Web Terms 101
These brief explanations of relevant terms should help you better understand the language of the internet. Check back regularly, as we'll be adding more information here on an ongoing basis.
.BMP
The .bmp file is a format used by Windows and Quicken. It is low resolution, but perfect for creating invoices and other documents in these programs.
CAPTCHA
A CAPTCHA is a challenge-response system that seeks to prove that a site's user is in fact a person, and not automated software. CAPTCHAs generate a simple test, generally a distorted series of numbers and letters, and prompt the user to reproduce the series in a text field. As automated software gets more advanced, CAPTCHA's must find new ways to seperate human and computer users.
CAPTCHA technology has in the past been critisized in terms of accessibility; as a visual-only test, a CAPTCHA excludes users who are disabled, or visually impaired. More recent CAPTCHAs provide an audio clip as well as a visual test, allowing users two different means of 'passing' the CAPTCHA test.
CMS (Content Management System)
A CMS is a computer application used to create, edit, and manage digital media and electronic text. In most cases, content management systems are online applications. Caorda's content management system, Caorda Content, is used by clients to update their websites, adding and modifying content as is necessary.
E-mail Hosting
Similar to web site hosting, e-mail hosting is an internet hosting service that runs e-mail servers. E-mail hosting services usually offer 'premium' e-mail at a price, as opposed to free ad-sponsored e-mail (like hotmail) or free webmail. Hosted e-mail is a service generally used by SME's (Small and Medium Sized Enterprises), who make use of the unique domains and spam-filtering that hosted e-mail providers provide.
.EPS
The .eps file is a vector image, often used for logos. It can easily be enlarged without comprimising the image quality. Use this file for projects like signs and brochures.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
An FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is a network protocol used to send files over a TCP computer network, like the internet. Essentially, it's an application that lets one computer send files to another computer over the internet.
.GIF
The .gif file is another low-resolution file designed for web and computer use.
.JPG
The .jpg is designed to be used for email and website applications. It has a much lower resolution and cannot be enlarged without affecting the image quality. It is not recommended for printing.
.NET
.NET is a sofware framework created by Microsoft. It is a development platform with which software developers can build Windows applications.
PHP
PHP is a scripted language designed for creating web pages. Over time, it has evolved, and now can also be used in standalone graphic applications. PHP is free software released under the PHP license.
PPC (Pay Per Click)
Pay Per Click is a form of advertising where advertisers pay their host only when their ads are clicked. Pay Per Click advertising is used by search engines, advertising networks, and content sites. Generally, a fixed rate per click is applied.
SEM (Search Engine Marketing)
Search Engine Marketing (SEM for short) is the process of promoting websites to ensure that they appear near the top of search engine search results. Popular methods include SEO, paid placement, contextual advertising, and paid inclusion.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Search Engine Optimization, or SEO for short, is the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via search results. In theory, the earlier a site appears on search results lists, the more visitors it will receive as a result.
Another class of techniques, known as Black Hat SEO or Spamdexing, is considered the 'dark side' of SEO. These techniques use methods like link farms and keyword stuffing, that degrade both the relevance of search results and the user experience of search engines. Search engines look for sites that employ these techniques in order to remove them from their indices.
Spam
Spam, specifically e-mail spam, is also called Unsolicited Bulk E-mail (UBE). Spamming is the practise of sending out unwanted e-mail messages, generally containing commercial content, to an unwitting set of participants. It is estimated that spam messages make up 80-85% of total e-mail sent over the internet!
There have been efforts to make spam illegal, with some level of success. Current spammers are known to base their operations from countries where spamming does not pose legal problems.
.TIF
Your .tif file is a medium resolution file that can be used for basic printing and transferring digital images among various applications.
Upload
Transferring data from one computer to another (usually a server computer).
Web Hosting
Web hosting is the act of making a web site accessible to the public on the world wide web by providing the site a place to 'live' on a server, typically housed in a data center. To move files and data onto the server and ultimately onto the web, users upload using an FTP (File Transfer Protocol). Many ISP's (Internet Service Providers) offer this service for free to their subscribers.
Large, complex web sites require extensive hosting packages. These packages will provide database support, and application development platforms (PHP, Java, ASP .NET), which allow developers to build applications like forums or content management tools.
Web Site
A web site is a collection of web pages, pictures, and videos, hosted by a single web server and viewable via the internet. A web page is a document, created using HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), commonly known as the language of the internet.
The sum of all publicly assesible web sites is known as the "World Wide Web".
The pages of a website are generally based around a "Home Page". A site's heirarchy is defined by its "Site Map", which also determines the paths users will take to browse the site.
Web Site Design
Web site design is the creation and arrangement of a group of web pages that make up a web site. There are many factors related to web site design, including, content, useability, appearance, and layout. Once a web site has been created, it must be uploaded in order to be viewed by the public; this can be accomplished using an FTP client.
For a company like Caorda, our design process starts by gathering specifications from a client as to how they'd like their site to look, feel, and function. Next, our designer creates 'mock-ups' of how the site will look using Photoshop. If the client is safisfied with these mock-ups, developers will 'build' the site, incorperating functionality as they go. When it's done, the finished product is turned over to the client.
Web Site Development
Web site development is an evolving process: it has changed as the technology behind the internet has 'grown up'. A web site is developed from a basic platform: various computer languages like HTML, XML, PHP, or ASP. These languages support software programs like Javascript, CGI, Flash, and others, which add dynamic capabilities to a web site. Integrate the collection of documents and pages (the web site) with hosting and an IP address, and you've got a fully functional site.