Web Design Terminology Терминология веб-дизайна
Understanding the language of web design and development
Web design has its own specialized vocabulary that can be confusing for beginners and clients alike. This glossary explains key terms you'll encounter in the world of web design and development, helping you communicate more effectively with designers and better understand web technologies.
A
Accessibility
The practice of designing websites that can be used by everyone, including people with disabilities. This includes considerations for vision impairment, hearing loss, motor limitations, and cognitive disabilities.
Above the Fold
The portion of a webpage that is visible without scrolling. Content placed "above the fold" receives more immediate attention from visitors.
API (Application Programming Interface)
A set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. APIs enable integration between different web services and applications.
B
Bandwidth
The maximum rate of data transfer across a given path. In web design, optimizing for bandwidth means creating websites that load quickly even on slower connections.
Breakpoint
In responsive web design, a breakpoint is a point at which the website content responds to provide the user with the best possible layout to consume the information. Typically defined by CSS media queries.
Backend
The server-side of a website or application, including databases, servers, and applications. Backend technologies include PHP, Ruby, Python, Java, and Node.js.
C
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
A style sheet language used for describing the presentation of a document written in HTML. CSS controls the layout, colors, fonts, and visual aspects of web pages.
CMS (Content Management System)
Software that allows users to create, manage, and modify content on a website without specialized technical knowledge. Popular examples include WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla.
Cache
A hardware or software component that stores data temporarily to help websites load faster. Browser caching stores website files on a user's device so they don't need to be re-downloaded on subsequent visits.
D
DOM (Document Object Model)
A programming interface for HTML documents. It represents the page so that programs can change the document structure, style, and content. The DOM represents the document as nodes and objects.
DNS (Domain Name System)
The system that translates human-readable domain names (like webdesignpro.com) into IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network.
F
Frontend
The client-side of a website that users interact with directly. Frontend technologies include HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which control the visual presentation and interactive elements.
Framework
A pre-built structure of code that provides a foundation for developing websites or applications. Examples include Bootstrap for CSS, React for JavaScript, and Laravel for PHP.
H
HTML (HyperText Markup Language)
The standard markup language for documents designed to be displayed in a web browser. HTML defines the structure and content of web pages using various elements and tags.
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)
The foundation of data communication on the World Wide Web. HTTP is the protocol used for transferring web pages and other resources from a server to a client (browser).
Hero Image
A large, prominent image or banner placed at the top of a webpage, designed to capture attention and convey the website's main message or purpose.
J
JavaScript
A programming language that enables interactive web pages. JavaScript is essential for creating dynamic content, controlling multimedia, animating images, and many other interactive features.
jQuery
A fast, small, and feature-rich JavaScript library. It makes things like HTML document traversal and manipulation, event handling, and animation much simpler across a variety of browsers.
R
Responsive Web Design
An approach to web design that makes web pages render well on a variety of devices and window or screen sizes. It uses fluid grids, flexible images, and CSS media queries to adapt the layout to the viewing environment.
Resolution
The number of pixels displayed on a screen, typically expressed as width × height (e.g., 1920×1080). Higher resolution displays can show more detail but require larger images and may affect web design considerations.
S
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
The practice of increasing the quantity and quality of traffic to your website through organic search engine results. SEO involves optimizing content, structure, and technical aspects to improve rankings.
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)
A security protocol that creates an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. Websites with SSL certificates use HTTPS instead of HTTP and display a padlock icon in the browser address bar.
U
UI (User Interface)
The visual elements of a website or application that users interact with. UI design focuses on the look and feel, including buttons, text, images, sliders, and all visual elements.
UX (User Experience)
The overall experience of a person using a website or application, especially in terms of how easy or pleasing it is to use. UX design focuses on the user's journey to solve a problem or accomplish a task.
W
Wireframe
A basic visual guide used in web design to suggest the structure of a website and relationships between its pages. A wireframe is typically created before visual design and content is added.
WordPress
A popular open-source content management system used to create websites, blogs, and applications. WordPress powers approximately 40% of all websites on the internet.
Further Learning Resources
Want to deepen your knowledge of web design terminology and concepts? Check out these recommended resources:
Recommended Books
- "Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Krug
- "Responsive Web Design" by Ethan Marcotte
- "HTML & CSS: Design and Build Websites" by Jon Duckett
Online Learning Platforms
- freeCodeCamp
- Mozilla Developer Network (MDN)
- Codecademy
- Udemy
Helpful Tools
- Can I Use (browser compatibility)
- Google PageSpeed Insights
- W3C Validators
- Adobe Color
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