Every website term explained simply. Browse the full list in the sidebar, or search.
- Domain name: The human-readable address of a website, like situs.studio, that maps to a server via DNS.
- Subdomain: A prefix on a domain (e.g. shop.example.com) used to organise or host separate sections.
- DNS: The Domain Name System: the internet's directory that translates domain names into IP addresses.
- CNAME record: A DNS record that points one hostname to another, commonly used to route a custom domain to a host.
- A record: A DNS record that maps a hostname directly to an IPv4 address.
- MX record: A DNS record that directs a domain's email to the correct mail servers.
- TXT record: A DNS record holding arbitrary text, used for domain verification and email authentication.
- TTL: Time To Live: how long DNS resolvers cache a record before checking for changes.
- Nameserver: A server that holds a domain's DNS records and answers lookups for it.
- SSL certificate: A digital certificate that enables HTTPS by encrypting traffic between browser and server.
- HTTPS: The secure version of HTTP, encrypting data in transit using TLS/SSL.
- Web hosting: The service of storing a website's files on a server so they're available on the internet.
- CDN: A Content Delivery Network: a global set of servers that cache content close to visitors for speed.
- DNS propagation: The delay while updated DNS records spread across the internet's resolvers, usually minutes to hours.
- Domain registrar: A company accredited to sell and manage domain-name registrations.
- Favicon: The small icon shown in a browser tab and bookmarks for a website.
- Responsive design: A design approach where layouts adapt fluidly to any screen size, from phone to desktop.
- UX: User Experience: how easy, useful and pleasant a product is to use.
- UI: User Interface: the visual elements people interact with on screen.
- Landing page: A focused page built to convert visitors toward a single action.
- Call to action: A prompt (button or link) directing visitors to take a specific step, like 'Book now'.
- Above the fold: The part of a page visible without scrolling: prime space for your key message.
- Sitemap: A file listing a site's pages to help search engines discover and index them.
- robots.txt: A file telling search-engine crawlers which parts of a site they may or may not access.