Jargon buster
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A
Alt
Short for alternative (sometimes alternate), ‘alt tag’ is used for alternative attribute – a description of a photo or illustration
Anchor
A point within a web page to which you can hyperlink
Applet
Small programme that runs in your browser but is not installed on your PC
Avatar
Image used to represent you
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BBS
Bulletin Board System, used to run a forum
Bcc
Blind carbon copy – recipients of emails sent using bcc can’t see who else is copied in
Bookmark/favourite
Your store of web pages you want to visit again easily
Browser
Internet Explorer, Safari, Chrome and Firefox, for example
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Cache
Store within your browser of web pages you have visited
CMS
Content management system – for uploading content to a website without installing special software on your computer
Cookie
Small file that websites place on your hard drive so the websites can recognise you when you return
CSS
Cascading style sheet – sets the colours and font styles to be used on a website
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DNS
Domain name system – changes website addresses from names into numbers (IP addresses)
Domain name
A website’s name (bbc.co.uk)
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Embed (code)
Copy and paste code for inserting something (YouTube video or Audioboo audio files, for example) into your website/blog
Emoticon
Faces made using punctuation characters, such as winking ;-) or smiling :-)
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FAQ
Frequently asked question
File extension
The .doc after a Word document (.docx for newer versions) or.pdf for a PDF, for example
Flash
A plug-in to browsers to show certain types of graphics or video files
Font
Typeface style
FTP
File transfer protocol – used to send files (upload and download)
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Gif
Low-resolution picture file type – ideal for logos and drawings used online
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Homepage
The front page of your website
Host
The internet service provider (ISP) that has given you space for your website
HTML
Hypertext mark-up language – the language used to write web pages
HTTP
Hypertext transfer protocol – the letters at the start of a web address
Hyperlink
Link that will take you to another web page or place with the same page
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Icon
Small image used as link to another webpage or to open a program
IP address
Internet protocol address – the numerical number of each computer on the internet
ISP
Internet service provider – company that provides internet connections and web hosting
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Java
Programming language used to run small programs in browsers (applets)
Javascript
Language used on websites to add functions such as pop-up windows
JPEG (JPG)
Common file format for photos and images
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Link |
Abbreviated form of hyperlink
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MP3
Format for compressing audio files
MPEG
Standard used for compressing video files
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Navigation
Links to pages within a website or anchors on a web page
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PDF
Portable document format – files appear on screen as they would in print, including all fonts and images originally used
Photoshop
Computer software for editing images
PHP
Originally stood for personal home page – a common language for building web pages, used by many mainstream web CMS systems, including WordPress, Joomla and Drupal
Pixels
The tiny dots that make up a computer screen and print
Plug-in
Mini-program that adds functionality (either to software on your computer or to your website)
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RSS
Often referred to as really simple syndication or rich site summary – a list of content from a website. May be just the headline, standfirst and first paragraph, or whole story.
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Search engine
Website allowing you to search the internet for information, such as Google or Bing. May be included within a web page to search the web or to search just that website
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URL
Uniform resource locator – the website address
Username
The name you enter when you sign in to a website or computer – may be allocated to you or chosen by you
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Webmail
Sending and receiving email from a website rather than a programme on your computer or phone
Widget
Little programs that add functions to a website
WordPress
A content management system (uses PHP)
WYSIWYG
What you see is what you get – some web design tools allow you to see the layout as you design it, others (most) are not WYSIWYG
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XML
Extensible mark-up language – language used to easily alter pages for viewing on computers, mobile phones and other devices
