rather than the IP numbers, to move around the Internet.

Parking Page, Parked Web Site: When you register a domain name (www.yourcompanyname.com) you can set up temporary hosting with your ISP. They will place a generic ‘Under Construction’ or ‘Coming soon’ page on your site and this is the page visitors will view when they enter www.yourcompanyname.com into their browser.

Pre-Launch Splash Page: The Logo Factory can design a dynamically designed ‘Splash’ page for your parking page, replacing the “Under Construction’ or ‘Coming Soon’ template supplied by your web host. This page can feature your logo, contact information and a brief blurb of your company profile. The additional benefit to a Pre-Launch Splash Page is that it can be optimized for Search Engine Placing, and the process of registering your site can begin before your site is completed. Registration to search engines can be a lengthy process, and by utilizing a Pre-Launch Splash Page you can begin the process immediately. Some search engines and directories will not register Parking or Pre-Launch Splash Pages – check with TLF for a list of applicable directories. Almost ALL Search Engines and Directories ignore ‘Under Construction’ pages.

TOS: Terms of service. This is the condition that your ISP will set when hosting your web site. You should become familiar with this document as it deals directly with situations such as e-mail, mailing lists etc, and may directly impact on your plans for Internet marketing.

Technical terms

Bandwidth: Whenever someone accesses your web site, they download all your graphics and HTML documents into their browser, where they are assembled and can be viewed. The amount of information, and the speed at which it travels, is part of your host’s bandwidth. When selecting a web host, pay particular attention to the bandwidth you are allowed to use. You may be charged large overage fees should you send more than you are allotted (usually on a monthly basis)

Hierarchy: The layout of your site’s information structure. Very similar to a computer flow-chart, this skeletal layout does not deal with graphics and content, but rather how your site navigates and how each page relates to the others. The basic building block of any web site.

HTML: Hyper Text Markup Language – the standard text based language of all web browsers.

Hyperlink: Standard navigation system of the web. When you click on a hyperlink, a function is called upon. This can be the loading of a new page, a pop-up window, or the submission of a form. Can be combined with rollovers for navigation systems.

Spam (usually in lower case i.e.: ‘spam’): The web nickname of unwanted and unsolicited commercial e-mail. Someone who sends UCE (Unsolicited Commercial E-mail) is often referred to by the Internet community as a ‘spammer’.

URL: Universal Resource Locator – the address at which a page, graphic or web site can be found. Usually takes the form of www.yourcompanyname.com.

Graphic & design terms

Background Skin: An image or texture that forms the background of your web page

Color Mapping: The mapping of selected colors to a web-safe palette. This may be required with your company logo colors that are probably optimized for print accuracy.

Content Area: The area on a web page that holds content specific to the page loaded. Unlike a header, footer or navigation system that remain constant, content areas usually changes on each page loaded.

Caching: A method that allows browsers to load your web pages more quickly on the average PC, by storing often used images on your visitor’s hard drive in the image cache. A site will appear to load more quickly because their computer is accessing these images locally, rather then across the Internet. Their computer will only download those images that are required (i.e.: not in your cache). This allows us to create graphically intense web pages, while still minimizing download time.

Destination Page: The page that will load, after a specific function (i.e.: button click) is performed.

Gizmos: Additional features for your web site that fall under the ‘bells and whistles’ category – items that are not necessary to the functionality of your web site, but add a dynamic appeal to the overall presentation. These features are available at additional cost for any web project. Flash, sound and animated .gifs are examples of gizmos.

Image Swap: Changing a part, or all, of a graphic on your web page when a specific event occurs. Can be used in conjunction with a rollover, or in a sliced graphic that utilizes different image areas (i.e.: titles) depending on which page is loaded into the browser.

Live Content: This is the text and images that form the information aspect of your web site. Usually unique to every page, this is the material that is added after your Site Shell (Navigation System) is created.

Master or Source Graphics: The original, pristine, version of the images and illustrations that are featured in your web site. The formatting of graphics for web-safe usage is technically destructive, so it is imperative to have a set of master graphics that can be edited and re-saved as web safe graphics.

Navigation Bar (or System): A series of buttons and/or rollovers that are hyper linked to the various pages, areas or functions of your web site.

Palette (Web Safe): In order to be platform and browser compatible, web graphics are saved in a web-safe palette (216 RGB colors). This requires the reduction of colors in complex graphics, and may degrade image quality. It may also be necessary to utilize sliced graphics that employ both .png and .jpg as slices.

Rollover or Mouseover: An image swap that is initiated when your cursor moves over a specific area of a page. Used most noticeably in navigation systems for the change of button graphics. Can be used in conjunction with image swaps to change text descriptions and/or images elsewhere on the page.

Sliced Graphics: In order to speed up page download, large graphic areas are sliced into smaller sections. This allows our designer to fully optimize each area according to the number of colors required to preview correctly. Image swaps and your computer’s cache files can be utilized, changing only the necessary graphics as your visitor moves from page to page. This greatly improves the illusion of download speed. Slicing a page effectively also allows us to utilize .png and .gif images on the same page (if necessary) to preserve image quality and true corporate colors.

Static Comp Page: A non-functional graphic that represents how your web pages will look. Includes graphics, buttons and image placement. Comp pages are not functional, but merely a visual reference. Static Comp Pages must be approved for final production, before any HTML, Image slicing or rollovers can be created.

Web Shell: This is the ‘content ready’ version of your new web site. Complete with working navigation system, hyperlinks, image swaps and any gizmos you may have ordered, this ‘shell’ is ready to fill with your content and then upload to your ISP’s server.

Add-on Features and Gizmos

Web Based Forms: An online form that collects voluntarily submitted information about your visitors, and then sends this information to a specific e-mail address. It can also be programmed to allow visitors access to specific pages or downloads. Forms are a basic for any site that features an ordering system. Can also be used as a contact method (and avoids the harvesting of e-mails for unwanted ‘spam’)

Fax Order Forms: If your site is e-commerce enabled (or even if it is not) you can add a Fax Order Form to your site. Simply put, this is a .PDF version of your order form that clients can download, print on their desktop printer, fill out, and Fax to your office. Due to privacy and security concerns, some of your visitors may be unsure about giving out their credit card information via the Internet. Also, this form can be utilized if you do not have online ordering capabilities but do have a Credit Card merchant account.

Footer (Page and/or Area): The bottom area of each page and/or area of your site. Correlates with your navigation buttons and usually features hyperlinks that mirror graphic links.

Header (Page and/or Area): The title of each page and/or area of your site. Correlates with your navigation buttons. Created as a graphic, these headers can be ‘image-swapped’ to save download speed through effective image caching.

Pop-up Windows: Pop-up windows could be a nifty addition to any web site, in terms of information and functionality. (All our forms are in pop-up windows). It is highly recommended that all pop-up windows are voluntary (i.e.: require the activation of a hyperlink) due to the backlash against the overuse of automatic pop-up windows. Some visitors even have software that will disable automatic pop-ups.

Print-Friendly Pages: Graphic intensive web pages may not print correctly through a normal desktop printer. If your web site is information intensive (features a large amount of text) and utilizes full graphics and/or flash presentations, it is highly recommended that you supply a ‘print-friendly’ version – pages that are devoid of graphics and print quickly, and easily, on all desktop printers.

Search engine terms

Alt Tags: Alternative Tags or names for images used in HTML documents. These tags are used to describe an image to your visitor when a) the image is loading and b) when your visitor may have graphics capability turned off. Also, Alt Tags are utilized in web pages that are enhanced for the vision impaired. Alt tags can also be utilized to optimize a page for rankings in search engines and directories.

FFA Directories: Free For All Directories. Usually a personal web page that features unsorted categories and URLs, and will feature your web site for the submission of your e-mail address. Not recommended. Can damage page rankings in search engines that rate site popularity (may even result in outright banning) and your e-mail address will become a target for ‘spam’ (Unsolicited e-mail or UCE)

Indexing: When your site is ‘spidered’, and text is collected for search engine listing, it is known as indexing.

Key Words: Varied, but related, words or themes that describe your web site or services. (I.e.: auto repair, automotive, automobile, mechanics, and garage). Used in META TAGS, keywords are important in search engine relevance and optimization.

Meta Tags: Invisible text tags at the beginning of most web site pages that describe the page and outline a description. Important in search engine ranking and controlling how your site description will appear in those search engines.

Paid Directories: Search engine or directories that require a fee before listing your web site in their web pages. Yahoo and LookSmart are examples.

Free Search Engines: Search Engines that do not require a fee to be paid, before listing your web site. May be a considerable delay between submissions, and listing. To ‘speed’ up the process, you can pay an ‘accelerated listing’ fee which will guarantee a faster indexing of your site.

Page Title: The title of the web page as it appears in the top bar of your browser. Important in search engine listings, and may affect overall search engine performance.

PPC (Paid Per Click): A search engine that charges you a set rate every time someone clicks on your hyperlink, when found through the PPC directory. Google adwords are examples of PPC services.

Spider, Spidering: Many search engines utilize ‘spiders’ – automated software that travels through your web site, collecting META TAGS, text and Page Title information. This information is later presented in the search engine’s directory as a description of your web site.