One of the best methods of learning new skill or subject is to first understand the meaning of the basic terms or phrases that are used when discussing that skill or subject, understanding the basic terms or phrases about the skill or subject can make the learning process much easier.

In a previous post, we looked at some digital marketing terms and phrases and their meanings, if you wish to learn more about digital marketing terms or phrases you can go over and read it here.

In this post, we will look at 43 website and blog terms or phrases you might frequently come across as you surf the internet or learn more about developing a website or blog.

Let’s quickly get down to the list.

1. Avatar

Avatar is a graphic or image that represents a web user on the internet, it can also be used to define who a web user is e.g. gender, location, behaviour, interest, etc.

2. Domain name

This is the name used to identify an online platform like a website or blog, it’s like a house address in the real world, domain name serves as the address of a web platform.

3. Hosting company

Hosting company are responsible for housing website or blog online, they have the infrastructure, resources and tools to make a website or blog accessible by anyone anywhere in the world through the internet.

4. Rank

Rank is used to identify the position that website or blog content appears in search engines results page, a page that appears when users search for information online using a search engine like Google.

5. SEO (search engine optimization)

This involves the process of making a website or blog to organically rank higher in search engines.

6. Content

Content is a form of an educative, informative or entertaining piece of either or both text, images, graphics, audios or videos, which can be published on a website, blog or other form of platform.

7. Cpanel (control panel)

Cpanel is used to identify the administrative back end of a self-hosting service, hosting companies offer clients Cpanel to be able to manage their hosting service.

It’s a place where your website or blog can be uploaded and managed for accessibility through the internet.

8. Hosting

It’s the act of making web content available to people with internet access, most often done by hosting companies.

9. Draft

This is used to identify an unfinished or unpublished written post in web-based platforms. An unfinished post can be saved as a draft, which can be edited and published later.

10. FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

FTP is a tool or software used to transfer or download files from devices like a computer to the web.

11. Web CMS ( content management system)

Web CMS is an open-source system, a web template, it enables a user to add, modify and reset functions to suit their own needs or styles an example of CMS is WordPress.

12. Plugin

Plugins are used to identify tools that enable more functionality to a CMS (content management system) platforms like WordPress. It works like an app on a phone.

13. Webpage

A webPage is the part of a website or blog that contain contents such as written words, images, graphics, videos etc.

14. Homepage

It’s the main webpage of a website or blog, it can be a static web page or blog page.

15. Directory

A directory is a form of a website where other web platforms can be listed and sorted based on topic and importance. This means as a blogger you can share your blog in a directory, and hopefully drive traffic to their blog.

16. Forum

A forum is a form of a website that focuses on providing solutions and answers to problems and questions web users are asking or complaining in regards to a particular subject.

17. Landing page

A landing page is a page you are transferred to when you click on a link, especially on an advertisement. It’s mostly used for collecting leads and pitching sales. Landing page can be different from your homepage.

18. Sidebar

A sidebar is used to describe both sides (left or right) of websites or blog platform. They’re either at the right or the left side of a web platform.

19. RSS (Really Simple Syndication)

This is a tool in the web that allows users to connect with/to websites or blog in other to receive regular updates.

20. Hyperlink (Link)

Hyperlink link is a clickable content in a webpage which when clicked leads you to another page or post within a website or other sources.

21. Internal link

An internal link is a clickable content that leads you to another page or post within a website or blog.

22. External link

An external link is a clickable content that leads you to another page or post outside a website or blog.

23. Anchor text

This is used to describe a text which contains a clickable link

24. Link juice

In search engine optimisation practice, it’s believed that when a site linked to other platforms it’s passing authority to the platform linked to, that authority is what is being referred to as a link juice.

25. Nofollow link

A no-follow link is a link attribute which prevents search engines from giving authority (link juice) to another website.

26. Post / Article 

Post or article is used to identify a published content on platforms like social media, website, blog or other kinds of platform, online or offline.

27. Blog

A blog is a form web platform and can be part of a website, it’s used to identify a web platform that is regularly updated with posts.

28. Blogging

Blogging is used to identify the process of running a blog. It’s the process of managing, updating and monetizing a blog.

29. Blogger

Blogger is a name used to identify a person who runs a blog.

30. Blogroll

Blogroll a list of blog link that leads to the full content of a blog post. Eg. In a website or blog, you may see something like ‘most-read post’ or ‘recent post’ where once clicked upon will lead you to the full post.

31. Permalink

Permalink is used to identify the entire link structure of your webpage.

32. Category and Tag

A category is used to identify high-level subjects which are discussed in a blog, while tags are like a low-level subject which are discussed in a blog.

For example, if among many subjects discussed in a blog is sports and under sport, you can discuss topics like football, basketball etc. In this case, Sport can be your main category, while football, basketball, etc. can be classified as subcategories of sport and be grouped under tags.

33. Comments

Comments are the opinions of readers and bloggers on a post. Blog post often has a comment section where blog readers can share their opinions or questions on the subject they read.

34. Header

The header is the top part of your blog or website, It’s the section in your blog where you find things like business or company logos, taglines, and navigation menus etc

35. Footer

Footer identify the bottom part of your blog or website, it appears below all pages or posts.  It’s the section in your blog where you can find items like copyright, privacy policy, or terms of use of a website or blog, in some site you will find sitemap, menus etc.

36. Index

An index is used to identify the process search engine takes to make web pages discoverable in search results.

37. Keywords or keyphrases

Keyword or Keyphrase is used to identify the major or most important word or phrase in your post or content, both are also used to describe the words people use in searching for information on search engines.

38. Meta description

A meta description is used to identify a brief description of what a page or post is all about.

Search engines use meta description to let web users know what they will be expecting to get when they click on a link to view the full content.

39. Meta title or page title

This is used to identify the title of your post or page that the search engines display in the search results.

40. Subscriber

Subscriber is used to identify the readers who have shown interest in a platform by giving out contact details or set up notifications for your subsequent communication. It can be either through Email, RSS or other methods.

41. Social media sharing

This is used to describe the process of sharing your website or blog content to various social media platforms.

42. Sitemap

Sitemap contains a list of key pages that make up a website or blog, it’s like a tool to direct user movement in your blog. A sitemap makes your content easier to find by users and search engines.

43. URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

URL is used to identify a tool that helps web browser locate content, such as a post, image or document etc. In the web.

These are not all about website or blog terms and phrases, you might come across other terms and phrases, when you do, please feel free to ask in the comments section, we will be glad to add it to the list.

I hope this post helps you learn more about web platform terms or phrases.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask in the comments section.

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Emmanuel Onyewuchi

Emmanuel Onyewuchi aka Digitalchuksemma is an Ex Computer Engr/Instructor turned Digital Mentor, a minimalist, Wished to be a father to 3 Kids from a loving wife. He founded the Digital Optimizers Hub in 2021 to fix the problem of an outdated educational system and lack of ICT and digital adaptability by young Africans. He has thought hundreds and Thousands of students ICT and digital skills in the classroom and online. Currently, he is the CEO and Lead Trainer at Learnvale,com, the new school online for the next breed of digital optimizers and is on the mission to help 100,000 people optimize digital tools and resources to build a thriving business that enables a freedom lifestyle.