Technology and data
277 terms, explained one by one
Foundations for designing and integrating digital services and managing information. Includes development, architecture, automation and data governance.
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A
- Above the foldAbove the fold is the part of a web page or email that is visible as soon as it loads, without scrolling.
- AggregatorAn aggregator is an application or service that brings together content from many sources, such as blogs, news sites or websites, in one place, usually through RSS or Atom feeds.
- AlexaAlexa is an Amazon assistant that people can interact with by voice to request information or perform actions through compatible devices and services.
- AlgorithmAn algorithm is a defined sequence of instructions for solving a problem or performing a task.
- Ambient intelligenceAmbient intelligence is a technological vision in which everyday environments, fitted with sensors and connected devices, sense people’s presence and adapt unobtrusively to their needs.
- Anonymous FTPAnonymous FTP is a way of accessing an FTP server that lets anyone download public files without a personal account.
- Anti-spam and antivirus filterAnti-spam and antivirus filters analyse messages and files to detect unwanted communications or threats. They combine signals that may include content, reputation and behaviour.
- ApacheApache HTTP Server is an open-source web server that receives requests and delivers content through web protocols. It can serve files and work with other components to run applications.
- APIAn API is an interface that allows software systems or components to exchange functions or information through defined rules.
- API-firstAPI-first is an approach that defines a solution's interfaces and contracts as a central part of its design.
- AppAn app is a software application designed to perform particular tasks. In everyday usage, the term usually refers to mobile applications, although desktop and web applications also exist.
- App overloadApp overload is an informal expression describing the proliferation of applications and competition for attention and device space. It is not a standardised technical category.
- App store optimisation (ASO)ASO is the work of improving an application's presence and presentation in app stores. It includes making it easier to discover and explaining its usefulness to encourage relevant downloads.
- ARIAARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) is a W3C specification that defines attributes for adding information about roles, states and properties to HTML, so that assistive technologies can interpret complex web interfaces.
- AtomAtom is an XML format for web content syndication that lets other programs automatically receive a site’s new posts.
- AutorespondersAn autoresponder is a system that sends an automatic email reply when a message reaches an address or when someone takes a specific action.
- AvatarAn avatar is the graphic representation a person chooses to identify themselves in a digital service, an online community or a video game.
B
- B2B e-commerceB2B e-commerce is the buying and selling of products or services between businesses through digital channels.
- Back-endThe back-end brings together the logic, services and data access that keep an application running.
- Back-end developmentBack-end development builds the part of an application that processes requests, applies rules and manages data outside the user interface. It can include services, databases and integrations.
- BaiduBaidu is a search engine and an ecosystem of digital services associated with the Chinese market. It helps people find content and offers products related to information, technology and advertising.
- Big dataBig data describes data sets and flows whose scale, variety or velocity requires specific capabilities to manage and analyse them.
- BitcoinBitcoin is a decentralised cryptocurrency launched in 2009 that lets people transfer value without a central bank, recording every transaction on a public blockchain.
- BlockchainA blockchain is a distributed digital ledger in which transactions are grouped into cryptographically linked blocks, making it very hard to alter earlier data without the rest of the network noticing.
- BlogA blog is a website, or a section of one, where articles are published regularly, usually in reverse chronological order.
- BloggerBlogger is a free Google platform for creating and publishing blogs without coding.
- BlogosphereThe blogosphere is the collective body of blogs and the conversations among them through links, comments and mentions.
- BlogrollA blogroll is a list of links to recommended blogs or websites, usually displayed in a permanent section of a blog. It was a way to discover publications and show connections between authors.
- BluetoothBluetooth is a short-range wireless communication standard that lets nearby devices exchange data and audio.
- BookmarkletA bookmarklet is a browser bookmark that, instead of opening a web address, runs a small piece of JavaScript on the page currently being viewed.
- BookmarksBookmarks, also called favourites, are the browser feature for saving links to web pages so they can be revisited easily.
- BootcampA bootcamp is an intensive, hands-on training programme lasting a few weeks or months that focuses on a specific professional skill.
- BotnetA botnet is a collection of compromised devices used in coordination without their owners' legitimate control. It can be used to send abusive messages, distribute threats or attack other systems.
- BreadcrumbsBreadcrumbs are a navigation element that shows the hierarchical path from the home page to the page a person is currently on.
- Brick and mortarBrick and mortar refers to businesses with a physical presence, such as shops, offices or branches, where customers are served in person.
C
- CacheA cache temporarily stores data or results so they can be reused at lower cost or with a faster response time.
- CAPTCHAA CAPTCHA is a mechanism that attempts to distinguish human interaction from automated activity. Some systems present tasks; others analyse signals and return a risk assessment.
- Catch-allA catch-all account is a mailbox set up to receive every email sent to non-existent addresses on a domain.
- CDNA CDN is a distribution network that serves content from locations close to users according to its delivery rules.
- Chief Information Security OfficerA Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is the senior executive responsible for an organisation’s information security and cybersecurity strategy.
- Click and mortarClick and mortar is a business model that combines physical shops with online sales, integrating both channels.
- ClickbaitClickbait is content whose headline or image exaggerates, withholds information or teases curiosity in a misleading way to attract clicks.
- Cloud computingCloud computing is the provision of computing resources that are accessible over a network and managed as services.
- ClusteringClustering groups items according to similarities defined by a method. In data analysis, it allows datasets to be explored without necessarily starting from known labels.
- CMSA CMS is a system that lets people create, organise and publish content through a management interface.
- ColocationColocation involves housing an organisation's own equipment in a provider's facilities, with space, power and connectivity supplied under an agreement.
- Composable architectureA composable architecture builds a solution from capabilities or services that can be combined and replaced through defined interfaces.
- ContainerIn interface design, a container is a defined shape or area that groups and holds other interface elements, such as text, images, icons or buttons.
- Content syndicationContent syndication distributes content for other people or services to receive or publish. It may use feeds such as RSS or operate under an editorial agreement between publications.
- CookiesCookies are small pieces of data that a site can store in the browser and retrieve on later visits.
- CopyleftCopyleft is an approach to licensing that permits a work to be used, modified and redistributed under conditions intended to preserve those freedoms in certain forms of redistribution.
- CopyrightCopyright is the English term for rights in protected works. When accessing content, it is important to distinguish ownership of a work from specific permissions to use it.
- Corporate websiteA corporate website is the official site of a company or organisation, where it presents who it is, what it offers and how to get in touch.
- Creative CommonsCreative Commons provides licences that allow rights holders to specify how others may reuse a work. Conditions can include attribution and restrictions on certain uses or modifications.
- CrowdfundingCrowdfunding finances an initiative through contributions from multiple people, usually organised through a platform. It can take the form of donations, rewards, loans or equity participation.
- CSSCSS is the language that defines the presentation of web documents, including layout, typography, colour and adaptation.
- CybersecurityCybersecurity protects systems, services and data against unauthorised access, alteration and disruption.
- CybersquattingCybersquatting is the abusive registration or use of domain names associated with other people's names or brands to gain an advantage. Not every conflict between a domain and a trade mark automatically constitutes this practice.
D
- DarknetA darknet is an overlay network on top of the internet that can only be accessed with specific software or settings, such as Tor, and is designed to hide users’ identities and the location of services.
- Data centreA data centre is a facility housing computing equipment and resources for storing, processing or transmitting information. It includes power, connectivity and environmental control infrastructure.
- Data governanceData governance establishes responsibilities and criteria for managing information as an organisational resource.
- Data lakeA data lake is an environment that stores data in different formats for later processing and analysis.
- Data modelA data model defines what information a system needs, how it is organised and what relationships and constraints it maintains.
- Data productA data product offers information or analytical capabilities with defined users, purpose and conditions of use.
- Data qualityData quality expresses the extent to which information is fit for a particular use.
- Dedicated serverA dedicated server is a physical server reserved exclusively for a single customer, who has all of its resources.
- Deep webThe deep web is the part of the web that conventional search engines do not index, such as pages behind a login, searchable databases or content blocked from crawling.
- Digital retailDigital retail integrates digital technologies into retail activity, including online shopping, physical stores and the relationships between them. It can involve information, payment, customer service and operations.
- Digital strategyDigital strategy defines how an organisation uses digital channels, products, data and capabilities to achieve its business objectives. It sets priorities and trade-offs, connecting investment to customer and organisational needs.
- DigitalisationDigitalisation is the adoption of digital technologies in the processes, products or services of an organisation or of society.
- Direct trafficDirect traffic is visits to a website that analytics tools attribute to access with no identifiable source, such as typing the URL into the browser or using a bookmark.
- Disk spaceDisk space is the storage capacity a web hosting service allocates to a site for its files, databases and sometimes email.
- Domain nameA domain name is a name that makes it possible to locate services on the internet through the domain name system.
- Dot-comA dot-com is a company whose business is mainly conducted online, a term associated above all with the companies that emerged in the late 1990s.
- Dot-com bubbleThe dot-com bubble was the period of stock market speculation in internet companies that built up in the late 1990s and burst between 2000 and 2001.
- DroneA drone is an aircraft that operates without a person on board and can be controlled remotely or follow automated functions. It is used in photography, inspection, mapping and other activities.
- DropshippingDropshipping is a sales model in which a retailer receives the order and a supplier ships the product to the customer. The seller does not need to hold all the inventory on its own premises.
- DrupalDrupal is an open-source content management system used to build websites and web applications. It supports content structures, permissions and extensions for different projects.
E
- E-commerce managerAn e-commerce manager is the professional responsible for the strategy and management of a company’s online sales channel.
- eBayeBay is a buying and selling platform where different sellers offer products through formats such as fixed prices and auctions. It brings together listings, search and tools for managing transactions.
- Ego searchingEgo searching means searching for one's own name, an organisation's name or its brands to see what information appears online. It can help identify mentions, errors or impersonation.
- Electronic signatureAn electronic signature is a set of data used to sign other data in a digital environment. It allows an act of signing to be expressed through procedures with different levels of identification and assurance.
- Email clientAn email client is a program or app for reading, writing, sending and organising email by connecting to one or more mail servers.
- Error colourThe error colour is the colour a design system reserves to signal errors, such as invalid input in a form field or an action that could not be completed.
- ExtranetAn extranet is a private network built on internet technologies that an organisation opens in a controlled way to outside parties, such as suppliers, distributors or customers.
F
- FacebookFacebook is a social platform where individuals and organisations publish content and interact through profiles, pages and community spaces.
- Facebook LiveFacebook Live is Facebook's live video broadcasting feature. It allows people to share a broadcast and receive audience interactions as it unfolds.
- FAQFAQs are frequently asked questions accompanied by answers that address specific queries about a topic, product or service. Their usefulness depends on providing information that people need to find.
- FaviconA favicon is an icon that visually identifies a site in places such as tabs, bookmarks and certain search interfaces. It is usually a highly simplified version of the visual identity.
- FooterA footer is the bottom area of a web page, or of a section within it, where general secondary information is grouped together.
- Free softwareFree software is software that respects users’ freedom to run, study, modify and redistribute it, with or without changes.
- Front endThe front end is the part of an application that presents information and allows people to interact with the system.
- FTPFTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a network protocol for transferring files between a client computer and a server.
G
- GoogleGoogle is a technology company known for its search engine and digital information, productivity and advertising services. Its products perform different roles within the web ecosystem.
- Google AlertsGoogle Alerts is a free Google service that sends email notifications when it finds new online content matching keywords defined by the user.
- Google EarthGoogle Earth is a Google application for exploring the planet on a virtual globe built from satellite imagery, aerial photography and 3D models.
- Google MapsGoogle Maps is Google’s mapping service for finding places, viewing local information and planning routes.
- Google My BusinessGoogle My Business is the former name of Google Business Profile, the free tool a business uses to manage its listing in Google Search and Google Maps.
- Google PlusGoogle Plus (Google+) was Google’s social network, open to the public from 2011 to 2019.
- Google reviewA Google review is an assessment of a business or experience published on Google's services. It may include a rating and comments.
- Google SitemapsGoogle Sitemaps was the programme Google launched in 2005 to let website owners submit XML sitemaps and make their sites easier to crawl.
- Google Street ViewGoogle Street View allows people to explore images of places through panoramas integrated into map services. It provides a visual perspective that can help people recognise entrances, building fronts and surroundings.
- Google TranslateGoogle Translate is a machine translation service for text and other content, depending on the features available. It can help people understand information or prepare a first draft.
- GooglebotGooglebot is the name used for Google's crawlers that request web resources for its search systems. Technical access enables content discovery but does not guarantee indexing.
H
- HashA hash is the fixed-length value produced by a hash function when it transforms data of any size, so that the same data always yields the same result.
- HashtagA hashtag is a label preceded by the # symbol that identifies or groups content on services that recognise it. It can represent a topic, campaign or conversation.
- HaterHater is an informal label applied to someone who expresses persistent, hostile rejection of a person, brand or content online. It describes a perception of behaviour, not a diagnosis of their motives.
- Headless CMSA headless CMS manages content separately from the layer that presents it and delivers it through interfaces such as APIs.
- HoaxA hoax is a false message that circulates online and urges the people who receive it to pass it on to as many others as possible.
- HostingHosting is the service that provides resources to host and serve a website or application.
- HTMLHTML is the markup language that organises the structure and meaning of the content of a web page.
- HTML5HTML5 is the name associated with a stage in the evolution of HTML, the language used to structure web documents. It introduced and popularised semantic elements and capabilities associated with a richer web.
- HTTPHTTP is the protocol that defines how clients and servers exchange requests and responses on the web.
- HTTP headersHTTP headers are the fields of information that accompany every request and response between a browser or other client and a web server.
- HTTP/2HTTP/2 is a version of the HTTP protocol that allows multiple requests and responses to be exchanged over a connection through multiplexing. It aims to improve transport efficiency by addressing limitations of earlier versions.
- Hybrid appA hybrid app is a mobile application built with web technologies (HTML, CSS and JavaScript) that runs inside a native container and is distributed through app stores like any other app.
- HyperlinkA hyperlink is an element in a digital document that, when activated, takes the user to another document, another resource or another part of the same document.
I
- IframeAn iframe (inline frame) is an HTML element that embeds another web document within the current page, in a box with its own browsing context.
- InfographicAn infographic is a visual piece that combines data, text, illustrations and charts to explain information, a process or a story concisely.
- Information and communication technology (ICT)Information and communication technology (ICT) is the set of tools, networks and services used to create, store, process and transmit information digitally.
- Information overloadInformation overload is the difficulty of processing information when its quantity, repetition or lack of organisation exceeds the ability to attend to it usefully. It does not depend on volume alone.
- InstagramInstagram is a social platform focused on publishing and discovering visual content. Individuals and organisations use it to share, converse and develop relationships with an audience.
- InsurtechInsurtech describes the use of technology in insurance-related products, processes and services. It can involve distribution, customer service, claims management or information analysis.
- IntranetAn intranet is an organisation’s private network that uses internet technologies so that its members can share information, tools and internal communications.
- IoTThe internet of things, or IoT, connects objects and systems capable of collecting information or acting on their environment. It combines devices, connectivity and processing services.
- IP addressAn IP address is an identifier used to direct communications between devices on an Internet Protocol network. It may change over time or be shared by several devices.
J
- JavaJava is a programming language and part of an execution platform used to develop applications. Its ecosystem includes tools and libraries for different environments.
- JavaScriptJavaScript is a programming language used to add behaviour to web interfaces and to build other applications.
- JoomlaJoomla is an open-source content management system for creating and maintaining websites. It provides editorial tools and allows its functionality to be expanded through extensions.
- JPEGJPEG is a common format for photographic images that reduces file size through compression. In its most common use, it employs lossy compression, which discards some information.
K
- KeylineA keyline is an alignment reference that helps maintain consistent spatial relationships in a design. It can guide the placement of text, icons or components.
- KeyloggerA keylogger is a program or device that records a person’s keystrokes, often without their knowledge.
- Keyword prominenceKeyword prominence is how prominently a keyword is placed in a page’s elements, such as the title, headings, URL or the beginning of the text.
- Keyword proximityKeyword proximity is the closeness of the words in an expression within a text. The term is used in SEO to analyse how terms related to a query appear.
- Killer appA killer app is a program or service so useful or appealing that it single-handedly drives mass adoption of a technology, platform or device.
- KISSKISS is a design principle that advocates reducing unnecessary complexity. It serves as a reminder that a solution should be understandable and manageable for its purpose.
- Knowledge representationKnowledge representation organises information so that a system can use it to reason, relate concepts or answer queries. It may use rules, graphs, symbolic structures or learned representations.
L
- Legacy systemA legacy system is an existing solution whose evolution or integration is limited by its technology, design or operational dependency.
- LinkedInLinkedIn is a social platform focused on professional profiles, organisations and working relationships. It allows people to publish content and make connections in that context.
M
- M2MM2M, or machine to machine, describes communication between devices to exchange data or execute processes with little direct human intervention. It may use local connections or networks of different kinds.
- MagentoMagento is an e-commerce platform whose ecosystem includes different editions and offerings. It allows catalogues, orders and shopping experiences to be managed through an extensible architecture.
- Mailing listA mailing list brings together addresses used to distribute messages to a group. It may serve newsletters, discussions or service communications.
- MashupA mashup combines information or functions from different sources to create a new application or presentation. It may bring together, for example, geographical data and a catalogue of services.
- Media Studio (X)Media Studio is an X tool for managing media content, reviewing its performance and accessing monetisation features. Its scope includes organic content and is not limited to advertising campaigns.
- MemeA meme is a cultural unit that is transmitted and transformed between people. On the internet, it usually takes the form of an image, text, video or other resource reused with variations.
- MenéameMenéame is a social aggregator where a community submits, comments on and rates links to content. It combines participation with collective selection.
- Menéame effectThe Menéame effect describes a rise in visits that can occur when a link gains visibility on that aggregator. The term illustrates concentrated traffic coming from a community.
- Meta refreshMeta refresh is an HTML mechanism that specifies a refresh or navigation after an interval. It can be used to direct users to another address, although its effects are not always equivalent to those of an HTTP redirect.
- Meta tagA meta tag is an HTML tag in a page’s head that gives browsers, search engines and other platforms information about the page without appearing in its visible content.
- MetadataMetadata is information that describes other data or content, such as its authorship, format, date or subject.
- MicroblogA microblog is a service or format for publishing short messages, displayed chronologically or algorithmically, that others can follow and reply to.
- MicrositeA microsite is a small website, of one or a few pages, dedicated to a specific product, campaign, event or initiative and separate from the brand’s main website.
- Money muleA money mule is a person whose account or involvement is used to receive and transfer money linked to fraud. They may be recruited through a false job offer or an apparently legitimate request.
- Moore’s lawMoore's law is an observation about how the number of components integrated into circuits has evolved over time. It has been used as a reference for explaining advances in microelectronics.
- MySQL databaseMySQL is an open-source relational database management system that stores information in tables and is queried using the SQL language.
N
- Native appA native app is developed for a specific platform using its technologies and conventions. It can integrate with device features through the interfaces provided by the operating system.
- NFCNFC (Near Field Communication) is a short-range wireless technology that lets devices a few centimetres apart exchange data.
- NichingNiching is the tendency of people online to cluster around very specific interests, forming niche communities.
- Not providedNot provided is the label Google Analytics used to group the organic search keywords that Google stopped passing on to websites.
O
- OfflineOffline means disconnected or not connected to a network. In marketing, it is also used to describe experiences and channels that take place outside the internet.
- OnlineOnline describes what happens on the internet, or the state of a device, service or person connected to a network.
- Open sourceOpen source is software whose licence allows access to its code and grants certain rights of use, modification and distribution.
- Operating systemAn operating system is the core software of a computer, phone or other device, which manages its hardware and allows applications to run and people to use it.
- OTT (over-the-top)OTT, or over-the-top, describes services distributed over the internet whose offering is not necessarily integrated into the access operator's traditional service. They use telecommunications networks to reach people.
P
- P2PP2P (peer-to-peer) is a network model in which computers connect directly to each other and each can act as both client and server.
- PaaSPaaS (platform as a service) is a cloud computing model in which a provider supplies a complete environment for building, running and managing applications without having to manage the underlying infrastructure.
- PagejackingPagejacking is the copying of a page to exploit its appearance or content and divert visits to another destination. It can be used for deceptive purposes.
- PandaPanda is the name of a historical Google system associated with assessing content quality in search. It serves as a reference in the search engine's evolution in addressing pages of little use.
- Pay-per-viewPay-per-view is a way of accessing audiovisual content in which viewers pay a one-off fee to watch a specific programme or event, without a full subscription.
- PayPalPayPal is a digital payment service used to make and receive transactions through compatible accounts and payment methods. It can be used for purchases and money transfers.
- PDFPDF is a format for representing documents while preserving their layout. It can include text, images, links, forms and other elements, depending on how the file was created.
- PeriscopePeriscope was an application associated with Twitter for broadcasting and watching live video from mobile devices. It is retained as a historical example of social conversation and broadcasting.
- PermalinkA permalink is the permanent web address that identifies a specific page or post and is not expected to change over time.
- Pervasive computingPervasive computing, also called ubiquitous computing, is a model in which processing power and connectivity are built into everyday objects and environments, so that technology is available to people anywhere and at any time.
- PhishingPhishing is a deception that uses a trusted identity or appearance to obtain data, access or money. It can arrive through different channels and combine messages, pages and calls.
- PingPing is a network diagnostic tool that checks whether a device responds, and how quickly, by sending it small data packets.
- PingbackA pingback is a notification between publishing systems that reports the existence of a link to a post. Its operation includes checking the link in compatible systems.
- PinterestPinterest is a visual discovery platform where people organise content through pins and boards. It can be used to explore ideas and collect references.
- PixelA pixel is the smallest unit of a digital image or display, a single point assigned one colour.
- Plug-inA plug-in is a software component installed on top of an application or platform to add features without changing its core code.
- PodcastA podcast is a series of audio, or video, episodes published online that people can listen to on demand or receive by subscription.
- Points (pt)Interface points are logical units used on Apple platforms to organise sizes and positions. They relate to physical pixels through scale factors.
- POP3POP3 is an email protocol that lets an email client download messages stored on a mail server.
- PostA post is an individual item published on a blog, social network or forum.
- PrestaShopPrestaShop is an e-commerce platform for managing products, orders and a shopping experience. Its ecosystem includes modules and resources for extending functionality.
- Privacy policyA privacy policy provides information about an organisation's processing of personal data. It should clearly explain who is involved, what the data is used for and how the organisation relates to the people affected.
- Proprietary softwareProprietary software is software distributed with legal or technical restrictions that prevent users from freely studying, modifying or redistributing it.
- Pure playA pure play is a company that operates exclusively in a single channel or line of business; in retail, one that sells only online, with no physical shops.
- PythonPython is a general-purpose, high-level, open-source programming language known for its readable syntax.
Q
R
- Referral trafficReferral traffic comprises visits attributed to links from other sites according to the tool's classification. It may come from publications, partners or resources that recommend content.
- RenderingRendering is the process by which software generates a visible image, frame or page from source data, such as a 3D model or code.
- Required fieldsRequired fields are the parts of a form that must be completed before it can be submitted.
- Returning visitorA returning visitor is a person who comes back to a website after having visited it at least once before.
- Robotic process automationRobotic process automation, or RPA, uses software to carry out repetitive tasks on systems following defined rules.
- RoomalityRoomality is the name of an immersive display system that projects virtual scenes into a physical space without glasses or a headset. Its approach uses eye tracking to adjust the image to the viewer’s position.
- RSSRSS is a standard format for publishing a website’s updates in a file, called a feed, so that other software can read them automatically.
S
- SaaSSaaS is a model of software offered as a service, usually accessed over the internet and managed by a provider.
- Scalable pixels (sp)Scalable pixels, or sp, are units used in Android to express text sizes that account for density and font size preferences. They allow typography to respond to those settings.
- ScrollingScrolling is the movement of content within a window or visible area. It can be performed with a mouse, keyboard, gestures or other controls and may be vertical or horizontal.
- Search engineA search engine is a service that helps people find resources in response to a query. It organises information and presents results using its retrieval and ranking systems.
- Semantic webThe semantic web is an extension of the web proposed by Tim Berners-Lee in which data is described with metadata and shared vocabularies so that machines can interpret its meaning and link it.
- SEO copywriterAn SEO copywriter is a professional who writes web copy with both readers and search engine visibility in mind.
- ServerA server is a computer or program that provides services or resources to other computers, called clients, over a network.
- SessionIn web analytics, a session is the set of interactions a person has with a website or app during a period of continuous activity.
- Shared serverA shared server is a server that hosts several websites belonging to different customers, all sharing its resources, such as processor, memory and disk space.
- Sharing economyThe sharing economy is the set of models in which individuals share, exchange, rent or sell goods and services to one another, usually through digital platforms.
- ShopbotA shopbot is a program that automatically searches for and compares products and prices across several online shops to help people decide where to buy.
- Shopping cartA shopping cart is the online shop feature that temporarily holds the products someone wants to buy until they place the order.
- SiriSiri is an Apple assistant that allows people to request information and perform tasks through interactions such as voice or text on compatible devices.
- Site treeA site tree is a hierarchical representation of a website’s sections and pages, showing how content is organised and how its levels relate to one another.
- SmartphoneA smartphone is a mobile phone with an advanced operating system that can run apps and handle many of the tasks of a computer.
- SmishingSmishing is a form of phishing that uses text messages, SMS or messaging apps, to trick victims into handing over their data or money.
- SMTPSMTP is the standard internet protocol for sending email messages and transferring them between servers.
- SnapchatSnapchat is a social and messaging application associated with visual content and time-limited experiences. It enables different forms of interaction between participants.
- Social networksSocial networks are digital platforms where people create a profile, connect with others and publish, share and comment on content.
- Software development kit (SDK)A software development kit (SDK) is a set of tools, libraries, documentation and samples for building applications for a particular platform, system or service.
- SpamSpam is the distribution of unsolicited or abusive messages, often in bulk. It can appear in email, comments, messaging and other channels.
- Spam scoringEmail scoring is the assessment of signals that a system uses to classify messages and determine how to handle them. Some filters assign scores; others use different models or rules.
- SplinternetThe splinternet is the fragmentation of the internet into separate spaces divided by national borders, regulations, commercial interests or technologies, so that not everyone accesses the same network.
- SSLSSL is the name of a historical family of security protocols superseded by TLS. The expression “SSL certificate” remains in colloquial use for certificates associated with HTTPS connections.
- Start-upA start-up is an organisation developing a proposition and seeking a repeatable, scalable business model under conditions of uncertainty. The term is usually associated with emerging businesses that aspire to grow.
- StreamingStreaming is the transmission of audio or video over the internet so that it can be played while it is being received, without first downloading the whole file.
- Style sheetA style sheet is a set of rules defining the visual presentation of a document, such as typography, colours, spacing and layout, separately from its content.
- SubdomainA subdomain is a division of a main domain that works as a web address in its own right and is written before the domain name, separated by a dot.
T
- Technical debtTechnical debt is the additional cost of maintaining or changing a system caused by design or implementation decisions that constrain its evolution. It can arise from deliberate shortcuts, limited knowledge or changes that make an earlier solution unsuitable.
- Technology strategyTechnology strategy defines the capabilities, architectures and platforms an organisation needs to operate and evolve. It connects technical choices to business objectives, constraints, operating costs and the ability to change.
- TechnoratiTechnorati was a search engine and index specialising in blogs, highly influential in the 2000s, which stopped operating as such in 2014.
- Thank-you pageA thank-you page confirms a completed action, such as a request or purchase, and explains what will happen next. It should correspond to an operation that has actually been accepted.
- Time on pageTime on page is an estimate of duration defined by an analytics tool. Its calculation depends on the events and conditions that the tool can observe.
- TokenA token is a digital unit whose meaning depends on the system using it. In blockchain, it may represent value, a right of use or another asset through the network's rules.
- TrackbackA trackback is a notification mechanism between publications that communicates a reference to other content. It may provide an excerpt and a link to the site sending the notification.
- Traffic managerA traffic manager is the professional responsible for attracting qualified traffic to a website or online shop and optimising it based on data.
- Traffic sourcesTraffic sources are the routes by which visits reach a website, such as search engines, links from other sites, social media, campaigns or direct access.
- Trending topicA trending topic is a subject, word or hashtag that attracts an unusual volume of conversation on a social network at a given time.
- TrollTroll is a label used for provocative behaviour that derails or damages online conversations. It may be applied to repetitive, hostile or deliberately disruptive messages.
- TumblrTumblr is a publishing and community platform that combines blogging features with content sharing between accounts. It supports different types of content and forms of customisation.
- TweetA tweet is a post on Twitter, the platform subsequently renamed X. The term is retained as historical and everyday vocabulary.
- TyposquattingTyposquatting is the registration of domain names that mimic a well-known domain with small typos in order to capture traffic from people who mistype it.
U
- Unique selling propositionA unique selling proposition, or USP, expresses the distinctive benefit an offering uses as its central sales argument. It should be relevant to the audience and supported by the actual proposition.
- Unique visitorA unique visitor is a unit identified and counted once within a period according to a tool's method. It may be based on a browser, device, account or other signals.
- UptimeUptime is the time during which a website, server or service is available and working, usually expressed as a percentage of a given period.
V
- Vertical portalA vertical portal is a specialised website that brings together information, services and community around a particular industry, profession or interest.
- Video on demandVideo on demand, or VOD, allows people to choose when to play content from a catalogue. It differs from linear programming or a broadcast that can only be followed live.
- VimeoVimeo is a platform for hosting, managing and distributing video. It can be used in professional, publishing and organisational communication contexts.
- VineVine was a platform for publishing short looping videos. It is retained as a historical reference for audiovisual creation and short-form social formats.
- Virtual assistantA virtual assistant is a system that helps people obtain information or perform tasks through a digital interface. It may communicate through text, voice or other means and use rules, AI models or a combination of both.
- VishingVishing is a phone scam in which the attacker poses as a trusted organisation or person to obtain confidential data, money or account access.
W
- W3CThe W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) is the international organisation that develops open web standards, such as CSS, the WCAG accessibility guidelines and various browser API specifications.
- WAPWAP was a family of protocols and technologies for accessing services from phones with limited capabilities. Its different stages used various resources, including WML and, in later versions, technologies related to XHTML.
- WearableA wearable is an electronic device worn on the body, such as a watch, wristband or pair of glasses. It can capture signals, display information and interact with other systems.
- Web 2.0Web 2.0 is the label popularised in the mid-2000s to describe a participatory web in which users create, share and comment on content rather than simply consulting it.
- Web applicationA web application lets people carry out tasks using web technologies, usually from a browser.
- Web browserA web browser is an application for accessing web pages and applications: it requests resources from servers, interprets them and displays them so people can view and use them.
- Web copywriterA web copywriter is a professional who writes persuasive copy for websites, campaigns and digital channels to convey a brand’s voice and prompt people to take action.
- Web portalA web portal is a website that brings together varied content, services and links in one place to act as a gateway to the internet or to a specific field.
- WebhookA webhook sends a notification to another system when a defined event occurs.
- WebinarA webinar is a presentation, talk or workshop broadcast online in which the audience can take part remotely through questions, chat or polls.
- WebmailWebmail is access to an email account through a web browser, without having to install or configure an email program.
- WebmasterA webmaster is the person responsible for the technical operation and maintenance of a website.
- Webmaster toolsWebmaster tools are the free services search engines offer so that people responsible for a website can check how it is crawled, indexed and shown in results.
- WHOISWHOIS is a protocol for querying domain registration information. The name is also used broadly for services that display registrar details, status and dates.
- WidgetA widget is a small self-contained component that displays information or enables a specific action and can be embedded in a website, a desktop or a device’s home screen.
- WikiA wiki is a publishing system that allows pages to be created and revised collaboratively. It organises knowledge through links and retains information about changes according to its implementation.
- WooCommerceWooCommerce is an e-commerce tool integrated into WordPress. It allows a store to be managed and its functionality expanded through resources from the ecosystem.
- WordPressWordPress is an open-source content management system used to create and maintain websites. It allows presentation and functionality to be extended through themes and plugins.
- WorkflowA workflow is a sequence of activities, decisions and owners that defines how a process is carried out.
- WYSIWYGWYSIWYG, short for “what you see is what you get”, refers to editors that display content during editing in a form closely resembling the final result.
X
- X (formerly Twitter)X, formerly Twitter, is a social platform for publishing and public conversation. It connects messages, replies and content from different accounts.
- X Ads (formerly Twitter Ads)X Ads, formerly Twitter Ads, is the advertising platform associated with X. It is used to manage the paid distribution of content and activities within that environment.
- XHTMLXHTML (Extensible HyperText Markup Language) is a reformulation of HTML using the strict syntax of XML, published as a W3C Recommendation in 2000.
Y
- YandexYandex is a search engine and digital services ecosystem associated with the Russian context and other markets. It offers tools with their own access, ranking and advertising systems.
- YelpYelp is a platform for information and reviews about businesses and services. It allows people to consult published experiences and establishment details.
- YouTubeYouTube is a platform for publishing, distributing and consuming video and other audiovisual content. Individuals and organisations can use it to build an audience and offer resources.
- YouTuberA YouTuber is a person who regularly publishes content on YouTube. The name primarily identifies the channel and the activity of content creation.