Web Design & Development Terms.
How your website is built, why it matters, and what's probably wrong with yours right now.
← All categories301 Redirect — Definition
A 301 redirect is a permanent instruction that tells a browser (and Google) "this page has moved — go here instead." When someone clicks an…
Read Definition →404 Error — Definition
A 404 error is what a browser shows when someone requests a page that doesn't exist on your server — either because the URL was mistyped, t…
Read Definition →Above the Fold — Definition
"Above the fold" refers to everything visible on your webpage before a visitor has to scroll — what they see the instant the page loads. Th…
Read Definition →Accessibility (ADA Compliance) — Definition
Web accessibility means designing your site so people with disabilities — visual, auditory, motor, cognitive — can use it. ADA compliance r…
Read Definition →Alt Text — Definition
Alt text (alternative text) is a written description of an image that lives in the image's HTML code. Screen readers read it aloud for visu…
Read Definition →Bounce Rate — Definition
Bounce rate is the percentage of visitors who land on a page and leave without clicking anything or visiting any other page on your site. T…
Read Definition →Breakpoints — Definition
Breakpoints are the specific screen widths at which your website's layout changes to better suit the device. At 1200px, you show three colu…
Read Definition →Call to Action (CTA) — Definition
A call to action is an instruction that tells your visitor what to do next — "Book a Free Call," "Get a Quote," "Download the Guide," "See …
Read Definition →Content Hierarchy — Definition
Content hierarchy is the visual and structural order in which information is presented on a page — what's biggest, boldest, and most promin…
Read Definition →Content Management System (CMS) — Definition
A content management system is the software that lets you edit your website without touching code. You log in, click edit, change your text…
Read Definition →Conversion Rate — Definition
Conversion rate is the percentage of your website visitors who complete a desired action — fill out a form, book a call, make a purchase, s…
Read Definition →Core Web Vitals — Definition
Core Web Vitals are a set of specific performance metrics Google uses to measure real-world user experience on your site. The three main on…
Read Definition →Custom Website vs. Template — Definition
A template website is built on a pre-made design framework — you plug in your content, adjust some colors, and you're done. A custom websit…
Read Definition →Domain Name — Definition
Your domain name is your website address — the thing people type into a browser to find you. It's made up of a name you choose (firebrandag…
Read Definition →Favicon — Definition
A favicon is the tiny icon that appears in a browser tab next to your website's title, in bookmarks, and sometimes in search results. It's …
Read Definition →Grid System — Definition
A grid system is an invisible framework of columns and rows that designers use to align and organize elements on a page. It's the underlyin…
Read Definition →Hero Section — Definition
The hero section is the large banner area at the top of a webpage — typically a headline, subheadline, a background image or video, and a c…
Read Definition →Homepage vs. Landing Page — Definition
Your homepage is your hub — it serves multiple audiences, links to multiple sections, and gives an overview of your whole business. A landi…
Read Definition →Information Architecture — Definition
Information architecture (IA) is the practice of organizing and structuring the content on your website so people can find what they need w…
Read Definition →Landing Page — Definition
A landing page is a standalone web page designed for one specific purpose — usually to get visitors to take one action: sign up, book a cal…
Read Definition →Lazy Loading — Definition
Lazy loading is a technique where images and videos on your page don't load until the visitor actually scrolls down to see them. Instead of…
Read Definition →Mobile-First Design — Definition
Mobile-first design means designing for the smallest screen first and working your way up to desktop — not the other way around. It's a phi…
Read Definition →Mockup — Definition
A mockup is a high-fidelity visual of what a finished web page will look like — real colors, real fonts, real images, real copy — but it's …
Read Definition →Navigation — Definition
Site navigation is the menu system that lets visitors move through your website — the links in your header, footer, sidebar, or dropdown me…
Read Definition →Page Speed — Definition
Page speed is how fast your website loads for a visitor — typically measured in seconds from when they click your link to when they can act…
Read Definition →Prototype — Definition
A prototype is an interactive, clickable version of your website before it's actually built. You can tap buttons, navigate between pages, a…
Read Definition →Responsive Design — Definition
Responsive design means your website automatically adjusts its layout, text size, and images to fit whatever screen it's being viewed on — …
Read Definition →SSL Certificate — Definition
An SSL certificate is a small data file that encrypts the connection between your website and your visitors' browsers. It's what gives you …
Read Definition →Site Map — Definition
A site map is a complete list or diagram of every page on your website and how they're connected. There are two kinds: a visual site map us…
Read Definition →User Experience (UX) — Definition
User experience is every interaction a person has with your website — how easy it is to find things, how fast it loads, how clear the next …
Read Definition →User Interface (UI) — Definition
User interface is the visual layer of your website — the buttons, menus, forms, icons, colors, and typography that people actually see and …
Read Definition →Web Hosting — Definition
Web hosting is the service that stores your website's files and makes them accessible on the internet. When someone types your domain name,…
Read Definition →White Space (Negative Space) — Definition
White space — also called negative space — is the empty area between and around elements on a page. It's the breathing room between your he…
Read Definition →Wireframe — Definition
A wireframe is a rough structural blueprint of a web page — black and white boxes showing where elements will go: the headline here, the im…
Read Definition →WordPress — Definition
WordPress is the world's most widely used content management system, powering around 40% of all websites on the internet. It's open-source …
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