Glossary of Terms

Don't know the difference between HTTP and TCP/IP?

Have no fear - our handy glossary of terms is here to shed light on even the most obscure of Web-related acronyms.

If there's something you'd like explained that you can't find in here then please let us know about it. The glossary is expanding all the time so we welcome suggestions.


A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


  • A

    Above the Fold

    The portion of a Web page visible in a Browser window without scrolling down.

    Accessibility

    See WCAG.

    AdSense

    Advertising service offered by the Google AdWord adverts on their Web site in return for a portion of revenue generated by those adverts.

    See also: SEM.

    Adware

    Adware, or Advertising Supported Software, is any software package that displays advertising material while the software is being used. Adware is used by software developers as a method of recovering development costs.

    Adware is normally harmless, but can sometimes take the form of Spyware.

    AdWords

    Search Engine.

    See also: SEM.

    Analytics

    The analysis of website traffic.

    ASP (Active Server Pages)

    ASP is a Client

    Algorithm

    The 'rules' that a search-engine optimisation (SEO)

    Atom

    Atom is a popular XML.

    See also: Syndication.

  • B

    Bandwidth

    The amount of data a connection is capable of moving, generally measured in bits per second.

    Bcc (Blind Carbon Copy)

    Used when sending an email Bcc recipients are hidden from other recipients.

    See also: Cc.

    Below the Fold

    Content of a Web page that a user must scroll down to see in their Browser window.

    Bitmaps

    See Raster Graphics.

    Boolean search

    A search allowing the inclusion or exclusion of documents containing certain words through the use of operators such as 'and', 'not' and 'or'.

    Bounce rate

    A "bounce" occurs when a visitor leaves a site without looking at any further pages. Low bounce rates are a sign of website effectiveness.

    Blog

    From the phrase web logs. A self-published, managed or maintained Web diary and are considered good for promoting a site when interesting and popular. Usually updated daily or weekly, blogs have historically been personal. Companies now use blogs to extend their brand and improve their organic search visibility.

    Blogging

    The act of keeping a Blog.

    Bomb

    A Virus with a delayed payload. Usually set to execute on a specific date, or a specific period of time after infection.

    Bookmarking

    This is where you store all the URLs to sites you have found useful or which you would like to return to.

    Navigation links on a Web page allowing navigation back through the hierachy of the Web site.

    Usually in the format Home > Products > Shirts.

    Browser

    See Web Browser.

  • C

    Cascading Style Sheets

    See CSS.

    Cc (Carbon Copy)

    Used when sending an Email. Typically used to allow individuals other than the primary recipient to receive a copy of the message.

    Cc recipients are revealed to all recipients.

    See also: Bcc.

    Click

    Term used to describe when a user selects a link or search engine listing by pressing the mouse button while holding the pointer over the link.

    Client-Server

    Client-Server describes the relationship between a Server across a network.

    Client-Side

    Client-Side refers to operations that are performed by the Client-Server relationship.

    JavaScript is a language that is run Client-Side.

    See also: Server-Side

    Client

    A users' computer or Web Browser.

    Cloaking

    The process of delivering one Web page to Robots and a different Web page to Web site users.

    An unscrupulous method of Search Engine Optimisation.

    CMS (Content Management System)

    See Content Management System.

    CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow Black)

    CMYK is a colour model where Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black are combined to reproduce other colours.

    The CMYK colour model is used in printing.

    See also: Pantone Colour.

    Content Management System

    A Web interface that allows users to manage the content of a Web site, for example a news page.

    A package of text sent to a Web Server.

    Cookies are mainly used for identifying Web site visitors, allowing personalised information to be served.

    Copy

    Written content in publications.

    This is a set of exclusive rights regulating the use of a particular expression of an idea or information. At its most general, it is literally "the right to copy" an original creation.

    CPA (Cost Per Action/Cost Per Acquisition)

    A new way of bidding whereby the site owner only pays if a specific action is taken such as completing a form.

    CPC (Cost Per Click)

    Cost Per Click. In a Pay-Per-System the actual amount of money paid per click.

    Crawler

    See Robot.

    Crontab

    Crontab, derived from the Greek word Chronos (Time), is a command found in Unix-based Operating Systems which is used to schedule commands to be executed periodically.

    Crontab commands are collected in a single Crontab file, which is later read and its instructions carried out.

    Cross-linking

    The practice of linking together several domains usually owned by the same person or company. Its main purpose is to increase link popularity, but SEO overuse can lead to search-engine penalties.

    CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)

    CSS is a language used to describe the presentation of XHTML documents.

    CTR (click through rates)

    Click through rate. The percentage of people in a Pay-Per-Click system who click through to a site having seen an ad.

  • D

    Database

    A Database is an organised collection of data.

    DDA (Disability Discrimination Act)

    UK legislation that makes it unlawful to discriminate against individuals in respect of their disabilities in relation to the provision of goods and services.

    Also applies to goods and services provided on the DDA.

    Deep Linking

    Deep linking on the home page. Such links are called deep links.

    Description tag

    Meta information tag inserted at the top of a web page to describe its contents.

    Digital Native

    The term digital native is being applied to individuals who have grown up immersed in technology.

    Digital Immigrant

    Those individuals that are trying to get to terms with digital technology.

    Directories

    A web search tool compiled manually. Sites are submitted with information such as a title and description, assessed by an editor and, if deemed suitable for addition, will be listed under subject categories. Users can search across a directory using keywords or phrases, or browse through the subjects.

    Discussion Thread

    Discussion threads are used to organise discussion postings. A discussion thread consists of messages that share a common subject heading.

    DNS (Domain Name Server)

    A computer system that translates IP Address.

    DOM (Document Object Model)

    The DOM is a description of how an XML document is represented in a tree structure.

    Domain Name

    An identifying name for an organisation on the internet, which is tied to an URL.

    Doorway Page

    A Web page created to try and artificially improve Search Engine rankings. Doorway Pages are of no benefit to a Web site user.

    An unscrupulous method of Search Engine Optimisation.

    DoS (Denial of Service) Attack

    An attack on a computer system or network.

    A DoS attack attempts to overwhelm the target by flooding it with requests for data. The target can become unresponsive due to the volume of requests and therefore unavailable to other users.

    DPI (Dots Per Inch)

    DPI is a measure of Printer DPI, the clearer and more detailed the output.

  • E

    E-Commerce (Electronic Commerce, Ecommerce)

    The conduct of commerce in goods and services using telecommunications and telecommunications based tools, also known as conducting business transactions over the Internet.

    Electronic Commerce

    See E-Commerce.

    Electronic Mail

    See Email.

    Email (Electronic Mail, E-Mail)

    Email is a method of composing, sending, storing, and receiving messages over electronic communication systems.

    See also: SMTP.

    Email Marketing

    The process of using email to market your website.

    EPS

    EPS, abbreviated from Encapsulated PostScript, is a common Vector Graphics file format.

    E-zine

    An electronic magazine. Also sometimes called an e-mag.

  • F

    Featured Site

    The term used by many portals, and other search properties, that incorporate some element of bid-listing results in their normal search results.

    Feed

    A Feed is a document which contains items of content, usually summaries of Blog posts, with a link to the full article.

    The two main Feed file formats are Atom.

    See also: Syndication.

    FFA

    Free For All link pages, see also link farms

    Firewall

    A Firewall is a piece of hardware or software that functions within a network environment to prevent undesired communication.

    Typically a Firewall will allow communication from a source that is trusted and block communication from a source that is not.

    Flash

    Flash is a multimedia authoring program produced by Adobe (previously Macromedia) and is primarily used to create content for Web sites. This content can take the form of applications, games or movies, among others.

    Whilst strictly the authoring program itself, Flash is also used to refer to Flash Player, a free computer program that is required to display Flash content within a Web Browser.

    Most search engines have problems with Flash if it is deployed badly. Requires particular care for good Search Engine Optimisation.

    See also: SWF.

    Flash Player

    See Flash.

    Forums

    A forum is an online discussion group, where participants with common interests can exchange open messages. When using a forum messages are posted asynchronously, which means they can be posted and read at different times. Many forums use threading so replies to posts can be read in the order they were posted. Forums are regarded as a good way of promoting a website.

    FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

    FTP or File Transfer Protocol is a commonly used protocol for exchanging files over any network that supports the intranet).

    FTP is normally used for uploading files to a Web Server.

    A search that will find matches even when words are open partially spelled or misspelled.

  • G

    Gateway Page

    Another term for Doorway Page.

    GIF

    GIF is a compressed image file format capable of containing up to 256 colours. The GIF file format is commonly used on Web sites and is best suited for displaying images that contain large areas of few colours, such as a logo.

    GIF is abbreviated from Graphic Interchange Format and was first developed by CompuServe.

    Google Bomb

    Setting up multiple sites that link to a single website with the purpose of increasing a Google ranking or manipulating Google's search results. A favoured form of entertainment for bloggers.

  • H

    Hidden Text

    Text on a Web page that is only visible to Robots, and not Web site users.

    An unscrupulous method of Keywords on a Web page.

    Hit

    An often mis-used word that refers to any file download from a website, including one hit for the would be more appropriate.

    See also: Page Views.

    Home Page

    Refers to the main web page for a business, organisation, person or simply the main page out of a collection of web pages.

    Hosting

    See Web Hosting.

    HTML (HyperText Markup Language)

    HTML is a markup language designed for the creation of Web pages which are displayed in a Web Browser.

    HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)

    HTTP is the method used to transfer information on the World Wide Web.

    The original purpose of HTTP was to provide a way to publish and receive HTML pages.

    A Hyperlink, or Link, is a reference in a Web page to another resource, be that another Web page, an image or other file.

  • I

    See Inboundlinks.

    Impressions (Page Impressions)

    The number of pages viewed on a website.

    Inbound links (IBLs) are links into the site coming from the outside. They are a method to increase a site's total Search Engines.

    IE

    Abbreviation of Internet Explorer, a common Web Browser developed by Microsoft.

    Widely considered vastly inferior to alternative Web Browsers, such as Firefox, for many reasons, including numerous high-profile security flaws.

    Instant Messaging

    Is a form of real-time communication between two or more people based on typed text. The text is conveyed via computers connected over a network such as the Internet.

    Internet

    A worldwide system of interconnected computer networks. The Internet connects millions of individuals from every corner of the globe.

    Intranet

    An Intranet is a private network using the same concepts and technologies as the Internet.

    This normally includes Email.

    IP Address

    An IP Address is a unique number that identifies each computer connected to the Internet or other network.

    An IP Address consists of four 32-bit numbers (from 0 to 255) in the format 192.168.0.200.

    IP targetting

    Categorising a web user by their Internet Protocol address – a unique code revealing their location.

    IT

    An abbreviation of Information Technology.

  • J

    JavaScript

    A programming language used on websites.

    JPEG

    JPEG is a compressed image file format commonly used on Web sites and best suited for Photographs or images with millions of colours.

    JPEG is abbreviated from Joint Photographic Experts Group who first developed the format.

    JPG

    See JPEG.

  • K

    Key Phrase

    A search phrase made up of keywords or phrases of two or more words.

    Keyword(s)

    A word or combination of words that people type into Internet. Anyone owning a site needs to be clear about what key words or key phrases are being targeted. Many keywords and key phrases have become very competitive especially in such sectors as travel and financial services.

    See also: SEO.

    Keyword Density

    The number of times a keyword is repeated within a web page, expressed as a percentage of the total number of textual words on the page.

    Keyword Marketing

    The purchase of keywords (or 'search terms') by advertisers in search listings. See also PPC.

    Keyword Tag

    Phrases that describe the content of a web page, inserted into the meta tags at the top of the page.

  • L

    Landing Page

    A specifically targeted page that a visitor reaches after clicking a marketing email.

    See Hyperlink.

    Link Baiting

    Link baiting is the process of putting content on your site that people will want to link to because this content is useful and interesting.

    Link Building

    Link building is the process of searching and requesting in-bound links to build a site's link popularity.

    SEO tactics.

    Linux

    Linux is a Unix-based Operating System originally developed by Linus Torvalds at the University of Helsinki.

    Location-based targeting

    Using avaliable consumer data to refine search marketing by address. See also IP targeting.

  • M

    Message Boards

    Websites that allow visitors to post messages, and for others to reply to them. Unlike email, all discussions take place in public, any anyone can join in. Usually, such discussions are themed by subject matter.

    Metasearch engines

    A tool that allows a user to search across two or more engines and directories simultaneously.

    Meta tags/descriptions

    search engines.

    MP3

    Defacto digital audio encoding file format, abbreviated from its full title MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3. Encodes audio at greatly reduced file sizes without any noticable loss in sound quality.

    MP3 Player

    MP3 Players are portable devices designed to store and playback MP3 files. The most popular MP3 Player on the market is Apple's iPod.

    MySQL

    MySQL is an SQL-based Database management system. MySQL is commonly used for storing data collected by, and served to, Web sites.

  • N

    Natural/Organic search results

    The 'natural' search results that appear in a separate section (usually the main body of the page) to the paid listings. The results listed here have not been paid for and are ranked by the algorithms) according to relevancy.

    News Group

    An online discussion group.

    Net

    The Internet.

    Newsletter Marketing

    The process of building relationships with existing customers and gaining new ones by publishing and mass distributing an email containing features and articles of interest to them.

  • O

    Online PR

    Press releases distributed over the social media, consumers and journalists.

    Online Press Release

    Press releases distributed over the Internet. It is aimed at a broader segment of readers including social media, consumers and journalists.

    Open-Source

    Refers to software for which the source code is publically available. The source code can be freely modified and improved upon.

    Linux is an example of Open-Source software.

    Operating System

    A software program that manages the hardware and software of a computer.

    Common Operating Systems include Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Linux and Unix.

    Optimisation

    See Search Engine Optimisation.

    OS

    Abbreviation of Operating System.

    Organic Listing

    Also known as natural listings. A 'free' or 'unpaid' listing that appears on a search results page. These listings can be achieved using SEO techniques.

    An outbound link is a link from a page of your site to another site.

  • P

    Page Rank

    Page Rank was one of Google's main methods to determine a page's relevance and importance through the quality of sites linking to it. The Page Rank of each page depends on the Page Rank of the pages pointing to it.

    Page Views

    Page Views refers to the number of times a Web page has been viewed by users. Recorded by Web Stats as a measure of how popular individual Web pages are.

    See also: Hit.

    Paid Inclusion

    Paid Inclusion is a component of Search Engine Marketing.

    Advertisers pay Pay Per Click advertising.

    See also: Pay Per Click.

    Paid listings

    The search results list in which advertisers pay to be featured according the PPC model. This list often appears in a separate section to the Pay Per Click.

    Paid Search

    See Pay Per Click.

    Pantone Colour

    The Pantone system defines mixes of Spot Colors necessary to produce that colour based on Pantone instructions.

    In theory, a Pantone colour should look the same wherever it is printed, unlike Process Colour, where colours can vary between printers.

    See also: RGB.

    Pay Per Click

    Pay Per Click advertising is a component of Search Engine Marketing.

    Adverts are placed on Search Engine a small fee each time a user clicks on the advert.

    Pay-Per-Click advertising allows companies to place 'bids' on Search Engine.

    See also: Paid Inclusion.

    PDF (Portable Document Format)

    PDF is a device and resolution independant document format developed by Adobe Systems. Being device and resolution independant means PDF documents will render exactly the same regardless of origin or destination.

    PDF documents are commonly used in the Print industry and to transfer documents over a network.

    PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor)

    PHP is an Client

    Pixel

    A Pixel (shortened from Picture Element) is one of many tiny dots that make up the representation of an image.

    The Resolution of 800 by 600, would be made up of 480,000 Pixels (800x600).

    Pixels are not only used to describe elements on a computer display. Other devices, including Printers and Digital Cameras have their Resolution measured in Pixels.

    See also: DPI.

    Podcasting

    The distribution of multimedia files, usually audio, over the MP3 player, and Broadcasting.

    Podcasting enables independent producers to create self-published, syndicated "radio shows". Listeners may subscribe to software, which periodically checks for and downloads new content automatically.

    POP3

    POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) is a protocol used to retrieve TCP/IP connection.

    See also: SMTP

    PPC (Pay Per Click)

    See Pay Per Click.

    PR

    Public Relations - the process of maintaining and controlling your relationship with the public and your target audience.

    Precision

    The degree to which a search engine lists documents with terms matching those searched for. The more matches listed, the higher the precision rate.

    Proximity search

    A search where users specify that documents returned should have keywords near each other.

    Process Colour

    Process Colour, shortened from Four-Colour Printing Process, refers to the method of printing with Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (CMYK) inks. With Process Colour printing, different colours are reproduced by combining these four inks during the printing process.

    See also: RGB.

  • Q

    Query

    A request for specific information from a Search Engine.

    Qwerty

    Qwerty is the most common character layout on English-language computer and typewriter keyboards.

    Qwerty takes its name from the first 6 characters found on the top row of letters on the keyboard.

  • R

    Rank

    The position attained on the Search Engines, Directories and Searchable Portals

    Raster Graphics

    Raster Graphics, or Bitmaps, use a rectangular grid made up of Vector Graphics. However, Raster Graphics are more practical for describing photographic or photo-realistic images.

    Is where two sites exchange links by placing a link to each other on each site. This is a proven way to build link popularity which is now an important component of achieving high search engine ranking.

    Resolution

    Refers to the amount of data an image or display can hold and is usually measured in Pixels. Higher Resolution means more image detail.

    RGB (Red Green Blue)

    RGB is a colour model in which Red, Green and Blue are combined to reproduce other colours.

    The RGB colour model is used in televisions and other displays, including computer displays.

    See also: Pantone Colour.

    Robot

    A software program used by Search Engine's index.

    Also known as Spiders or Crawlers.

    Robot tag

    robots how to behave.

    ROI

    Return on investment. A key measure on how well your site is doing.

    Router

    A piece of computer hardware that forwards data across a network to its destination.

    RSS (Really Simple Syndication)

    RSS is a popular XML.

    It allows users to receive information without being required to constantly open new pages in their web browser.

    See also: Syndication.

  • S

    Screen Reader

    A piece of software that attempts to interpret what is being displayed on a computer screen. This is then presented to a blind or visually impaired user as speech.

    See also: WCAG.

    Search Engine

    A Search Engine is a program designed to help find information stored on a computer system, such as the World Wide Web.

    Search criteria are entered in the form of Keywords. The Search Engine will then return a list of references matching the search criteria.

    Major Search Engines include Google, MSN Search and Yahoo Search.

    See also: SEM.

    Search Engine Marketing

    Search Engine Marketing is a set of marketing methods intended to increase Web site visibility in Search Engine listings.

    The three main methods of Search Engine Marketing are Paid Inclusion.

    See also: Search Engine Optimisation.

    Search Engine Optimisation

    This is the process of achieving top ranking in the search engine when looking for what the website has to offer.

    These techniques include adhering to Keywords and improving the quality of content on a Web site.

    There are also more unscrupulous methods of Search Engine Optimisation, most of which are now ineffective, that will result in the offending Web site being removed from Search Engine listings if caught.

    These methods include Hidden Text among others.

    See also: Search Engine Marketing.

    Search path analysis

    Tracking how a user searched for a given word and the route taken to reach their final destination

    Second Life

    Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Second Life has its own internal economy which can be exchanged for real world currency.

    SEM (Search Engine Marketing)

    See Search Engine Marketing.

    SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)

    See Search Engine Optimisation.

    SERPs

    The page on which search results are displayed in response to a query submitted by the user.

    Server

    A Server is a computer system that provides services to other computing systems across a network.

    See also: Web Server.

    Server-Side

    Server-Side refers to operations that are performed by the Client-Server relationship.

    PHP is a language that is run Server-Side.

    See also: Client-Side

    SMTP (Simple Mail Transport Protocol)

    SMTP is the defacto standard for transmitting Internet.

    See also: POP3.

    Social Media

    User generated networks that involve online collaboration. The classic examples are MySpace, Facebook and YouTube.

    Social Media Optimisation (SMO)

    A way of optimising websites so they would be more easily connected with online communities and community websites. It can be thought of as a cross between Social Networking

    Social Networking

    In the online sense, this refers to a type of website model where individual members become part of a broader virtual community. Users provide personal information about themselves in a profile and reveal themselves through participation in the online community.

    Spam

    Spam is unsolicited, bulk messages sent across an electronic communication system, usually Email.

    Spam is usually used to send advertising messages.

    Spambot

    A software program designed to harvest Emails to.

    Spamming

    The act of sending Spam.

    Spider

    See Robot.

    Splash Page

    A Splash Page, or Splash Screen, is an entry page to a Web site that normally consists of a link instructing users to click it to enter the Web site, or a Flash animation that takes the user through to the Web site once complete.

    Splash Pages are widely considered bad-practice since they act as a barrier between a user and the content they are trying to reach.

    Splash Screen

    See Splash Page

    Sponsored Search

    See Pay Per Click.

    Spot Colour

    A Spot Colour is an ink generated by mixing other colours. This ink can then be used in the printing process. This differs from CMYK inks are mixed during the printing process in order to reproduce other colours.

    See also: RGB.

    Spyware

    Spyware is a computer program that monitors and records what users do with their computers without their consent. It then sends this information to a designated recipient over the Internet.

    Spyware is usually used to monitor user trends, for example which Web sites are visited, in order to send this information to an advertising company. But some Spyware can be more malicious and attempt to record passwords as they are entered on a keyboard.

    See also: Adware.

    SSH (Secure Shell)

    SSH is a set of standards that allows the establishing of a secure connection between a local and a remote computer.

    SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)

    SSL is an encryption protocol that provides secure commincation over the Internet. Commonly used where data privacy is paramount, for example when submitting credit card details through a Web site during a transaction.

    Statistics

    See Web Stats.

    Stemming

    The ability of a search to include the 'stem' of words.

    Streaming

    Streaming or Streaming Media is media that can be viewed, read or heard while it is still being delivered.

    Typically, streaming refers to the act of video media being delivered over the Internet, or other network, the beginning of which can be viewed before the media has been delivered in its entirety.

    Streaming Media

    See Streaming.

    SWF

    SWF, abbreviated from Small Web Format, is a Flash content is published in SWF format.

    Syndication

    The process of making Blog posts and news articles.

    See also: Atom.

  • T

    Title tag

    Meta information tag inserted at the top of a web page, and displayed in the browser bar.

    TCP/IP (Transmisison Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)

    TCP/IP is the set of communication protocols on which the Internet and most commercial networks run.

    Trojan Horse

    A Trojan Horse is a computer program that pretends to be one thing, for example an image, but instead does damage when opened - usually by deleting data.

    A Trojan Horse cannot self-replicate and as such is not a Virus.

  • U

    Unique Visit

    A single, unique user who has visited a Web site within a specified time period. Unique Visits are recorded by Web Stats as a measure of how many individual users are visiting a Web site. The number of unique visitors provides you some very valuable information regarding site traffic.

    See also: Hit.

    URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

    Simply, this is a website's address e.g. http://www.eazytiger.net

    A URL is an address that refers to the location of a file on the Internet.

    Web pages are accessed using an URL.

  • V

    Vector Graphics

    Vector Graphics use geometric shapes, lines and curves to represent an image. As they are based on mathematical calculations, Vector Graphics can be scaled to any size without loss of quality.

    A common Vector Graphics file format is EPS.

    See also: Raster Graphics.

    Video Casting

    Also known as Vodcasts or Vlogs. A video file which can be subscribed to via an bandwidth has been available to make this practical.

    Viral Marketing

    Takes your message and powerfully and quickly spreads it across the

    Virus

    A computer Virus is a self-replicating computer program that spreads by inserting itself into other files and documents.

    Some Viruses are intentionally destructive, capable of destroying data, while others are benign or merely annoying.

    See also: Worm.

  • W

    W3C (World Wide Web Consortium)

    The W3C is an international consortium that works to develop standards for the World Wide Web.

    The W3C is the driving force behind WCAG.

    Web

    See WWW

    Web 2.0

    A phrase popularized by the first Web 2.0 conference in 2004, Web 2.0 refers to a perceived second generation of web-based communities and hosted services - such as social-networking sites and wikis - which facilitate collaboration and sharing between users.

    It is the second phase of the web following on from the boom-and-bust of the Internet. Web 2.0 encourages the users to add and share content.

    Weblog

    See Blog

    Web Browser

    A Web Browser is a software application that typically displays Web pages and Web sites on the World Wide Web or other networks.

    Popular Web Browsers include Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari.

    WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

    WCAG are a set of guidelines published by the W3C on how to make Web sites more accessibile to disabled users.

    Typically these users may be visually impaired and will use a Screen Reader to read the contents of a Web page out to them, or they may be unable to use traditional input devices, such as a Mouse.

    WCAG also detail how to make Web sites more accessible to user agents other than a computer, such as a Mobile Phone.

    See also: Web Standards.

    Web Hosting

    A Web Hosting service allows organisations and individuals to store files on a World Wide Web.

    Web Mail

    An Web Browser.

    Popular examples of Web Mail services include Hotmail, Yahoo Mail and Gmail.

    Web Server

    A Web Server is a computer system connected to the Internet that hosts the files comprising a Web site.

    A Web Server serves Web pages to a HTTP protocol.

    Web Standards

    Web Standards refers to a set of technical specifications that define best practices for building Web sites, and for Web design in general.

    A Web site is said to meet Web Standards when it adheres to these specifications.

    In general, a Web site built to Web Standards will benefit from improved Web Browsers and Mobile Phones.

    See also: WCAG.

    Web Stats

    Web Stats, or Web Statistics, is software that records the behaviour of visitors on a Web site.

    The kind of information that can be recorded includes which pages are visited, for how long, how visitors arrived at the Web site and where the visitor is located geographically.

    See also: Hit.

    World Wide Web

    The World Wide Web (or Web) is a set of resources, such as documents and images, that can be accessed through the Internet.

    Note; the World Wide Web is not the Email being another.

    Worm

    A Worm is a piece of software that uses computer networks and security flaws to create copies of itself. A copy of the Worm will scan the network for any other vunerable machine that it can copy itself to.

    WWW

    Abbreviation of World Wide Web.

  • X

    XHTML (eXtensible HyperText Markup Language)

    XHTML is a markup language similar to HTML and serving the same purpose, but with a stricter syntax.

    XML (eXtensible Markup Language)

    XML is a markup language that is used to describe data. Similar to a XML allows developers to create customised tags to describe the data contained.

  • Y

    YouTube

    A site for sharing video content.

  • Z

    Z-Index

    Z-Index is a CSS property that defines the stacking order of elements. Elements with a higher Z-Index are displayed in front elements with a lower Z-Index.