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A Glossary Of Web Design Terms |
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
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A |
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ACTION: An action is a scripted command attached to a page or object directing it to perform some special function when a specific condition is met. Common actions are having an object move, change, or leave the page when the mouse passes over it. ACTIVEX CONTROL: ActiveX controls allow you to embed an apllication within a web page. Created by Microsoft, ActiveX controls on work when the page is viewed using Internet Explorer. They are commonly used to add audio or video clips to a web page. ALIGNMENT: Alignment refers to the placement of objects and/or text in relation to others, and also to their placement on a page. Placement is either relative or fixed. Relative placement allows for things to maintain an apparently static placement in relation to toher elements regardless of changes in the proportions of the page. If you align an image to the horizonatal center of the page, then no matter how wide the page actually is, the image with automatically stay centered. Fixed placement uses a specific xy coordinate, measured in pixels from the top and left side to set the absolute location, which will never change if the page size changes. Fixed placement is primarily used for set the location for things like side navigation button bars. ALT TAG: An alt tag is a simple text description which appears when the mouse passes over an object, or the place an object will occupy when loaded. They are usually used to ensure that links, buttons and images can still be used if a person does not want to wait for the item to load. ANCHOR: An anchor is a target location set on a page, so that a link can be creaeted to that point for rapid navigation on long pages. This glossary uses anchors tied to each large letter allowing the alphabet at the top to function as a set of links taking you to that letter instead of having to scroll down the entire page. ANIMATED GIF: A GIF (Graphic Image Format) created using a graphics application, made up of several small gifs, each one displayed for a specific period of time, which performs a simple movement. Basically the computer version of the little flip books we played with as kids. Commonly used to make an image appear to rotate, or move. APPLET: An applet is an application written using java code that can be embedded in a web page. Used for the same types of applications as ActiveX, applets work with all web browsers. |
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B |
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BACKGROUND: The color or image used to provide the base which all other elements are displayed against. All web pages, text fields, tables, and some other elements have a defined background. BACKGROUND IMAGE: Any image used as a background for a web page or element of a web page which uses a background. Background images are usually either jpg or gif format, and should be optimized to the smallest possible file size while maintaining clarity to reduce page load times. Page backgrounds can often be small (100x100 pixel) images , which tile to create a larger pattern. By default a background image for a web page will tile automatically any time the browser window is larger than the background image dimension, which may cause an undesirable appearence. BACKUP: A copy made of all or part of a web site. Backup are commonly run on a scheduled basis using a scrip that runs at a set day and time. Back up files are usually compressed to save space. BANNER: An image normally containing both text and graphics, or logo, that is located at the top of a web page. Banners are usually much wider than they are tall, and may span the entire width of the page. BASE DIRECTORY: The directory on the web server where the index (main or first) page of a web site resides. The base directory, also commonly refferred to as the webroot or root directory, is the physical location corresponding to the Domain URL (www.domain.com). BODY: The visible elments of a web page, unique to that page. This is generally everything, but some times a header and/or footer section is used to insert content used by every page in the site. BORDER: A narrow outline surrounding all or part of an element of a web page, like a text field, or a table. Borders are generally used when desiring a clear separation of an element, or as part of the overall style of a site. BROWSER: Web browser software. Most people use Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Opera, or Mozilla. BROWSER SAFE PALLETTE: The basic 256 color pallette that formed the full set of colors windows and unix machines cold display images, or any colored object with when web browser software first became available. All modern computers can read much larger pallettes, generally 16,000,000 colors or more, but many older laptop computer and very old monitor may still only be able to use 256 colors. Using colors that are not browser safe will cause blank spots on those old displays. BUTTON: A small graphic image which uses scripted actions to perform a specific action when a specific condition occurs. The most common are navigation button, which when the mouse is scrolled over it and the left mouse button clicked, causes a link tied to the image to load a new page. Buttons are often connected to form a navigation bar, which allows quick and easy movement within a web site. |
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