GLOSSARY
Explore key terms defining our services. Contact us for more insights.
A
AI (Adobe Illustrator)
An Adobe Illustrator file is a vector graphic file marketed by Adobe Inc.
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
AI refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. The term may also be applied to any machine that exhibits traits associated with a human mind such as learning and problem-solving.
ALT TEXT
Alt text is the name for a special tag on an image element that can be used to provide information about the content of an image; particularly important for Accessibility.
API
An API (Application Programming Interface) is a mechanism that allows different systems to communicate. It provides a method of accessing or manipulating data from a system, usually provided by the system’s implementors. A “system” could be anything. Examples include applications like PayPal & Payfast.
B
BACK END
The admin part of a website is accessible only to authorised users.
BACKBLAZE
An online backup service that provides comprehensive data protection and recovery solutions, safeguarding information from potential loss. For and .
BURGER MENU The burger menu, characterized by three horizontal lines resembling a hamburger, is a navigation element you’ll often find on websites. When clicked, it typically opens up to reveal a list of menu options for the site.
BROWSER
Refers to the program a website visitor is using to view the website. Examples include Safari, Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, and Internet Explorer.
C
CACHE/CACHING
Cached files are those that are saved or copied (downloaded) by a web browser so that the next time that user visits the site, the page loads faster, could mean that the page is not totally up to date.
CALL TO ACTION
A Call-to-Action is anything on a website that asks the user to take an action. Usually, this is something such as ‘buy now’, ‘call us today’ or ‘order now’.
CAROUSEL
A carousel or slider is a feature used in web design to move between images in a set position in the layout of the page.
CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart)
CAPTCHA is a type of challenge-response test used in computing to determine whether or not the user is human. This method is used to prevent automated software from performing actions which degrade the quality of service of a given system, whether due to abuse or resource expenditure.
CMS (Content Management System)
A CMS is a software tool that enables the creation, editing, and publication of content on a website, often with no need for specialized technical knowledge. It streamlines the process of managing online content for websites.
CONTENT
All of the text, images and videos on a given webpage or site.
CPANEL
An easy way of changing some server configuration settings. Will have a login.
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
CSS is a style sheet language used for describing the presentation of a document written in HTML. It is one of the core technologies used in website creation and design.
CTA (Call to Action)
A CTA is a prompt on a website that tells the user to take some specified action, such as “Click Here” or “Sign Up.” It’s a part of the webpage that seeks an immediate response from the visitor.
D
DESIGN FILE
A design file is the finalized version of your project, saved in a format suitable for its intended use, such as printing or online publishing. It may not include all the editable elements of the working file.
DNS
Stands for Domain Name Service (alternately Domain Name System or Domain Name Server). Basically, it’s the thing that converts IP addresses into domain names. DNS servers are provided with the IP address of your web server when you assign your domain name to those servers. In turn, when someone types your domain name into their web browser, those DNS servers translate the domain name to the IP address and point the browser to the correct web server.
DOMAIN
The domain is the name by which a website is identified. The domain is associated with an IP address. Domains can be purchased with any combination of letters, hyphens (-), and numbers (though it can’t start with a hyphen). Depending on the extension (.co.za, .com, .net, .org, etc.), a domain can be anywhere up to 26 to 63 characters long.
DPI (Dots Per Inch)
DPI is a measure of the resolution of a printer or a screen, specifically the number of individual dots of ink or pixels a device can produce within a linear one-inch space.
DROPBOX
A cloud-based file storage platform that allows users to store and share files online, facilitating easy access and collaboration.
E
E-COMMERCE
Short for electronic commerce. It’s the buying and selling of goods online, through websites. Products sold through e-commerce can be physical products that require shipping, or digital products delivered electronically.
EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) EPS is a file extension for a graphics file format used in vector-based images in Adobe Illustrator. An EPS file can contain text as well as graphics.
F
FAVICON
Favicons are tiny, customizable icons displayed in the web address bar in most browsers next to the web address.
FRONTEND
Code that runs on your computer, in the browser, that basically defines what a webpage looks like to the user.
FOOTER
Usually, the bottom area of a webpage, consists of links to internal pages including legal information etc, Copywrite info etc.
FTP (FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL)
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol and it’s a system to transfer files over the internet. It is most often used for uploading or downloading files to websites.
G
GOOGLE ANALYTICS
Google Analytics is a free online tool provided by Google. When set up on a website it allows website owners to see data about the website and its visitors, such as how many visitors there are, what pages they look at, or don’t, how long they stay on the site, right through to what type of devices they were using, the size of their screen, and the browser they used. It’s useful in helping us or website owners understand where their site is succeeding and where it’s failing.
H
HEADER
Usually, the top area of a website, contains the company logo, main navigation, phone number
HERO IMAGE
A hero image refers to a large, prominently placed web banner image, prominently placed on a web page, usually in the front and center. It is often the first visual a visitor encounters on the site and its purpose is to present an overview of the site’s most important content.
HEX COLOR
HEX color refers to a six-digit, three-byte hexadecimal number used in HTML, CSS, SVG, and other computing applications to represent colors. The bytes represent the red, green, and blue components of the color.
HOST/HOSTING
All websites need to be hosted somewhere. This is where the website is stored and made accessible to internet users.
HOSTING PROVIDER
A company specialized in managing, configuring, and administering servers, which houses your website.
HTML (HyperText Markup Language)
HTML is the standard markup language used to create web pages. It describes the structure of information on a web page and consists of a series of elements that tell the web browser how to display content.
HTTP/S (HyperText Transfer Protocol/Secure)
HTTP/S is the protocol over which data is sent between your browser and the website that you are connected to. The ‘S’ at the end of HTTPS stands for ‘Secure’, and it means all communications between your browser and the website are encrypted for security.
HYPERLINK
A hyperlink is a link from one web page to another, either on the same site or another. Generally, these are text or images and are highlighted in some way (text is often underlined or put in a different colour or font-weight).
I
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) IMAP is an email protocol that deals with the management of an email box by multiple email clients. Unlike POP, when you read an email message using IMAP, you aren’t actually downloading or storing it on your computer; instead, you’re reading it from the email service.
IP ADDRESS
Like a phone number – a unique number for an internet connection. Servers have IP addresses and local networks do too. It has 4 numbers separated by ‘n period ranging from 0 to 255. E.g. 192.168.0.1
L
LANDING PAGE
A landing page is a page where a visitor first enters a website.
LAYOUT
Layout describes what is on a page and where the page structure is.
LOCAL
Local is a development term meaning “on my computer”, as opposed to on the Internet. Developers often code locally before pushing to a server because it’s quicker as it negates data transfer times and less risky as they aren’t working on a public-facing website.
LOGO
A logo is a symbol or other small design adopted by an organization to identify its products, uniform, vehicles, etc. It’s one of the core elements of a brand’s identity.
LOGO MARK
A graphic symbol or icon that represents the brand, often used on its own without the text portion of the logo.
LOGO TYPE
A logo type, also known as a wordmark, is a type of logo design that consists exclusively of text, typically a company’s name, styled creatively.
M
MAINTENANCE
Website maintenance covers the practice of updating a website’s code to patch bugs, improve security and release new functionality or improvements. WordPress websites benefit from regular maintenance as it keeps them performing optimally.
MALWARE
Malware, short for malicious software, refers to any software intentionally designed to cause damage to a computer, server, client, or computer network. Malware does the damage after it is implanted or introduced in some way into a target’s computer and can take the form of executable code, scripts, active content, and other software.
N
NAMESERVER
A Nameserver is a server that handles queries about the locations of the various elements of a domain name (e.g. where the website is hosted, where the emails are hosted). When you look up a domain in a browser, the nameserver tells the browser where to find the website’s server.
NEWSLETTER
When users subscribe to a newsletter mailing list, their email address needs to be saved somewhere. This is usually passed/given directly to a third-party provider such as MailChimp (a tool for creating and sending e-newsletters).
O
OPTIMISATION
Website optimisation is a blanket term covering any changes made to a website to improve it. It’s often used synonymously with Search Engine Optimisation but can also cover things like improving website load times by resizing images, editing the code etc.
P
PAYMENT GATEWAY (PAYGATE)
A digital bridge between a website and the third party used to process payments. This gateway allows secure communication between both to exchange transactional information. Examples include , Payfast, and Sage, each offering unique features catering to different business needs.
PIXABAY.COM
An online repository for high-quality public domain images, videos, and music, provided free of charge for commercial and non-commercial use.
PIXELS
Pixels are the basic building blocks of digital images. A pixel is the smallest controllable element of a picture represented on a screen.
POP (Post Office Protocol) POP is an email protocol used by email clients to retrieve emails from a server. It allows for offline email viewing by downloading the emails to your device.
PLUG-IN
A plug-in is a bit of third party code that extends the capabilities of a website. It’s most often used in conjunction with a CMS or blogging platform. Plug-ins are a way to extend the functionality of a website without having to redo the core coding of the site.
PRIMARY LOGO
The main version of your logo, used most frequently across all brand materials and communications.
PSD (Photoshop Document)
PSD is the default file format for Adobe Photoshop, a powerful image editing software. It saves all the elements of the image, such as layers and masks, so you can make extensive adjustments in future editing sessions.
R
ROBOFORM
A password management software that securely stores personal and login information, providing streamlined form filling and automated password entry.
RESOLUTION
Refers to the physical number of pixels displayed on a screen (such as 1280×1024).
RESPONSIVE
Responsiveness is when a website changes its structure/appearance/layout/content in order to give an optimal experience to users, whether they’re on a desktop computer or phone. This means users don’t need to pinch and zoom a website on a phone to read it properly. It usually means the website text will changes sizes, and the pages will narrow, and menus change layout in order to fit in small screens.
RGB COLOR
The RGB color model is an additive color model in which red, green, and blue light are added together in various ways to reproduce a broad array of colors. This color model is used in electronic displays, such as TVs and computers.
ROI (Return on Investment)
ROI measures the gain or loss generated on an investment relative to the amount of money invested. It is usually expressed as a percentage and is used for personal financial decisions, to compare a company’s profitability, or to compare the efficiency of different investments.
S
SaaS (Software as a Service) SaaS is a software distribution model in which applications are hosted by a third-party provider and made available to customers over the Internet. Users can access the software via their web browser without having to install anything.
SECONDARY LOGO
An alternate version of the primary logo, usually used in situations where the primary logo doesn’t fit or isn’t as effective.
SEO
Search Engine Optimisation – the process of controlling what search terms you rank for and elevating wherein the results you appear.
SITEMAP
A diagrammatic representation of all the sections and pages within a website, which shows where the areas/pages exist within the website and the navigation structures.
SSL
SSL stands for Secure Socket Layers and it’s a security technology that encrypts traffic between a web browser and a web server. You can tell a website is using SSL if it has HTTPS in front of the domain (as opposed to just HTTP) and if the browser displays a green padlock next to the URL. You should be wary of using a site without an SSL certificate as the traffic isn’t encrypted and it’s possible to fall victim to a ‘man in the middle’ hack.
STOCK PHOTOS/IMAGES
Images that can be purchased for use online/offline.
SUBDOMAIN
E.g.: images.google.com – a secondary domain that does not need purchasing as it is a child of the main domain. Could be used to host a whole different website to the main domain.
SUPPORT PLAN
A predefined agreement offered by a service provider, detailing the scope of support services tailored to client needs. It encompasses aspects such as 24/7 technical assistance, scheduled consultations, and software update facilitations. For customized support solutions, clients are encouraged to contact the provider directly.
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
SVG is an XML-based vector image format for two-dimensional graphics, supporting interactivity and animation. SVG images and their behaviors are defined in XML text files, which means they can be searched, indexed, scripted, and compressed.
SWATCHES
Swatches are collections of preset colors. They are used in graphic design and photography to ensure consistency across various projects and materials.
T
TAGLINE
A tagline is a catchy phrase or sentence that summarizes what your business is about. It’s used in marketing to convey the essence of a brand quickly and memorably.
TERTIARY LOGO
A simplified or minimal version of the logo, used in contexts requiring a smaller or more versatile design.
THEME
A theme in WordPress is a suite of code and settings that control the appearance and content of the website. They consist of page templates, stylesheets, scripts and other files which define the specific components of the design and functionality. They can be edited or updated from the admin area.
TINYJPG.COM (also applicable to TinyPNG.com)
Web-based tools that use lossy compression techniques to reduce the file size of JPG (Tinyjpg.com) and PNG (TinyPNG.com) images, optimizing them for web use without compromising significant visual quality.
TRANSPARENT PNG
A Transparent PNG is an image file that has a transparent background, meaning all the background pixels are invisible. This allows you to layer images on top of each other.
U
URL
The web address of a single web page. URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator and is a human-friendly identifier for a webpage such as “https://www.graphicmagic.co.za/websites”. It can be divided into several parts, the “protocol” (“https://”), the “domain” (“graphicmagic.co.za”), the “URI” or Uniform Resource Identifier (“/websites”)
UI (User Interface)
UI is the point of interaction between the user and a digital device or product—like the touchscreen on your smartphone, or the navigation menu on a website. It’s all about ensuring the user’s interaction is as efficient and straightforward as possible.
UNSPLASH.COM
A website offering a vast collection of free, high-resolution photos shared by a community of photographers, available for personal and commercial use.
USER ROLE
WordPress has different user roles that denote differing levels of authority to change things within the site. The most powerful role is the Administrator Role, which has the ability to perform all actions on a WordPress website. Other roles include Author and Subscriber which are more limited in their scope.
UPTIME
Uptime is a measure of system reliability, expressed as the percentage of time a machine, typically a computer, has been working and available. Uptime is the opposite of downtime.
UX (User Experience) UX refers to the overall experience a person has when using a product, particularly in terms of how easy or pleasing it is to use. In web design, this means creating web pages that provide meaningful and relevant experiences to users.
V
VECTOR GRAPHIC/IMAGE
A vector graphic is an image that is made up of lines and shapes rather than a grid of pixels. Because they are calculated using maths, vector images or graphics maintain their quality and clarity at any size.
W
WEBMAIL
Webmail refers to email services that are accessed via a web browser, as opposed to through a dedicated email client program. This means you can access your emails from any device with internet connectivity.
WEB HOSTING
Web hosting is a service that allows users to browse your site over the Internet. When you buy a subscription plan from a host, you are essentially leasing server space for storing your site data, such as HTML and CSS files, databases, multimedia, and more.
WIREFRAME
A simple sketch line and box representation (by pencil or digital) of a webpage, which serves as a record or plan for what content and functionality will exist on a given page.
WORDPRESS
The world’s most common CMS (also the most targeted by malicious actors!). It’s a great all-around CMS, great for basic publishing, easy to work with, and very adaptable in terms of adding functionality such as eCommerce.
WORKING FILE
A working file is the document that you are actively editing. It’s often saved in a format that allows for continued editing and contains all the layers, guidelines, and other editable elements.
WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get)
WYSIWYG editors are programs that allow a developer to see what the end result will look like while the interface or document is being created. This is in contrast to traditional text editors that require creating and editing markup (code) that is then interpreted into the visual presentation.
Y
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST
A YouTube Playlist is a collection of videos that play in sequence, one after another. Users can create and share these playlists, grouping videos together based on any criteria they like.