The first step in becoming a website expert is understanding the fundamental terminology related to the Web.
Why is this important? Well, once you grasp these important definitions, good things start to happen. Firstly you can have two-way conversations with Web designers and developers which can lead to cost savings as well as better decision-making. Think of it like having a strong understanding of how engines work before heading to see a mechanic.
Domain name
A domain name is a unique name (e.g. google.com) used to identify the location of a website on a web server. When you access a website through a web browser like Google Chrome, the domain name is translated to an Internet Protocol (IP) address (e.g. 111.217.12.206) which represents the server on which the website is hosted. This translation is dynamically performed by a domain name server (DNS).
DNS
Domain Name Servers are the Internet’s equivalent of a phone book or directory. They keep an updated list of domain names and translate them back into IP addresses. This is necessary because, although domain names are easy for humans to remember, computers (which include all devices that can connect to the internet) use IP addresses to access websites.
URL
A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is the file address of a resource on the Internet. A URL can represent a web page, an image, a video, a style sheet, and much more. A URL typically consists of several components, including but not limited to:
Web Server
Web Servers are used to store, process and deliver web pages to clients (e.g. web browsers like Google Chrome). Although you could purchase a server to run your website, most businesses use cloud storage services such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) to host websites due to the cost savings and added security.
Web Browser
A web browser, often referred to as a “browser” is a software application used for accessing information on the Web. Some of the most popular web browsers include Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, Edge, and Opera. As with all software applications, web browsers have different features and functionality, appealing to different user types.IP Address
An Internet Protocol address is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to the Internet, including computers, phones, tablets, servers, cars, and more. A quick Google search for “what is my IP address” will bring up the IP address associated with your internet connection.
HTML, CSS, JavaScript
Websites consist of an array of content (like images and text) as well as interactive elements like forms, games, and animations. To render the desired results, your web browser relies on programming languages, primarily HTML, CSS and Javascript, to accomplish what is required.
HTML, which stands for HyperText Markup Language, is used to identify the different elements on a page such as paragraphs, titles, images, and links.
CSS, also known as Cascading Style Sheet, is used to give your website its style. Fonts, colors, sizes, spacing, borders, backgrounds, and shadows are just a few examples of what can be adjusted using CSS.
Javascript is a client side programming language which means the source code is processed by the client’s web browser rather than on the Web server. This allows the language to run actions on a page after a page has been fully loaded. An example would be sending an error message if there are missing form fields without having to submit the request to the Web Server.
HTTP/HTTPS
HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is the secure version of HTTP, the protocol over which data is sent between your browser and the website you’re connected to. To ensure a safe connection for your website, you will need to get an HTTPS certificate.
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