This wiki defines 70 web hosting, web design, SEO and internet terms in plain words. Each page covers where the term came from, how it changed, code examples and outside references. We wrote every page in plain words, and each page links to the other terms it mentions.
Web basics
APIIt is a set of rules that lets one program use another program.
CSSIt is the style language that sets colors, fonts, spacing and layout.
EmailIt is a way to send digital messages between devices over a network.
FTPIt is a standard way to copy files to or from a server.
HTMLIt is the standard markup language that defines the structure of a web page.
InternetIt is the global system of connected computer networks that moves data.
Internet marketingIt is the promotion of products and services with digital technologies.
JavaScriptIt is a programming language that runs inside a web browser.
PHPIt is a scripting language that runs on a web server to build pages.
PortIt is a number that names one service or process on a host.
SFTPIt is a file transfer method that runs over a Secure Shell (SSH) connection.
SSHIt is a cryptographic network protocol for remote login and running commands.
Hosting and servers
.htaccessIt is a settings file for one folder, read by Apache and other servers.
ApacheIt is an open-source server program that serves web pages.
BandwidthBandwidth is the maximum rate of data transfer across a given path, measured in bits per second (bit/s).
Cloud serversIt is a virtual server that runs on shared hardware in a cloud platform.
CloudLinuxIt is the company that makes CloudLinux OS for shared hosting servers.
cPanelIt is web hosting control panel software that website owners use in a browser.
Dedicated serverIt is a whole physical server that one customer leases alone.
DNSIt turns a domain name such as example.com into an Internet Protocol (IP) address.
Domain nameA domain name, such as example.com, is an ordered list of labels that names a resource on the Internet in the Domain Name System (DNS).
EximIt is a mail transfer program that moves email between servers on Unix-like systems.
IP addressAn IP address, short for Internet Protocol address, is a numerical label for a device on a network that uses the Internet Protocol.
ISPIt is a company that sells access to the Internet and related services.
ModSecurityIt is an open-source web application firewall that filters web requests.
Name serversA name server is a program in the Domain Name System (DNS), the naming service of the Internet.
Reseller web hostingIt is web hosting that a customer buys and resells to its own customers.
ServerIt is a computer or program that gives data and services to other computers.
Shared hostingIt is a hosting service where many websites share one web server.
VoIPIt is technology that sends voice calls as data over the Internet.
VPSIt is a virtual machine that a hosting company sells as a service.
Web hostingIt is an internet service that provides servers and storage for websites.
Web hosting providersIt is a company that runs servers that store websites and send their pages.
Web design and platforms
CloudflareIt is an American company with a service that sits in front of websites.
CoffeeCup SoftwareIt is an American company that makes software for websites email designs and forms.
JoomlaIt is a content management system for publishing web content on websites.
SquarespaceIt is an American company that offers website building and domain registration.
Text editorA text editor is software that opens, changes and saves plain text files.
Web designIt is the planning, layout and maintenance of the visible parts of websites.
Web templateA web template is a file with a fixed page layout, written in HTML (HyperText Markup Language), that leaves empty spots for content.
WixIt is a cloud-based website builder from Wix.com Ltd., an Israeli company.
WordfenceIt is a security plugin for WordPress that scans files for malware.
WordPressIt is a free content management system for blogs and websites.
YoastIt is a plugin for WordPress that adds search engine optimization tools.
SEO and marketing
AhrefsIt is a Singapore company that sells search engine optimization software.
AnalyticsIt is the measurement of web data, such as visitors and page views.
BacklinksIt is a link from one website to a page on another.
Black hat SEOIt is search engine optimization that uses methods search engines do not approve of.
CTRCTR, short for click-through rate, is the share of views that lead to a click.
PBNIt is a group of blogs one party owns that link to other sites.
SemrushIt is an American company that sells tools for search engine optimization.
SEOIt is the work of raising a website's visibility in unpaid search results.
SERPIt is the page a search engine shows after a user types a query.
Search engines and browsers
BingIt is a web search engine that Microsoft owns and runs.
ChromeIt is a web browser that Google develops for several operating systems.
DuckDuckGoIt is an American company whose search engine does not store user information.
FirefoxIt is a free web browser that the Mozilla Foundation develops.
GoogleIt is an American technology company that runs the Google Search engine.
YahooIt is an American web portal that provides a search engine and mail.
Social media and video
FacebookIt is a social network owned by Meta Platforms where users post and message.
LinkedInIt is a professional social network owned by Microsoft.
TikTokIt is a Chinese video platform where users post short videos through an app.
VimeoIt is an American service that hosts videos that site owners embed on pages.
XIt is a social network owned by X Corp. where users post short messages.
YouTubeIt is an American video-sharing site owned by Google where users upload videos.
Payment processors
Authorize.netIt is a United States payment gateway for card payments on websites.
Cash AppIt is a mobile payment service and digital wallet from Block, Inc.
PayPalIt is an American company that runs an online payments system.
StripeIt is an Irish-American company that sells payment software for websites and apps.
