In the digital industry, we often use terms that may not be very clear to many outside of this industry. And that’s completely OK! Today’s article takes a look at some of those confusing terms and explains them using analogies and relatable terms. Of course, if you ever need any additional explanations, I am here to help!
- Hosting: This is like the digital land where your website lives. Just like a house needs a plot of land to sit on, your website needs hosting to store its data and make it accessible online.
- Domain Name: Think of this as your website’s address. Just as you tell people your home address to find where you live, a domain name helps people find your website on the internet. Domain Name and Hosting services are separate services.
- CMS (Content Management System): This is a tool that helps you manage the content on your website. It’s like having a library system that lets you organize, edit, and publish new content without needing to be a tech expert.
- SSL Certificate: This security feature protects information on your website as it travels across the internet. It’s like sealing a letter in an envelope before sending it through the mail.
- Cache: This is a component that stores data so future requests for that data can be served faster. It’s like keeping your most frequently used tools on top of your workbench so you can access them quickly.
- Clear the Cache: This is the process of deleting stored data in the web browser. A cache stores copies of files so that the browser can load the website faster the next time you visit. However, sometimes the data can become outdated or corrupt, which can cause website loading issues. Clearing the cache is like cleaning out old, no longer needed items from your storage room to make space for new things and to ensure that everything you find is current and in good shape. It ensures that you’re seeing the most recent version of a website. Learn how to clear your browser cache
- Responsive Design: This ensures your website looks good and works well on any device, whether a desktop, a tablet, or a mobile phone. It’s like having clothes that automatically adjust to fit you perfectly, whether you lose or gain weight.
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization): This is a set of practices to help your website appear higher in search engine results. It’s like putting up signs and directions to make sure people can easily find your shop in a busy city.
- Favicon: This is a small, iconic image that represents your website in a browser’s tab or bookmark list. It’s like the logo on a business card.
- Hero Image: This is a large banner image prominently placed on a web page, generally in the front and center. It’s the billboard that you see when you first enter a website.
- User Interface (UI): This is all about how your website looks and the layout of elements like buttons and images. It’s the visual aspect that makes your website attractive and easy to navigate.
- User Experience (UX): This is about how people feel when they use your website. Good UX means visitors can find what they need quickly and easily, much like having a helpful guide in a museum.
- Landing Page: This is a standalone web page, often used in marketing campaigns, which is designed with a single focus or goal, known as a call to action (CTA). It’s like a flyer for an event that tells you everything you need to know on a single page.
- Call to Action (CTA): This is a prompt on a website that tells the user to take some specified action, such as “Sign Up” or “Buy Now”. It’s akin to a sign at a store that says “Enter Here” or “Sale Today”.
- Content Delivery Network (CDN): This is a system of distributed servers that deliver web content to a user based on their geographic location. It’s like having multiple warehouses around the country to deliver products faster to customers nearby.
- Analytics: These are tools that help you understand how people use your website. It’s like having a report that tells you who comes to your shop, what they look at, and what they buy.
- E-commerce: This term refers to the buying and selling of goods or services using the Internet. It turns your website into a virtual store.
- Front-End: This is the part of your website that users interact with directly. It’s everything they can see and use, like the display area of a store.
- Back-End: This includes all the parts of your website that users don’t see but are essential for it to function, like the storage room of a store where the inventory is kept.
- Bandwidth: This refers to the amount of data that can be transmitted in a given time frame. It’s like the number of lanes on a highway; the more lanes, the more traffic can move smoothly.
- Plugin/Extension: These are add-ons that you can install to add specific features to your website, similar to adding a new appliance to your home for extra functionality.
- Wireframe: A wireframe is a basic visual guide used in web design to suggest the layout of fundamental elements on a webpage. It’s like the blueprint of a building before it’s fully designed and decorated.
