Jargon

It is difficult to discuss websites without mentioning technical jargon to some extent. If you are familiar with this jargon, then this page is not for you. However, if there are some terms you have come across, but don't know their exact meaning, the information below might help. And if you are completely unfamiliar with websites and associated terminology, this page should help to demystify the subject. If there is any particular jargon you come across that is not defined here, contact us and we will be happy to help. Popular requests will be included on this page in the future.

Auto-submission. Auto-submission is a term used to describe the multiple submission of a website to many search engines. It can be compared to sending out an e-mail to many different addresses simultaneously.

Broadband. This refers to high-bandwidth Internet connections. These operate much more quickly than connections through a normal modem, typically five to forty times the speed, depending on the service selected.

Browser. A web browser is an application, or program that your computer runs to enable you to view pages on the Internet. Two popular ones are Microsoft Internet Explorer and Firefox. The term browser is also sometimes used to describe people who look at websites on the Internet.

Cursor. In terms of websites, the cursor is the on-screen arrow, or mouse pointer. It will change shape when you position it over a link. It will also change shape if you place it over an image or text that causes a change on the page.

Domain name. This is the part of the web address (see URL) that follows www.

E-mail marketing. This is the sending of E-mails to groups of companies or individuals in order to promote your company’s products or services. On this site, it refers to the legitimate form of this activity, ‘permission-based e-mail marketing’, not spamming (see below).

Hosting. The term hosting, when used on this site, refers to the hosting of your website. This is the storing on computer of all the information relating to your website that enables people to view it. These host computers are permanently (or as permanently as possible) connected to the web so that viewers have access to your site at all times.

HTML. This stands for Hypertext Markup Language. It is the universal language of the web, used to lay out pages in a format other than just plain text. It is used for text and background colours, dividers, links, … the list is almost endless. Web design software is generally designed to create this coding, saving much time when creating web pages.

ISP. Your Internet Service Provider is the company that provides you with the facility to access the web via your modem or other device. Examples are BT, AOL, Freeserve and Telecom Plus. Be careful in selecting your ISP.

Keywords. These are the words used by people looking for particular products or services on the Internet. They are typed in to the ‘Search’ boxes of Search Engines.

Links. Officially known as hyperlinks. These are links, or connections, usually to other websites, other parts of the same page, or to e-mail addresses. You click onto a link button, graphic, word or other object, and you are taken to the linked item. The cursor will change shape when it passes over a link.

Modem. This is the electronic device, usually inside your computer, that enables you to connect to the Internet via a telephone line.

Search engines. Search engines are websites used by people browsing the internet to find other websites. 'Keywords' are inserted in the search box, and the search engine lists many of the sites containing these keywords.

Spamming. The sending of junk e-mails to large groups of individuals or organisations. Such e-mails are sent to people who have expressed no interest in the company or its products. If spamming were not controlled, we would all be inundated with so many junk e-mails that we would not be able to find any genuine messages.

URL. This stands for Uniform Resource Locator. It is the ‘address’ of a website, such as http://www.meadowcroftconsultants.co.uk It enables the website to be found by any other computer connected to the internet.