Ever wondered what the professionals mean when they use industry jargon? This plain-English Business Essentials reference helps you ask better questions, compare proposals and understand what you’re paying for.
Website foundations
Domain: The human-readable address for a website.
Registrar: The company where you register and renew a domain.
Hosting: The service that stores and serves website files.
DNS: The system that directs domains to their services.
CMS: Software used to manage website content; WordPress is an example.
Theme: Templates and styles that shape website presentation.
Plugin: An add-on that provides additional functionality.
HTTPS: A secure connection between a browser and website.
Backup: A recoverable copy of website files and data.
Staging site: A private environment for testing changes before launch.
Design and experience
Responsive design: Layouts that adapt to phones, tablets and desktops.
UI: The buttons, forms, menus and controls visitors interact with.
UX: How easy and satisfying a site is to use.
Wireframe: A simplified plan of page structure.
Mockup: A realistic visual preview of a proposed design.
Prototype: An interactive demonstration of a design.
Hero section: A prominent introductory area near the top of a page.
Above the fold: Content visible before scrolling; it varies by device.
Navigation: Menus and links helping visitors find information.
Accessibility: Making a site usable by people with disabilities.
WCAG: Widely used guidelines for accessible web content.
Search and performance
SEO: Improving a website’s relevance in unpaid search.
Keyword: A word or phrase people search for.
Meta description: A page summary that may appear in search results.
Alt text: An image description primarily supporting accessibility.
Sitemap: A listing of website URLs for people or search engines.
Indexing: Search engines storing information about a page.
Cache: Stored data used to improve loading efficiency.
CDN: A network delivering content from distributed servers.
Core Web Vitals: Metrics for loading, responsiveness and visual stability.
Analytics: Data about visits, traffic sources and actions.
API: A way software systems exchange information.
Integration: Connecting your site to other services.
Control and maintenance
Administrator access: High-level permission to manage site settings and content.
Website ownership: Control of domain, hosting, content and files, often under separate agreements.
Maintenance: Ongoing updates, monitoring and repairs.
Putting the terminology to work
You don’t need to memorize every term. A good creative partner should explain the process and make it easier to make informed decisions, not bury you in acronyms.
At Marcus Hardaway Freelance Designer, I help businesses develop cohesive brand identities and marketing materials, and collaborate with a professional web designer to extend those identities online.
Need help with your brand or website? Let’s discuss your project.
What term would you like explained next? Tell me in the comments.
More Business Essentials terminology guides
- Graphic Design Terminology: A Business Owner’s Plain-English Guide
- Marketing Terminology: The Jargon Business Owners Actually Need
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