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Glossary of Tech Terms
People always say that technology makes things easier, but all the lingo and "geekspeak" behind technology can just make it impossible to understand. We'll gladly explain in layman's terms anything you want to know about the services we provide and technologies we employ, and here are plain-English definitions of some common internet and tech terms:
Blog: Short for "web log", term used to describe powerful software for website development, maintenance and content updating. We love these things. Think of blogs as the engine under the hood, and the steering wheel and gas pedals and such that you use to make your car go in the direction you want.
CMS (Content Management System): What DIY is for home improvement, CMS is to website updating. A CMS enables you to add content and photos, and edit and update your website at your convenience or necessity. A CMS may sound like yet another threatening geeked-out TLA (Three-Letter Acronym), but really using CMS for your website is about as easy as writing an email.
Code: What DNA is to human beings, "code" is to websites and the technologies behind them. "Code" is also slang for "HTML" (which is defined below).
Database: A set of data that can be searched through for specific things. For example, having records of your customers in one place, along with specific info and details such as their contact info, credit, and what they buy.
Domain or Domain Name: What you call your site. "BootsnAll.com" is our domain. Domains and domain names are reserved and renewed annually. You can get as many as you want, but usually you just need one.
E-commerce: Buying and being able to buy goods and services via a website.
Hosting: Giving your website space on a server (defined below) so that the web-surfing world can access your website. Think of a server as an apartment building, with your website in its own apartment inside, and doors for people to visit. BootsnAll works as the building manager.
HTML: Stands for "Hyper Text Markup Language", but really it's just what makes a webpage look the way it does. "Code" (which is defined above) is also slang for "HTML".
POP: Stands for "Post Office Protocol" and is a common Internet email protocol or format used for sending and receiving email.
Search Engine: Your best friend. Web users turn to search engines to steer them towards specific things that they are looking for online. As such, engines can send larger amounts of targeted traffic to your website.
Server: Your website's physical home. Just as you live in a house or apartment, websites live in servers.
Webmaster: Like a manager, where the website is like the department overseen. Makes sure things run smoothly, looks for new services and technologies that will improve the website, and is the point person and contact for revisions and maintenance.
URL: Stands for "Uniform Resource Locator", which is a fancy way of saying "your website's address" (or "domain name", which is defined above)
Questions? Want to talk about your web site needs? Email Sean Keener: sean@BootsnAll.com or call +1 (503) 528-1005.