Have you listened to a conversation between people in the tech field? And even though you speak the same language, you just don't understand a word? Well, that’s because there is a certain common lingo used in the tech world (like all fields of work) that you wouldn’t know unless you are exposed to them. The world of technology is rife with peculiar terms and buzzwords, and this list is constantly growing.

When it comes down to it though, grasping a basic understanding of these words is relatively simple. But when many of these words are put into a sentence, it’s a little trickier.

We know it can be difficult and daunting, and this is why we’ve created this dictionary.

301 redirect

A 301 redirect is as the name suggests, a redirection. You may want your website URL to be https://greensgarden.com, which is fine, but you will also have https://www.greensgarden.com. 301 redirect is a permanent server-side redirection to your preferred URL, this is done so there is only one version of your website out there.

404

This can be called “Error 404,” “HTTP 404,” “404 error,” or “Error 404 not found.” They all mean the same thing which is just that the browser was able to communicate with the server, but the server was unable to find the requested site. A simple refresh usually fixes this.

Alt Text

Alt text is a type of written copy that displays where the images on your website are supposed to be if they don’t load. The text will disappear when the image loads. It is a good idea to have Alt Text as it helps with SEO and when people are using screen readers.

Backend

The backend of the website is the part that few people ever see, and is never seen by the general public. It is what’s called server-side (see below) and is responsible for the functioning of the website, its storage, organization, and manipulation of data.

Bounce Rate

Refers to the percentage of visitors that come to your website, but don’t actually do anything. They visit your homepage or wherever they were directed and they don’t go any further. This is sometimes due to poor design, and slow loading, amongst other things.

Browser

Simply put a browser is Google Chrome. It’s a piece of software that allows us to interpret and access the internet. Google Chrome isn’t the only browser though, there are others like Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Microsoft Edge, and other derivatives of these.

Bug

A bug isn’t an ant or likewise, it is an error in the code. This bug causes issues and prevents the website/ web app (see below) from functioning correctly.

Cache

Is a box that collects and stores temporary data for websites, you won’t notice it, but it actually helps speed up the loading of websites as some of the information is already stored on your browser.

Cloud

A data storage system where files are saved to a server and not individual computers, and therefore accessible from any computer when your credentials are entered.

CMS

Content Management System is software for your website that is used to edit the content all over your website. It can also be used to upload, schedule, and publish articles.

Code

Often referred to as program code, it is a type of language (see below) that developers use to build websites, programs, etc that computers can understand.

Cookies

Are a file created by the website and stored in your browser that enables the website to load faster,

Crawl

This is what search engines like Google do to your website. It’s essentially just sending someone (not a real person though) to your website to search it, and gather information on what you offer, as well as what pages you have. This is so they can update the database directly affecting your SEO ranking.

CTA

A call to action is a message placed strategically on your website or social media accounts and is a call for your visitors to do something, these messages are usually: Try for Free, Register Now, Click for More Information.

Debugging

Remember the bugs we mentioned earlier, well now has come the time to fix them. Identify what is causing the bug and apply a fix so it’s no longer an issue.

Domain Name

The address you enter into your browser to find and enter a website.

Encryption

Encryption is the process of some or all of a user's activity on the internet being protected from others easily viewing what they’re doing.

Favicon

The icon that appears on the left side of the browser tab, it’s short for “favorite icon.” They’re used to make the tab seem more appealing and quickly distinguishable from the others.

Firewall

A firewall is a proverbial wall that scans traffic trying to enter websites, it can either allow it to pass or block it from entering. Depending on what you are using your website for, firewalls are a must.

Frontend

The opposite of the backend. The frontend of the website is what you can see and access.

FTP

File Transfer Protocol is a way for files to be uploaded, downloaded, and transferred through the internet. These transfers can either be from computer to computer, or they can go through the cloud.

Fullstack

Refers to developers who are accomplished in working in both backend and frontend web development.

Git

One of the most important things to many developers, Git is a system where developers can store and manage the code they write. Git gives developers version control, and the ability to track changes and reverse them if needed.

GitHub

Is the same as Git, in the respect that it’s a cloud interface for Git. But it also offers other features not available in the original.

GUI

The graphical user interface is the face of the program you use. All the buttons, icons, and everything else is part of the GUI. If there was no GUI, you would be doing everything in code. This interface makes the program usable for the general user.

Hex

Hex Color Codes are actually something quite tricky to fully understand, but in short, Hex stands for hexadecimal and refers to a 16-digit system of classifying colors in a way that can be easily understood by computers. All colors are represented by the hex system and the color code will look something like this: #ff0000. 

HTTP

Hypertext Transfer Protocol is how servers and browsers communicate by transferring data across the internet. For example, HTTP sends an image file from an HTTP server (webserver) which is then sent to an HTTP client program (web browser.)

HTTPS

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure is essentially the same as above, except that it is an HTTP extension and allows for secure communication across the internet.

Landing Page

Not to be confused with the homepage, a landing page is quite different. Landing pages are to support a campaign by the marketing team and are usually a Call to Action (see above.) In short landing pages help to pique visitors' interest and convert these visitors into clients.

Languages

Programming languages are no different from the languages we all speak. They are a way of communicating with computers and telling them what exactly it is you want them to do, or a certain program to do. Below are some of the most common computing languages.

Meta tags and metadata

There are different types of metadata, but in the end, all types of metadata are just data that provides information about other data. This metadata is just a shorthand representation of the data it is referring to, also known as meta tags. These meta tags are not displayed on the page, nor seen by the user, they’re there for search engines to read.

MVP

Minimum Viable Product is quite a common buzzword in many fields and refers to a product that is typically made quickly and fairly barebones. This program is made with a minimal amount of services for it to still function viably, with the intention of gathering data from market needs. Then features are added, and the program is finished as per the needs identified by the MVP.

Open-source

Indicates software that the original source code is available to see, modify, and redistribute freely. Open-source software is preferred by many users due to the availability of the code to be read, scrutinized, and understood. GIMP, LibreOffice, and GNULinux and some of the many examples of open-source software.

Plugin

Plugins are software extensions that allow users to customize and add extra features to applications. Plugins are usually created because the original program didn’t offer this feature, so someone built it and offers it as a plugin.

SaaS

Software as a Service refers to a distribution model of software in which specific cloud (see above) providers host applications from their servers, thus making the application available to end users. Examples of SaaS are Dropbox, Office 365, Slack, and Canva.

Alongside SaaS you may also hear of:

• PaaS (Platform as a Service)
• IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

Which are the same as SaaS except that they offer their respective service (platform or infrastructure) in the same model.

SEO

Search Engine Optimization is the practice of increasing the amount of traffic to websites. It can be done by writing specific copy, using internal and outbound links, keywords, and much more.

SERP

Search Engine Results Page is very similar to SEO in the way that SEO improves the findability of websites and SERP is the result pages presented to users. Having good SEO practices and standards ensures that you are high up in the SERPs.

Sitemap

A sitemap isn’t a guide for users to understand where to find things on your website, it’s a file used by search engines that provides information on pages, videos, and other things on websites.

SSL Certificate

Is a digital security certificate that authenticates the identity of websites to the users' browser and allows for an encrypted (see above) connection to happen.

SVG

Scalable Vector Graphics is an image format that allows for a greater amount of uses. In traditional image formats like JPG, the image is based on pixels, the image can’t be increased in size without the image blurring. An SVG however is suitable up and down without any distortion.

UI

User interface is everything that a website user sees and interacts with while on the site. Everything from the buttons, pages, links, and so on.

URL

Uniform Resource Locator is a distinct identifier that’s used to locate resources and sites on the internet. The URL of the website you are currently on is ahdesign.website/post/web-development-dictionary. 

UX

User experience is the entire design process involved in creating meaningful, relevant, and user-friendly experiences for the end user. Lots of thought goes into UX because if something is too hard to be used, or rather obscene to look at, users don’t stay long.

Web app

Web apps are similar to other types of software except for the part where the software runs solely on the internet. If you have ever used Telegram or WhatsApp Web in your browser then you have used a web app.

Whitespace

Whitespace is any area on a webpage between other elements (images, text, etc) that is without anything there. It is typically used for aesthetic purposes and to make websites easier to look at and less clogged.

Widget

Have you visited a website and seen notifications or blocks of ads, typically on the side of the screen, well this is a widget

Wireframe

Essentially just a blueprint of your website so it can be visualized.