The Great Web Acronym List
| Acronym | Meaning | Category |
|---|---|---|
| HTML | Hypertext Markup Language. The bricks and mortar of a webpage. This basic code displays text, tables, images and links on a webpage. XHTML is a variant of HTML that performs similar tasks though has different rules for coding. | Front End (browser) Code |
| CSS | Cascading Style Sheets. If HTML is the bricks and mortar, CSS is the paint and finishing's. Styles a webpage by applying font types, colours, widths and heights of elements, etc. | Front End (browser) Code |
| JavaScript | A programming language that allows a web page to interact with the user. Examples of JavaScript in use are required form field alerts, popup boxes and image slide shows. | Front End (browser) Code |
| JQuery | JQuery is simply a pre-made library of commonly used piece of JavaScript code. Adding this library saves time and allows developers to add a lot more interaction. | Front End (browser) Code |
| JQueryUI | Another JavaScript library like JQuery. Jquery UI (User Interface) adds yet more user interaction such as interactive calendars and date-pickers. JqueryUI works hand-in-hand with JQuery. | Front End (browser) Code |
| PHP | Personal Home Page. Unlike HTML or JavaScript, PHP is a programming language that is rendered on the server, not in a site visitor's web browser. PHP is used to communicate to the web site server. Common uses of PHP are interacting with a database, performing a function at a specific time (such as publishing a blog article on a specific date) and enabling a logged in user access to pages normally out of bounds. | Server Side Code |
| MySQL | My Structured Query Language. MySQL is used to draw data from an SQL database. You can think of an SQL database like an Excel spreadsheet, with column headings and rows storing information. MySQL allows you to 'browse' this information, eg: 'Get me John Smith's phone number'. As MySQL works on the websites server PHP is used to trigger a query. | Server Side Code |
| VPS | Virtual Private Server. Using a VPS is like using a normal server, only it is actually just part of a large, physical machine that 'thinks' it's an independent machine. People often use VPS to run and manage multiple websites. You can read more about hosting and server environments here. | Server Environment |
| CMS | Content Management System. CMSs evolved from blogging tools. They allow users to organise, edit and create web pages, blog articles and images without knowing any web code. WordPress and ModX are examples of popular CMSs. | Web Site Framework |
| CSV | Comma-Separated Values. CSVs are a type of file (eg: accounts.csv. They are a simple way of storing information - literally in a comma separated list, eg: "bread, milk, eggs, butter". Because of its simplicity CSVs are easy to upload to other programs, Microsoft Excel for example. Websites often allow you to export data as a CSV file for this reason. | Data Type |
| AJAX | Asynchronous JavaScript and XHTML. More of a technique then a type of code, a common use of AJAX is to modify webpages based on user input where, normally, this might require loading a new webpage altogether. A good example of AJAX in action are pre-emptive searches, where a user enters text into a search field and results appear before the user has properly triggered the search. | Technique |
| JSON | JavaScript Object Notation. JSON is a way of presenting data in a layered structure. It is commonly used for APIs as data is easy to read, decipher and organise. JSON works by paring a piece of information with a name, eg: "Name" : "John Smith", "Name" : "Joe Blow", "Name" : "Jane Doe". In this example, would could create code to 'query' this JSON document. For example, the query: 'Get me the 2nd person's name' would result in the reply 'Joe Blow'. In-website Twitter feeds are a good example of JSON in action. | Data Type |
| HTML5 | Hypertext Markup Language Version 5. HTML5 is an upcoming version of the highly popular and standardised HTML web site coding language. Though it is due to be officially released in late 2014 many websites have begun implementing it due to its advanced abilities. HTML5 adds new types of 'elements' (pieces of code that make up a webpage) to the web development process, including a video player (formally Flash or JavaScript was used), canvas (for drawing pictures on the fly), and article (for blog and news articles). Though still under development, there is boundless potential behind HTML5. | Front End (browser) Code |
| Flash | Adobe Flash has been superseded and its use on modern websites should be avoided. Flash was used on websites for making animations and interacting with users. However, JavaScript and JQuery have largely taken over its role. Flash is deemed as problematic for a number of reasons, including: 3rd party software needs to be installed, Flash elements cannot be 'read' by search engines, it increases a webpages load time, as well as text from a Flash element cannot be zoomed into or copied. Some devices (such as iPhones and iPads) no longer have the ability to load Flash elements. | Front End (browser) Code |
| RSS Feed | Rich Site Summary Feed. A standard format that allows for the automatic update and syndication of content on websites that have frequent changes and entries such as blogs | Data Type |
| SEO | Search Engine Optimisation.???The process of organically (without cost) acquiring traffic/ visits to a website or web page from search engines such as Google or Bing. | Technique |
| SEM | Search Engine Marketing.???An industry that Search Engine Optimisation specialists fall under. It is the broad umbrella that takes in all efforts to acquire traffic to a website from a variety of search engines. It includes AdWord Campaigns and optimising a site for search engines. |
Industry |
| WYSIWYG | What You See Is What You Get???Allows users with no coding abilities to easily create and edit content |
Front End Coding for Users |