Web Terminology Glossary
Hulaweb's "Geek Speak" Translation Guide
Embarking on a website project can be an overwhelming experience even to the most savvy of Internet users! To help you feel technically comfortable, we've put together some common Internet terms and definitions that you will most likely hear us use in the context of your project.
We want you to feel as comfortable as possible, so please feel free to ask questions!
301 Redirect:
A 301 redirect is a way of telling website users and search engines that a specific webpage or website has permanently moved to a new address (URL). Typically, web browsers will interpret and follow 301 redirects to the new location automatically.
A 301 redirect should be used whenever a website has moved to a new domain name or a page's URL has changed so that search engines will quickly change their indeces and preserve the search engine rankings that the site had at the previous domain. It also serves to keep any existing bookmarks or links intact.
Blog:
A frequent, chronological publication of personal thoughts, articles, news items and/or Web links.
Breadcrumb Navigation:
A navigation technique that gives users a way to keep track of their location within your website. Each "crumb" in the trail is a link that will take the user back to a page he visited in his "trail" of navigating your site. A typical breadcrumb navigation bar will appear at the top of your content and will look something like this: Home > Category > Page. Hulaweb uses breadcrumb navigation and you can see it at the top of this page.
Cache:
A cache (pronounced CASH) is information about a web page or file that is temporarily stored on your computer by your web browser. When a web paged is cached, it is not being seen real-time and should be refreshed to view any updates to the page. Cache settings can be overridden or manually updated by Internet users.
Content Management System ( CMS ):
A system (usually software) for the creation, modification, classification and archiving of content on a website. You will use a CMS when you need to actively update text, files or images on a website.
Cookie:
A packet of information from a web server that is sent to and stored by your web browser on your computer. The main use for cookies is to provide customized web pages according to a profile of your interests or other identifying information about you. When you visit a website, a cookie can be "dropped" onto your computer and later read by that website to track your visits or remember you in the future. Cookies can only be read by the website that put them there.
Dedicated Server/Dedicated Web Hosting:
A dedicated server or dedicated web hosting refers to a web hosting service that provides a computer, connected to the Internet, that is dedicated to hosting the files of one owner and is not shared with others.
Domain Name:
A domain refers to the main part of a URL or website address. For example, the domain name of the following address would be 'hulaweb.com': http://www.hulaweb.com/web_glossary.php.
Domain names are purchased through internet registrars and their expiration date is based on the number of years you have purchased them for.
Favicon:
A favicon (for "favorite icon") is a customized image that browsers use, if it is available, as an icon to go with a user-specified bookmarked site on the Links bar at the top of a Web browser window. You can see ours in the address bar above as a little green tiki face.
FTP:
File Transfer Protocol (FTP), is the simplest way to exchange files between computers on the Internet. It is one method we use to update or add files to your web server.
Hosting Company:
A hosting company is the company that you pay to host your website's files. We recommend 1and1 Internet, Go Daddy, Superb Internet and Yahoo Small Business for your hosting needs.
Hosting Package:
When you contract with a hosting company to host your website, you will choose a hosting package. Packages range in price based on your website's traffic and file needs. When selecting a package, we'd be happy to advise you on the type of package required to support your website
IP Address:
An IP address is a 32-bit number that identifies each sender or receiver of information that is sent in packets across the Internet. Every computer and web server connected to the Internet is assigned an IP Address that can be used to identify the owner of the website or computer.
Pay Per Click (PPC) Advertising:
A method of advertising on websites where the advertiser is charged only when an internet user clicks on an ad.
Payment Gateway:
A payment gateway allows the secure transfer of credit card funds from users on your website to your merchant account. Utilizing a payment gateway will minimize your liability when processing online payments.
RSS Feed:
A method of publishing content in a data feed to make it readily available to be read by other websites or news feed readers.
Search Engine Marketing (SEM):
The practice of marketing and advertising through the search engines via paid advertisements or sponsored links.
Search Engine Optimization ( SEO ):
The practice of manipulating aspects of a website strictly to improve its ranking and visibility in search engines. Various approaches are taken to achieve that goal, such as submitting the Web site to directory services, and addressing Web site architecture, keywords, metadata and content.
Secure Socket Layer ( SSL ):
SSL is a commonly-used protocol for managing the security of a message transmission on the Internet. It is a necessity for eCommerce transactions.
Shared Server/Shared Web Hosting:
A shared server or shared web hosting service refers to a web hosting service where many websites reside on one web server connected to the Internet.
SSH:
Secure Shell (SSH), is a method of securely getting access to a web server. It is one method we use to update or add files to your web server.
SSL Certificate:
A digital certificate used for secure connections between the web server and the browser. When using an SSL certificate, your browser will display the lock icon in the bottom righthand corner and your website address will begin with https://.
Subdomain:
A subdomain is a subdivision of a larger domain. Subdomains are useful to organize or segregate your site(s) based on function. For example, "mail.hulaweb.com" is a subdomain of "hulaweb.com." that would be used for sending and receiving e-mail.
Uniform Resource Locator ( URL ):
A URL is simply the address to a website or page within the website.
Web Server:
A computer running that software, assigned an IP address, and connected to the Internet so that it can provide files via the World Wide Web. Also called HOST computer. A web server contains all your website files and serves them to visitors to your site.
