Glossary

Above the fold

Pertaining to content that is visible without scrolling when the visitor first lands on a web page.

Access key

A keyboard key that the user presses in conjunction with the Alt key to select an interactive element on the page.

Accessibility

The degree to which the content of your site is available to your visitors, especially with regard to visitors who have special needs.

Active state

The appearance of a hyperlink when the visitor is currently clicking or tabbing onto the link.

Affordance

A visual cue that suggests the purpose or function of an element, such as the shape of a button graphic.

Alpha channel transparency

A type of image transparency that affords multiple levels of opacity, such as the kind in PNG images, rather than the all-or-nothing, palette-based method of transparent GIFs.

Animated GIF

A GIF image with two or more frames. The computer displays each frame in turn, creating the illusion of motion.

Appearance attributes

Styling options for a page element, such as a block of text.

Application server (app server)

Software that adds dynamic information to a web page before the web server sends the page to the client.

Autostretch

Dreamweaver terminology for a layout table or layout cell that changes width depending upon the width of the browser window.

Bandwidth

The amount of information that your web host pushes to your visitors over a given length of time, typically one month.

Behaviors

See JavaScript behaviors.

Below the fold

Pertaining to content that the visitor must scroll to see upon landing on a web page.

Bitmap

See Raster graphics.

Box

The (usually transparent) rectangle that contains a page element, such as a block of text.

Broken links

Links that can't find their destination pages.

Browser check

A troubleshooting procedure for finding code that a particular browser doesn't like.

Browser plug-in

See Plug-in.

Buttons

Clickable images on a computer screen, especially in the case of a web page.

Class style

A CSS style rule that applies to special instances of any element.

Client

In a computer network, the software that requests a file from a server.

Client-side behaviors

See JavaScript behaviors.

Client-side technology

Any technology, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, that pertains to the requesting side of a network connection.

Code editor

Software for building web pages, of which Dreamweaver is a fine example.

Colspan

A table-cell attribute that allows the cell to straddle more than one column in the grid of the table.

Compression

A method for reducing the weight of a computer file, such as an image.

Content

The information that appears on a web page or web site, including text, images, and media.

Country-code top-level domain (ccTLD)

The suffix of a domain name that identifies the web site's country of origin, such as .ie for Ireland and .de for Germany.

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)

A markup language that describes the presentation of structural elements on a web page.

Database server

Software that allows an application server to connect with an online database.

Data transfer

See Bandwidth.

Defining a site

Providing basic information about a project so that Dreamweaver can manage it more effectively.

Description (meta tag)

A short, one-paragraph summary of the content or purpose of a page.

Div

See Layer.

Domain name

The web address of your site.

Down state

The appearance of a button in a navigation bar when the visitor is on the corresponding page or section of the site.

Draw program

Software for creating and editing vector graphics.

Dreamweaver template

A document that locks down all the permanent elements of your page layout while providing editable regions for content that changes from page to page.

Dynamic site

A web site that mixes client-side and server-side technology.

Editable region

A place for variable content inside a Dreamweaver template.

Email link

A link that opens the visitor's default email program and creates a blank message.

Embedding

The practice of writing code, such as CSS, directly into an HTML page.

External link

A link that goes from your site to some other site.

Fields

See Form fields.

Fixed-width layout

A page layout that always keeps the same width, no matter the width of the browser window.

Flash button

A short, interactive Flash movie that works just like a rollover graphic.

Flash text

A short Flash movie that contains clickable text content.

Font

The typeface of a text element.

Form

An HTML structure for collecting visitor input.

Form fields, form objects

Interactive elements in a form that the visitor clicks or fills out, such as text fields, checkboxes, and radio buttons.

Format

In Dreamweaver parlance, the structural type of a block of text, such as a paragraph or a heading.

Get

To download a file from the web host's computer to your computer.

GIF (Graphical Interchange Format)

A type of web image that works well with large areas of flat color. GIF images contain a palette and support animation and transparency.

Grouping

The psychological tendency for humans to find similarity in things that happen to be in close proximity.

Home page

The page that loads when your visitor types your URL into the Address field of the browser.

Horizontal rule

A browser-generated line that runs from left to right on the page.

Hotspot

A clickable region in an image map.

Hover state

The appearance of a hyperlink when the visitor rolls over the link with the mouse pointer.

HTML (HyperText Markup Language)

A markup language that describes the content of a web page.

ID

A unique label to identify a particular page element.

Image editor

Software for creating and editing computer graphics, such as Macromedia Fireworks, Macromedia FreeHand, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator.

Image map

A graphic with one or more hotspots.

Inline image

An image that sits within its surrounding content.

Internal link

A link that goes from one page of your site to another.

JavaScript

A computer language for writing short computer programs that run in the visitor's web browser. Dreamweaver uses JavaScript to implement its set of client-side behaviors.

JavaScript behaviors

Prebuilt JavaScripts that come with Dreamweaver. Use JavaScript behaviors for helpful and interactive effects such as validating form submissions, setting the text of the status bar, creating rollover graphics, and controlling Flash movies.

JPEG (Joint Photography Experts Group)

A type of web image that works well with photos, wide ranges of color, and subtle shading. JPEG images do not have a built-in palette.

Justified text

Lines of text padded with space so that they all have the same length, except for the last line in a paragraph.

Keywords (meta tag)

The subject headings of a web page.

Layer

A logical division of a web page. You can use layers instead of tables to create standards-compliant page layouts.

Layout cells

Rectangular areas inside a layout table into which you place content.

Layout mode

In Dreamweaver, a special mode of Design view that offers table-draw-ing tools.

Leading character

The letter, number, or typographical mark that precedes an item in a list.

Line height

The amount of space between rows of type.

Linking

The practice of pointing to an external file, such as a CSS document, from an HTML page.

Liquid layout

A page layout that changes size to match the width of the browser window.

Local

Pertaining to the files and software on your personal computer.

Local root folder

The folder on your personal machine in which you store the files for your site.

Long description (longdesc)

An accessibility attribute of a clickable image, giving the complete URL of the page that loads when the visitor clicks the image.

Lossless compression

A method of compression that retains all the information in the file.

Lossy compression

A method of compression that jettisons some of the information in the file.

Mailto link

See Email link.

Main navigation

The primary method for getting around your site, such as a navigation bar.

Meta tags

HTML structures that provide high-level information about the content of a web page, mostly for the benefit of search engines.

MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension) type

The format or category for a particular computer file.

Multimedia (media)

Special kinds of web content like animations, audio, and video, usually requiring a browser plug-in or external application.

Named anchor

A specific link destination within a web page.

Navigation bar

A collection of links to the main content areas of a site, usually appearing in the same position on every page.

Nested table

A table that appears inside the cell of another table.

Ordered list

A list in which the leading character of the list items is sequential.

Orphaned files

Files in your local root folder that don't appear on any page of your site.

Out of synch

The state of a web site when its local and remote versions don't have the same content or structure.

Over state

The appearance of a button in a navigation bar when the visitor rolls over the button with the mouse pointer.

Over-while-down state

The appearance of a button in a navigation bar when the visitor hovers over a down-state image with the mouse pointer.

Padding

The amount of space between the margins of a box and the edge of the content inside it.

Page view

A common measure of web traffic; one person viewing one page of your site one time.

Paint program

Software for creating and editing raster graphics.

Palette

In a GIF or PNG image, the built-in color chart of up to 256 colors. The computer uses these colors to display that particular GIF or PNG image file.

Parked

The state of a domain name that has been reserved but doesn't yet point to an actual web site.

Path

In vector graphics, an outline formed from two or more points thus describing the shape of an object. The path is the most basic component of a vector graphic.

Pixel

Short for "picture element"; a very small, colored box. The pixel is the most basic component of a raster graphic. It is also the standard way to measure lengths and widths in web design.

Plug-in

A computer program that adds functionality to some other application, such as a web browser.

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

A type of web image that, like GIF, works well with large areas of flat color. PNG images contain a palette and support alpha channel transparency.

POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3)

A standard for Internet email delivery that allows users to download their email to their personal computers through client software like Microsoft Outlook and Mozilla Thunderbird.

Primary preview browser

The browser that opens and loads the current page when you press F12 in Dreamweaver.

Put

To upload a file from your computer to the web host's computer.

Raster graphics

Computer images made up of pixels.

Registrar

A service for reserving a domain name.

Remote

Pertaining to the files and software on a computer other than your own, especially one that is part of the same network as yours.

Remote root folder

The folder on your web host in which you store your live site files.

Resampling

Fine-tuning the resolution and size of an image for a particular page of your site.

Reset button

In a form, a button that restores all fields to their default values.

Resolution

The pixel density of an image. In web graphics, the common measurement for resolution is pixels per inch (ppi). A typical Windows monitor screen displays at 96 ppi. A typical Macintosh monitor displays at 72 ppi.

Rollover graphic

An image that appears to change when the visitor hovers over it with the mouse pointer. What actually happens is that the browser swaps one image file for another in response to the position of the mouse pointer.

Rowspan

A table-cell attribute that allows the cell to straddle more than one row in the grid of the table.

Scope

The extent of a web site's content.

Scripts

Short computer programs that often run inside other pieces of software, such as a web browser.

Secondary navigation

An alternate navigation scheme that reinforces the main navigation of the site.

Secondary preview browser

The browser that opens and loads the current page when you press Ctrl- F12 or Command-F12 in Dreamweaver.

Second-level domain

The "name" part of a domain name, such as amazon and ebay.

Self-referential link

A link that points to its own page. In other words, it goes nowhere.

Server

In a computer network, the software that sends a file in response to a client's request.

Server-side technology

Any technology, such as CFML and PHP, that pertains to the sending side of a network connection.

Side-nav layout

A common layout in web design in which the navigation area runs down the side of the page.

Site definition

The collection of information that Dreamweaver uses to manage your web site.

Slicing

A technique by which you cut an image file into smaller rectangular areas, each of which you then save as a separate image file for reassembly on a web page, usually within a table structure.

Slide show

An interactive feature that steps through a sequence of static images.

Small caps (small capitals)

Smaller versions of uppercase letters that stand in for lowercase letters.

Spacer image

A 1x1-pixel transparent GIF that pads out a liquid layout table and maintains the widths of the fixed-width cells.

State

The appearance of an element like a hyperlink or an image based on what has happened (or is happening) in the browser window.

Static site

A web site that relies solely on client-side technology.

Status bar

The element of the browser interface that displays brief messages about what the browser is currently doing or where the selected hyperlink leads.

Structure (of a page)

Collectively, the elements that make up a web page.

Structure (of a site)

The way in which a web site organizes its content.

Style definition

An attribute/value pair in CSS that gives the appearance of a specific feature or aspect of the selector.

Style rule

In a Cascading Style Sheet, the collection of style selectors that together describe the presentation of a specific structural element.

Style selector

The structural element to which a style rule applies.

Submit button

In a form, a button that transmits the values of the fields.

Swap

In a rollover graphic, to switch one image for another.

Synchronized

The state of a web site when its local and remote versions have the same content and structure.

Tab index

The order in which the browser selects an element when the visitor presses the Tab key.

Table

An HTML structure for organizing rows and columns of data. You can also use it to build the layout of a web page, although standards bodies like the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) strongly discourage the practice.

Tags

The markers in an HTML file that identify structural elements. For example, the <p> tag identifies its content as a paragraph.

Target browsers

In a browser check, the list of browsers against which you check the code of your site.

Targeting

With hyperlinks, identifying where the browser should load the destination page.

Text area

In a form, a multi-line text field.

Text equivalent

A literal, textual description of a purely graphical element. You use text equivalents to make content like images accessible to those with visual disabilities.

Three-click rule

A navigation ideal for web design, stating that your visitors should be able to find the content that they want within three clicks from anywhere on your site.

Title

The text that appears in the title bar along the top of the browser window when a web page loads.

Top-level domain (TLD)

The suffix of a domain name, such as .com, .org, and .net.

Top-nav layout

A common layout in web design in which the navigation area stretches across the top of the page.

Tracing image

A to-scale mockup of your layout upon which you draw in Dreamweaver's document window.

Transparent GIF

A GIF image in which all the pixels of a particular palette color become see-through on screen.

Type size

The length of the characters in a block of text.

Unordered list

A list in which the leading character is a bullet.

Unvisited state

The appearance of a hyperlink when the visitor has not yet been to the link's destination.

Up state

The default appearance of a button in a navigation bar.

URL (Universal Resource Locator)

The specific address of a page or file on the Web.

Validation (code)

Checking the code against official standards.

Validation (form)

Checking the fields of the form for technical errors before the browser submits them.

Vector graphics

Computer images made up of paths.

Visited state

The appearance of a hyperlink when the visitor has been to the link's destination.

Web host

The owner (or renter) of the computer that serves your web site to your visitors.

Web optimization

The practice of achieving the lightest possible image file while maintaining overall image quality.

Web-safe font

A typeface that most computer users have on their machines, such as Times New Roman and Arial on Windows computers.

Web server

Software for responding to client requests for HTML documents over a network connection.

Weight (border or rule)

The visual thickness of an element.

Weight (computer file)

The amount of disk space that a computer file requires.

Widgets

See Form fields.

Word wrapping

In a text area, the browser's moving of incomplete words from the end of one line to the beginning of the next.

World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)

The leading standards organization for web and web-related technologies.