Web design and digital marketing come with a lot of terminology that can feel overwhelming. This alphabetized glossary explains common website terms in plain English so you can better understand your website, communicate clearly, and make confident decisions.
Jump to a term:
Accessibility •
Analytics •
Backend •
Backup •
Breadcrumb •
CMS •
Conversion •
CTA •
Delegate Access •
Domain Name •
Favicon •
Footer •
Frontend •
Hamburger Menu •
Header •
Hero Section •
Homepage •
Hosting •
Hover State •
HTTPS •
Mega Menu •
Mixed Content •
Primary Navigation •
Secondary Navigation •
Page Speed •
Parent & Child Pages •
Plugin Compatibility •
PPC •
Responsive Design •
Restore Point •
Search Bar •
Security Plugin •
SEO •
Sidebar •
SSL Certificate •
Staging Site •
UI •
Updates •
UX •
Website Files •
WordPress Database
Accessibility
The practice of designing and developing websites so people of all abilities—including those using assistive technologies—can navigate, understand, and interact with content. Accessibility includes proper color contrast, readable typography, keyboard-friendly navigation, descriptive alt text, structured headings, and compatibility with screen readers. Modern accessibility efforts typically follow WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 guidelines and support ADA expectations for providing equal access to online content.
Analytics
Tools and data used to track website traffic, visitor behavior, and performance. Popular platforms include Google Analytics.
Backend
The administrative side of a website where content is created, pages are managed, and settings are configured. This area is only visible to logged-in users.
Backup
A complete copy of your website’s files and database, used to restore your site if something breaks. Backups protect you during updates, redesigns, and security issues. Learn how to create one in our WordPress backup guide.
Breadcrumb
A navigational trail that shows users where they are within your website structure (e.g., Home / Services / Web Design).
CMS (Content Management System)
Software that allows users to create and manage website content without coding. WordPress is the most widely used CMS.
Conversion
When a visitor completes a desired action on your website, such as submitting a form, calling your business, or making a purchase.
Call to Action (CTA)
A prompt that encourages users to take a specific action, like “Contact Us,” “Request a Quote,” or “Get Started.”
Delegate Access
A secure way to give someone access to your hosting or domain settings without sharing your login credentials. See our step-by-step guides for WP Engine, GoDaddy, and GreenGeeks.
Domain Name
Your website’s address on the internet, such as austinwebanddesign.com.
Favicon
The small icon that appears in browser tabs next to your website’s name, helping with brand recognition.
Footer
The bottom section of a website that commonly contains contact information, navigation links, legal text, and calls to action.
Frontend
The public-facing part of a website that visitors see and interact with.
Hamburger Menu
A compact, three-line icon commonly used on mobile devices to display a hidden navigation menu.
Header
The top section of a website, typically containing the logo and primary navigation.
Hero Section
The large introductory area at the top of a homepage, usually featuring a headline, imagery, and a call to action.
Homepage
The main entry point of a website, introducing your business and highlighting important pages.
Hosting
The service that stores your website files and makes them available online. Hosting affects website speed, security, and reliability.
Hover State
A visual effect triggered when a user places their cursor over a link, button, or other interactive element.
HTTPS
A secure, encrypted version of HTTP that protects data sent between a visitor’s browser and your website. HTTPS improves user trust and SEO. Learn how to enable it in our HTTPS setup guide.
Mega Menu
An expanded navigation menu that displays multiple columns of links, often used for large or complex websites.
Mixed Content
An issue that occurs when a website loads some resources over HTTPS and others over HTTP, causing security warnings. Our HTTPS guide explains how to fix it.
Primary Navigation
The main menu that guides users to key pages on your website.
Secondary Navigation
A supplemental menu typically used for utility links like Contact, Login, or Search.
Page Speed
How quickly a website loads. Faster websites provide a better user experience and perform better in search results. Our custom WordPress design services can help improve speed.
Parent & Child Pages
A way of structuring pages in a hierarchy. Parent pages contain child pages, which may have their own subpages.
Plugin Compatibility
The process of ensuring your plugins are compatible with the latest WordPress version before updating. Covered in our WordPress update guide.
PPC (Pay-Per-Click)
An advertising model where you pay each time someone clicks your ad, commonly used in Google Ads.
Responsive Design
A design approach that ensures websites look and work well on all screen sizes and devices.
Restore Point
A saved version of your website that can be reverted to if something breaks during an update or change.
Search Bar
A form that allows users to search for content on your website using keywords.
Security Plugin
A tool that helps protect your WordPress website from malware, brute-force attacks, and unauthorized access. Learn how to configure iThemes Security in our security setup guide.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
The practice of optimizing your website to rank higher in search results and attract organic traffic.
Sidebar
A secondary content area used for navigation, calls to action, or supplemental information.
SSL Certificate
A digital certificate that enables HTTPS and verifies your website’s identity. Most hosts now offer free SSL through Let’s Encrypt. Learn more in our HTTPS guide.
Staging Site
A private, test version of your website used for safely testing updates or redesigns before applying them to your live site.
UI (User Interface)
The visual and interactive elements of a website, including buttons, forms, icons, and layout.
Updates (WordPress Updates)
The process of upgrading WordPress core to improve security, performance, and stability. Learn how to update WordPress safely in our update guide.
UX (User Experience)
How easy and intuitive a website feels to navigate and interact with.
Website Files
The collection of theme files, plugins, uploads, and core WordPress files that make your site function. These are included in a full site backup.
WordPress Database
The part of your website that stores content, users, settings, and plugin data. Essential to include in backups.
This glossary will continue to grow as web design, SEO, and digital marketing evolve. If you hear a term you don’t understand, there’s a good chance it belongs here. And if you’re working on your own website and need help leveling up, explore our custom website design services.