Website words, explained.

43 common terms in plain English. The core terms include why they matter, an example and the lessons that cover them.

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A B C D F G H I L M N P R S T U W

A
AccessibilityMaking a website usable by everyone, including people who use screen readers, keyboards or zoomed text.
Why it matters
About one in four U.S. adults lives with a disability; an accessible site serves them and is better for everyone.
Example
Darker text and bigger buttons helped an older customer read a dental office’s site.
Related lessons
Privacy, accessibility and website responsibilities
Alt textA short description of an image, read aloud by screen readers and shown if the image can’t load.
AnalyticsTools that count visits and show which pages people use and where they came from.
Why it matters
It shows which pages people use and where they came from, so you know what’s working.
Example
You see most visitors land on your pricing page and leave; that page needs a clearer next step.
Related lessons
How do you know if your website is working?
AutomationSoftware that does a repeated task for you, like replying to every new inquiry instantly.
Why it matters
It makes sure every inquiry gets a fast reply, even when you’re busy.
Example
A missed call triggers a text: “Sorry we missed you, how can we help?”
Related lessons
Should your website use AI and automation?
B
BackupA saved copy of your website that can be restored if something goes wrong.
Why it matters
A backup turns a disaster into an inconvenience.
Example
After a bad plugin update breaks the site, yesterday’s backup is restored in minutes.
Related lessons
What happens if your website gets hacked? · Why websites need ongoing maintenance
BounceWhen someone leaves after viewing only one page.
BrowserThe app you use to view websites, like Chrome, Safari or Edge.
C
CacheSaved copies of pages or files that make websites load faster; sometimes it shows an old version until refreshed.
Call to action (CTA)The button or link that asks a visitor to take the next step, like “Book now”.
Why it matters
Without a clear next step, visitors leave.
Example
A single “Book a consultation” button replaced five competing links and bookings rose.
Related lessons
Why visitors leave without contacting you
CMSContent management system: the editor used to change a website, like WordPress.
Why it matters
It decides which changes you can make yourself and how easy they are.
Example
WordPress, Squarespace and Shopify are all content management systems.
Related lessons
Which website changes should you handle yourself? · Why websites need ongoing maintenance
ConversionWhen a visitor does what you hoped: calls, books, buys or fills in a form.
Why it matters
It’s the number that pays the bills: visits only matter if some become customers.
Example
1,000 visits and 30 calls is a 3% conversion rate.
Related lessons
Why visitors leave without contacting you · How do you know if your website is working?
CookieA small piece of data a website stores in your browser, for example to keep you signed in.
Core Web VitalsGoogle’s measures of loading speed, responsiveness and layout stability.
CrawlerA program, like Google’s, that reads web pages so they can be found in search.
D
DNSDomain Name System: the internet’s address book that points your domain to your website and email.
Why it matters
One wrong DNS change can take your website or email offline.
Example
Moving your site to a new host means updating DNS so your domain points to the new server.
Related lessons
Domain names, hosting and maintenance explained · What happens if you change web design companies?
DomainYour website’s address, like yourbusiness.com, rented from a registrar.
Why it matters
Lose the domain and you lose your address, your email and every link pointing to you.
Example
yourbusiness.com is renewed every year with a registrar like GoDaddy or Namecheap.
Related lessons
Who really owns your website? · Domain names, hosting and maintenance explained
Domain registrarThe company you rent your domain from.
F
FaviconThe small icon shown in the browser tab.
G
Google AdsPaid listings on Google; you pay when someone clicks, and they stop when you stop paying.
Google Business ProfileYour free business listing on Google Search and Maps.
H
HostingThe always-on computer where your website’s files live.
Why it matters
Hosting decides how fast your site loads, how often it’s online and who fixes it when it isn’t.
Example
A salon’s booking page timed out every Saturday on cheap hosting; better hosting fixed it.
Related lessons
Domain names, hosting and maintenance explained · Why is your website loading slowly?
HTTPS / SSLThe secure, encrypted connection shown by the padlock in the address bar.
Why it matters
Browsers warn visitors away from sites without it, and it protects anything typed into your forms.
Example
The padlock beside your address in Chrome or Safari means SSL is working.
Related lessons
What happens if your website gets hacked? · Domain names, hosting and maintenance explained
I
IndexingWhen Google stores a page so it can appear in search results.
Why it matters
A page that isn’t indexed can’t appear on Google at all.
Example
Searching site:yourbusiness.com shows the pages Google has indexed.
Related lessons
Why isn’t my website showing up on Google?
L
Landing pageA focused page built for one offer or ad, with one action.
Local SEOMaking your business show up in searches near you, including the map.
M
Meta descriptionThe short summary under your page title in Google’s results.
Why it matters
It’s your sales line in Google’s results; a good one earns more clicks.
Example
“Same-day furnace repair in Medina. Licensed, insured, 4.9 stars. Call now.”
Related lessons
Why isn’t my website showing up on Google?
Mobile-friendlyA website that works and reads well on phones.
MX recordThe DNS setting that says where your domain’s email is delivered.
N
NAPName, address and phone: details that should match everywhere you’re listed.
P
Page speedHow quickly a page loads and becomes usable, especially on a phone.
Why it matters
Slow pages lose visitors and can rank lower.
Example
Shrinking a 9 MB banner photo took a homepage from seven seconds to under two.
Related lessons
Why is your website loading slowly?
Page titleThe headline Google shows for your page in results, and the text in the browser tab.
PluginAn add-on that gives a website extra features; too many can slow it down.
R
RedirectAn instruction that sends visitors (and Google) from an old page address to a new one.
Why it matters
Redirects keep customers and Google rankings when page addresses change.
Example
/services.html now sends visitors to /services/ automatically.
Related lessons
What happens if you change web design companies? · Is it time to redesign your website?
Responsive designA layout that adapts to phones, tablets and computers.
Why it matters
Most visitors are on phones; a site that doesn’t adapt loses them.
Example
The same page shows three columns on a laptop and one tidy column on a phone.
Related lessons
Why visitors leave without contacting you · Is it time to redesign your website?
S
SchemaHidden labels that help Google understand your business details, reviews and services.
Search ConsoleGoogle’s free tool that shows how your site appears in search and which pages are indexed.
Why it matters
It’s the only place Google tells you directly how it sees your site.
Example
The Pages report shows a service page “Discovered – currently not indexed”, so you know to fix it.
Related lessons
Why isn’t my website showing up on Google? · How do you know if your website is working?
SEOSearch engine optimization: helping the right people find your website on Google.
Why it matters
Most customers search before they buy; SEO decides whether they find you.
Example
A page called “Furnace Repair in Medina” helps you show up when someone searches for exactly that.
Related lessons
Why isn’t my website showing up on Google? · SEO vs. Google Ads: what’s the difference? · How long does SEO take?
ServerThe computer that stores your website and sends it to visitors.
SitemapA list of your website’s pages that helps Google find them.
Why it matters
It helps Google find every page, especially new ones.
Example
Submitting yourbusiness.com/sitemap.xml in Search Console.
Related lessons
Why isn’t my website showing up on Google? · What happens if you change web design companies?
SubdomainA section of a domain with its own address, like shop.yourbusiness.com.
T
Two-step verificationA second check (like a code by text) on top of your password.
U
URLThe full address of a single page, like yourbusiness.com/contact.
W
WCAGWeb Content Accessibility Guidelines: the common standard for accessible websites.