Web Design Definitions
Animation
The creation of a series of graphic images or frames so that they have the look of moving continuously. This can include simple animation (created using .gif files), or more complex animations using Flash.
Broken Links
Hyperlinks, or links that fail to open a web page, usually producing an error page instead.
Client Packet
Sometimes referred to as the "hand-off packet", it is a collection of information about a client's web site. This includes some or all of the following:
Date of the site's creation
Hosting information - where the site is hosted, and how to access it
Where the Domain Name is registered
Login and Password information as applicable
A disc or CD with copies of the site's files
Color
Computers can display over 16 million colors, 216 of which are considered "web-safe". These web-safe colors are common to both the Windows and Macintosh operating systems. As computer systems have become more sophisticated, it is becoming less important to strictly adhere to the Web-safe palette.
Composite
The look of the web site without actually creating it. This is achieved with graphics, and is usually presented to the client in printed form.
Contact Page
The page in a web site that contains all information as to how to contact a business or individual. This usually includes a mailing address, phone number, fax number, email addresses and any other criteria that may be necessary.
Content
The body of a web page. Content includes words, selling points, graphics, animations, etc. that do not comprise the framework of the page. This is the information that changes from page to page.
Debugging
Detecting, locating and correcting errors or problems in a computer program or web site.
Design
The process and art of creating a Web page or Web site. It may involve both the look and mechanics of how a web site works. Some of the features that make up design are:
graphic creation
animation creation
color selection
font selection
navigation design
content creation
HTML/XML authoring
programming
ecommerce development
Design Process
The method that carries a client and their web designer from the idea of a web site to the actual creation and implementation of a web site.
Digital Photography
Using a digital camera to take photographs. A digital camera stores the pictures electronically and can then place them directly on a computer. An alternative is to scan regular photographs that have been developed and place them on the computer. Scanned photos are usually not as clean and clear as those taken with a digital camera.
Domain Name
Allows you to reference Internet sites. To register a domain name, you can contact an online company that sells them or you can ask your web designer, Internet Service Provider or site host to register your name for you. A few domain name suffixes (also known as top-level domains) are:
.com for businesses (the most commonly known suffix)
.net for networking companies, ISPs, and Web hosting companies
.org for non-profit organizations
.info for information sites
.biz for businesses
.edu for educational institutions
.gov for government institutions
.mil for military institutions
Dynamic Content
Interactive features on a web site. The content the user sees is sometimes updated based upon the users input. Dynamic content can be information stored in a database, user input, or even cookies. Forms and a Search option on a site are perfect examples of dynamic content.
Graphics
A picture or image produced on a computer. These can include .bmp (bitmaps), .jpg (joint photographic experts group), .gif (graphical interface format), and .png (portable network graphics).
Forms
Interactive elements which allow a user to input information to be utilized by the web site. Forms can be used to gather information supplied by the user in order to help the user interact with various components within the site.
Homepage
The entry page to a web site, also known as the index page.
Hosting
Most commonly thought of as the place (think of a heavy-duty computer) where your Web site resides. An Internet host has a unique Internet address (IP address) and a unique domain name or host name. A host can also refer to a Web hosting company.
Logo
A company's symbol. Think of the "swoosh" Nike uses.
Maintenance
The act of upkeep for a web site. This can include updates, changes, re-design, and troubleshooting.
Marketing
The process of planning and executing the promotion of a web site via printed and other media, and the Internet. How you make others aware that your web site exists.
Search Engine
A program (web site) designed to search a database of information from and about other web sites. Google, Yahoo and others use this kind of program to create a directory of sites which you can then search through.
Search Engine Optimization
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the skill of designing (or re-designing) a web site so that search engines will rank it higher for a particular set of keywords.
Server
A computer that delivers web pages to users. It is the "computer" where web site files (the whole web site) reside and are accessed through the Internet. A server can also be called a host or node.
Target Audience
Groups of people who are considered a marketing strategy's main objective. For instance, toys are marketed toward the Target Audience of children within certain age ranges. Target Audiences can be comprised of one or combinations of different groups. A few examples of Target Audiences are:
Gender-Based Groups
Age Groups
Ethnic Groups
Religious Groups
Political Groups
Testing
Checking a computer program or web site for errors. Depending on the complexity of a program, testing (and debugging) can take nearly as long as the actual creation of the program.
Usability
A generic term that refers to design features that enable a web site to be user-friendly. This generally refers to how easily a user can find their way around a site. There are five basic components to usability according to Jacob Nielson (known as THE authority on usability):
Learnability: How easy is it for users to accomplish basic tasks the first time they encounter the design?
Efficiency: Once users have learned the design, how quickly can they perform tasks?
Memorability: When users return to the design after a period of not using it, how easily can they reestablish proficiency?
Errors: How many errors do users make, how severe are these errors, and how easily can they recover from the errors?
Satisfaction: How pleasant is it to use the design?
Usability also refers to the W3C's accessibility guidelines for people with disabilities.
User Testing
The method of studying usability. There are three components to User Testing:
Ask some volunteer users to perform representative tasks with a web site design.
Observe what the users do, where they succeed, and where they have difficulties with the user interface.
Allow the users to solve any problems on their own.
The results of User Testing are then compiled and any necessary adjustments are applied to the web site design. Testing may be performed one or more times.
Web Site
A collection of files or "pages" linked together and available for viewing on the World Wide Web (a.k.a. the Internet). Web sites are provided by companies, organizations and individuals.