The Ultimate Web Design Dictionary
This post outlines essential web design terminology to support small business owners, whether you are taking on the project themselves or collaborating with a professional. It will be periodically updated to reflect emerging trends and best practices. Understanding these terms will empower you to make informed decisions, enhance your online presence, and foster clear communication with their design teams, leading to a successful web design experience.
1. Alignment
The positioning of text or elements on a page (e.g., left, right, centered, justified).
Sentence: "Let’s make the text left-aligned for readability."
2. Alt Text
Descriptive text for an image, used for accessibility and SEO.
Sentence: "Don’t forget to add alt text to the image for screen readers."
3. Backend
The part of a website not visible to users, where developers manage data and functionality.
Sentence: "The backend needs to connect properly to the database."
4. Call-to-Action (CTA)
A button or link prompting users to take a specific action, like "Sign Up" or "Learn More."
Sentence: "The CTA should stand out with a bold color."
5. Content Management System (CMS)
A platform for creating and managing website content without needing to code.
Sentence: "We’re using Wix as the CMS for this project."
6. Domain
The address people type into a browser to access your website (e.g., www.example.com).
Sentence: "You need to purchase a custom domain for your brand."
7. Favicon
A small icon that represents a website and appears in the browser tab.
Sentence: "Let’s create a favicon to match the logo."
8. Footer
The section at the bottom of a website, often containing links, copyright info, and contact details.
Sentence: "We’ll include your social media links in the footer."
9. Frontend
The part of a website visible to users, including the design and interactive elements.
Sentence: "The frontend needs to look sleek and responsive."
10. Grid
A layout structure that organizes elements into rows and columns.
Sentence: "Using a grid will keep the design neat and balanced."
11. Header
The top section of a website, often containing the logo, navigation menu, and contact info.
Sentence: "The header should remain fixed when scrolling."
12. Hero Image
A large image on the first page of a website.
Sentence: "The hero image should be larger."
13. Hover State
The effect or change that occurs when a user hovers over an element, like a button.
Sentence: "Add a hover state to make the buttons feel interactive."
14. HTML (HyperText Markup Language)
The code that forms the structure of a website.
Sentence: "We’ll edit the HTML to fix the layout issues."
15. Justified
Text alignment where both sides of a paragraph are flush with the margins.
Sentence: "The body text looks better justified."
16. Landing Page
A standalone webpage designed for marketing purposes, often tied to a campaign.
Sentence: "The landing page should focus on one call-to-action."
17. Layout
The arrangement of elements on a webpage, like text, images, and buttons.
Sentence: "Let’s refine the layout to highlight the testimonials."
18. Navigation Menu
Links that help users move between pages on a website.
Sentence: "Add a dropdown to the navigation menu for subcategories."
19. Page
An individual document on a website with its own unique URL.
Sentence: "The About page will have your company’s story."
20. Placeholder
Temporary text or images used in designs before final content is added.
Sentence: "Replace the placeholder image with a product photo."
21. Responsive Design
A design approach that ensures websites work well on all devices and screen sizes.
Sentence: "We’ll test the responsive design on mobile and tablet views."
22. Section
A distinct part of a page, often divided by background colors or spacing.
Sentence: "We’ll add a testimonial section below the hero image."
23. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Techniques to improve a website’s visibility in search engine results.
Sentence: "Make sure the site is optimized for SEO with keywords and alt text."
24. Sidebar
A vertical column often placed on the side of a page to display additional content or navigation.
Sentence: "Let’s add a sidebar for blog categories."
25. Slider
A rotating display of images or content, often used in galleries or featured sections.
Sentence: "The homepage slider should highlight your top products."
26. Template
A pre-designed layout that can be customized for a website.
Sentence: "We’ll use a clean, modern template for your design."
27. URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
The full web address used to access a specific webpage.
Sentence: "The URL should be short and easy to remember."
28. UX (User Experience)
How users interact with and feel about a website.
Sentence: "Improving the UX will reduce the bounce rate."
29. UI (User Interface)
The design and visual elements users interact with on a website.
Sentence: "The UI needs to be intuitive and accessible."
30. Wireframe
A simple sketch or blueprint of a website’s layout before design elements are added.
Sentence: "We’ll start with a wireframe to map out the content."
