Glossary

Common acronyms and terms along with a brief definition or description used in web development aggregated for the construction of a glossary.

API

Application Program Interface: set of methods, protocols, and guides for building programs generally to interface between two separate applications.

ASP

Active Server Pages: Programming language used to provide dynamic functionality to web pages.

BMP

Bit Map: Graphic file format in which each pixel is assigned a color (as opposed to vector graphics which are drawn using algorithms).

BPM

Business Process Management: Systems, programs or tools designed to optimize a business process.

CGI

Common Gateway Interface: A standardized method for transfering data between web servers and a program written in any of a number of languages. Used to provide dynamic functionality to web pages.

CGM

Computer Graphics Metafile: a file format standard for vector based graphic files.

CMS

Content Management System (Software): Programs or tools that allow user to control content on a web page or site.

CPM

Cost Per Thousand: Method of billing for advertisements generally based upon the number of impressions (the number of times the ad is downloaded or displayed).

CRM

Customer Relationship Management: Programs, tools or systems that govern the interaction with customers (includes cstomer service, and sales realted functions).

CSS

Cascading Style Sheet: Standards used to define the display of web pages permitting the separation of the display (colors, images, layout) from the structure (HTML) of a document.

DNS

Domain Name Server: Servers that translate domain names into IP addresses which computers use to locate webservers and resources.

FTP

File Transfer Protocol: Protocol that governs transfer of files over the internet.

HTML

HyperText Markup Language: Markup languge used to dictate the structure of and to provide information regarding documents on the web.

HTTP

HyperText Transfer Protocol: The standards used on the web to manage the transfer of information.

HTTPS

Secure HyperText Transfer Protocol: The standards used on the web to manage the transfer of information securely using encryption (works in tandem with SSL).

IMAP

Internet Message Access Protocol: A protocol for retreiving email messages from a mail server.

IP

IP or IP Address: The unique numeric identifier used to locate a computer on the web (e.g. 127.0.0.1).

JPG

Joint Photographic Experts Group: Bitmap based graphic file format that offers high compression (reduced file size) with only a modest reduction of quality.

JS

JavaScript: Client-side scripting language which determines the behavior and display of a page after it is loaded by the client/web browser.

MYSQL

The most popular open source database frequently used with PHP the most popular web programming language.

PHP

Hypertext Preprocessor: Web programming language used to generate web pages using environment, user input, external data and much more

POP3

Post Office Protocol: A protocol used to retieive email messages from a mail server.

PPC

Pay-Per-Click: Method of billing for advertisements based upon the number of time a users clicks the ad (also CPC Cost-Per-Click).

SEM

Search Engine MarketingSee also: SEO

SEO

Search Engine Optimization, tailoring a site or page to rank well in search enginesSee also: SEM

SMTP

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol: A protocol for sending email between email servers.

SQL

Structured Query Language: Standardized format for accessing databases. Used with some variation for Oracle, MySQL, MS Access, POSTGRE and many others

SSL

Secure Sockets Layer: A protocol for transferring data using an encrypted connection (works in tandem with HTTPS).

URI

Uniform Resource Identifier: Any address or names used to identify something on the web. A URL is a common type of URI.

URL

Uniform Resource Locator: Address for documents on the web consisting of a protocol (ftp, http, https, etc.) and a resource (IP or domain followed by a file name)

VAR

Value Added Reseller: Vendor who customizes a product before selling it (e.g. one who customizes a computer case or software configuration before resale).

XHTML

Extensible HyperText Markup Language: Successor to HTML which includes elements of XML dictate the stucture of and to provide information regarding documents on the web.

XML

Extensible Markup Language: Web based standard for structuring documents premitting developers to create custom tags.