A

Anchor text - The part of a web link that you are able to read.

Alt (Alternate Text) - On a web site, When an image becomes unavailable, descriptive text is displayed in its place. Alternate text is also commonly used by assuasive web browsers to aid in describing a web site to the visually impaired.

Applet - A small lightweight program that adds to the interactivity of a web site. Applets generally are programmed using a proprietary language and require additional software to be installed on a computer in order to appear properly.

Auto responder - A software program that is used by email programs to automatically send messages to users as a method of confirmation.

Anti - Phishing - A countermeasure that is built into most modern web browsers. This type of filter as as a layer of protection against malicious web sites that attempt to obtain information without warning or permission.

Authorization Code - Also known as an "auth code" or "key": This is a code issued to a site owner during a domain transfer. The site owner must verity the code with his/her web hosting company to complete the transfer.

Active Server Pages (ASP) - A dynamic Web programming language, developed by Microsoft. ASP is only meant to run on Web Servers that are running Windows

Algorithm - A mathematical equation performed by search engines that determines where web sites are ranked within the search engine index.

B

Bandwidth - The maximum amount of information that your connection (to the internet) can transmit at once. Usually measured in Mbps (megabits per second)

Banner - A graphical method of advertisement for a web site Typically, banners are often found at the top of web site, and are used to entice visitors to browse the web site.

Browser - The actual software program that is used to surf the internet and view web sites. Ever computer made today has some form of a web browser installed. Popular web browsers include Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozi\lla Firefox, Netscape Navigator and Apple Safari.

Back Link - A connection between two web sites.

Bookmarks - Also called "favorites". References to web sites that are stored within a web browser, allowing for quick and easy access .

C

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) - A web development specification that allows designers to add and maintain style elements (fonts, colors, layout etc.) within a web site.

Cache - A "freezed" or "saved" version of a web site. Web browsers and search engines use caching to eliminate the need to download the entire web site on every visit, therefore producing faster load times.

Content - Any material included within a web site. This includes text. graphics, web animation, etc. All materials meant to be included in a web design must meet certain rules and specifications (provided by the World Wide Web Consortium "W3C") in order to be considered "accessible content".

Content Management System (CMS) - A software program usually provided by web hosting companies which allows for the basic editing of a web site without any knowledge of web development technologies. Also called a web page editor or a WYSIWYG editor.

Check Box - Often found on web sites that include forms. Check boxes allow for the selection of multiple items at once.

Compression - The process of compacting data in order to reduce both file size and download times. Most graphics that are meant for viewing on the web use some form of compression.

Cookies - Small files sent to a web site by it's web server. Cookies are typically used to find out information about a site visitor, and customize that web site to the user, based on the information it receives.

D

DHTML (Dynamic Hypertext Markup Language - A code based language that is understood by most modern web browser. DHTML determines certain page attributes based on user input, creating interactivity within a web site.

Dynamic - Used to describe a web site that has information that changes on a regular basis.

Directory - A collection of web pages that is monitored and edited by humans, rather computerized "spiders"

Domain Name - An address that (when typed into a browser). sends a request to a remote computer that hosts a web site. If the request is granted, the web browser will then download and display the web site.

DNS (Domain Name System) - A service that translates the IP address of a web server into an easy to remember alphabetic name (ex: 65.254.250.106 = anda-web-design.com)

Declaration - An element used in web site scripting code (usually CSS) that tells the browser exactly what part of the web site the script has control over.

Doctype - A specific line of code written into the code of a web page that tells a web browser how to interpret and use the page

DOM (Document Object Model) - A web interface that was developed to combine static web sites with the advanced capabilities of web site programming, enabling web site to display dynamic content.

DPI (Dots Per Inch - The level of clarity of a web site image (as it is displayed on a computer monitor)

E

Element - A group of tags in the code of a web site. Elements can only perform one specific function, but they can be applied multiple times throughout the web site.

E-Zine - A magazine that is distributed via the web. Subscribers receive issues through email.

E-commerce - Buying and selling of goods and services through the Internet

Entry Page - The page on a web site in which viewers first arrive at when a web site is accessed via search engines

Exit Page - The page on a web site in which viewers arrive at and decide to leave the web site

External Style Sheet - CSS code that is written into a separate file, so that it can be used to alter multiple pages in a web site.

F

Favicon - A small web graphic that is used to change the way a web site appears when it is added to a collection of "Favorites"

Fixed Width Layout - A web site design layout in which all elements are given a specific measurement. This was intended to help increase the compatibility of web site across multiple browsers. Regardless of type or style of web browser used, the overall appearance of the site will remain the same.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - A common method used in order to transfer files to and from a web server

Framed Layout - A web design layout that incorporates multiple pages in such a way that they can all be viewed at once within a single browser window.

G

GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) - The most common image format used on the internet. GIF images are highly regarded because of their quick load times. A single GIF image can display up to 256 colors.

H

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) - The coding language that is read by all web browsers. HTML is commonly used to create basic structural layouts for web sites.

I

Intranet - An internal network of which members use a "portal" web site to access information. This network is restricted to the public.

J

Javascript - A scripting language that is integrated into the source code of a web site. in order to add interactivity to an HTML web page.

K

Keyword - A term that is entered into a search engine in order to find a specific range of web sites

L

Link - A shortcut to a resource. Links can be internal (located within the current web site) or external (directs to a different web site.)

M

Meta Data - Information that is embedded in the source of a web site that describes its purpose to either a web page or a search engine.

N

Navigation - Traveling to and from different areas of a web site. Navigation systems can often be seen in either graphical or text formats.

O

Optimization - The act of increasing the overall accessibility and usability of a web site across multiple platforms and standards.

P

Plugin - Software that is installed inside a web browser that is often used to display third-party content (such as Flash or QuickTime)

Q

QuickTime - A web plugin developed by Apple Computer, used to display interactive multimedia content.

R

Root Directory - The topmost level of a web site or server, where all files and folders are stored.

S

Sitemap - A basic overview of a web site and its associated content.

T

Traffic - The total amount of data transferred from a web server, due to users navigating throughout a web site.

U

URL (Universal Resource Locator) - An address that when typed into a web browser, the browser is instructed to connect to a web server, and download the associated site.

V

Vector - Web graphics that depend on mathematical equations rather than pixels. They can be manipulated in various ways, and still maintain structure and clarity.

W

W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) - The organization responsible for regulating additions and changes made to the standards that power the World Wide Web.

X

XML (Extensible Markup Language) - A coding language used to connect database records to web pages.

Y

Yahoo - One of the three major search engines established on the Internet. At the present, Yahoo has adopted the widely popular "Google model", which relies on computerized "spiders" to find an index web pages, however at its inception, Yahoo was edited and maintained by humans.

Z

Zip - A method of compressing multiple files into a single archive, for easy and and efficient transfer.