WebGlossary
The words behind the work, explained without jargon.
Accessibility
Practices that make content usable by people with different abilities and devices.
Accessibility audit
A review of barriers in navigation, content and interaction.
Alt text
A text alternative describing a meaningful image.
Backend
Server-side systems that process requests and manage data.
Backlink
A link from another website; relevance and editorial merit matter more than a raw link count.
Backup
A recoverable copy of site files or data. How backups work depends on the platform and services used.
Call to action
A clear invitation to take the next step.
Canonical URL
A signal that identifies the preferred version of a page among similar URLs.
CLS
A Core Web Vitals metric for unexpected layout movement.
CMS
Content Management System: software that lets an authorized team edit and publish website content without changing code for every update. Whether one is useful depends on the project.
Content Security Policy (CSP)
A security header that restricts sources of scripts, styles and other resources. It needs to be tailored and tested for each site.
Conversion
A meaningful action, such as an inquiry, call or booking.
Core Web Vitals
User-experience metrics for loading, responsiveness and visual stability.
CSS
Cascading Style Sheets: the language that controls layout, typography and responsive presentation.
DNS
The system that directs a domain name to the right service.
Domain
The address people use to reach a website.
Frontend
The part of a website visitors see and interact with.
GEO
Generative Engine Optimization: work to make a site accessible, understandable and useful in AI-assisted search. It includes technical access, clear verifiable content and measurement; it does not guarantee citations.
Hosting
The service that makes website files available online.
Hreflang
Markup that helps search engines understand alternate language versions.
HTML / HTML5
HTML structures a web page. “HTML5” commonly refers to modern HTML; it is not a separate language used alongside HTML.
HTTPS
Encrypted communication between a browser and a website.
Indexing
The process by which a search engine adds an eligible page to its index; requesting indexing does not guarantee inclusion.
INP
A Core Web Vitals metric for responsiveness to user interactions.
Internal link
A link between pages on the same website that helps people navigate.
JavaScript
A programming language for interactions and behavior in the browser.
Landing page
A focused page built around one offer or action.
LCP
A Core Web Vitals metric for when the main visible content loads.
Metadata
Information such as a page title and description, often used in search and sharing.
Open Graph
Metadata that can inform how a page is displayed when shared.
Redirect
A response that sends visitors and crawlers from one URL to another.
Responsive design
An interface that adjusts to phones, tablets and larger screens.
Robots.txt
A file with crawling instructions; it does not by itself guarantee a page stays out of search results.
Schema markup
A standardized vocabulary for structured data when it matches page content.
Search Console
Tools from search engines to inspect discovery and indexing.
Security headers
Browser instructions that can add protections, such as limiting which resources a page may load. Their setup depends on the site and hosting.
SEM
Search Engine Marketing: a broad term sometimes used for search marketing overall; in this proposal it means paid search advertising, separate from organic SEO. Campaign management is quoted separately when available.
SEO
Ongoing work to improve a site’s usefulness and visibility in organic search. Results are not guaranteed.
Site architecture
The organization of pages, navigation and internal links.
Sitemap
An XML file listing URLs you want search engines to discover.
SSL / TLS
SSL is the older name people often use for secure website connections. TLS is the modern protocol that encrypts data in transit; HTTPS uses TLS.
Static website
Pages served as prepared files; forms can still connect to separate services.
Structured data
Machine-readable markup describing a page’s content; rich results are not guaranteed.
TLS certificate
A digital certificate helps browsers verify the site they are connecting to and establish an encrypted HTTPS connection.
Two-factor authentication (2FA)
An extra sign-in check for accounts that manage the domain, hosting or website.
Web3
An approach to web applications that uses decentralized technologies such as blockchains, wallets or distributed data when they serve a real purpose. It is distinct from AI and from ordinary SEO; a website does not become Web3 simply because AI tools helped build it.
Wireframe
A simple plan for page content and layout before visual polish.
WPO
Web Performance Optimization: measuring and improving loading speed, responsiveness and visual stability. The work and target metrics depend on the site, hosting and third-party tools.