Technology Glossary

A

Accessibility (a11y)

The practice of designing and building websites so that people with disabilities can use them effectively, including screen reader users, keyboard-only users and users with visual or motor impairments.

AJAX

A technique that allows a web page to communicate with a server in the background (usually via JavaScript and XML/JSON) so that parts of the page can update without a full page reload.

Alt text (Alternative text)

A short description of an image added to the HTML alt attribute. It is read by screen readers and used by search engines and is displayed when the image cannot be loaded.

Analytics

The measurement and analysis of website data, usually through tools such as Google Analytics, in order to understand traffic sources, user behaviour and the effectiveness of content or campaigns.

API (Application Programming Interface)

A defined way for one piece of software to communicate with another, often via HTTP endpoints that accept and return structured data (for example JSON).

B

Back-end

The server-side part of a website or application where data is processed, stored and served, usually including the application code, database and integrations with other systems.

Backup

A copy of data (such as website files and databases) kept separately so that information can be restored if it is lost, corrupted or accidentally deleted.

Bandwidth

The amount of data that can be transferred over a connection in a given time period, often expressed in Mbps. In hosting, it usually refers to monthly data transfer limits.

Bounce rate

The percentage of visits where a user lands on a page and leaves without viewing any other pages. A high bounce rate may indicate a mismatch between expectations and content.

Browser

A software application used to access websites (for example, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge). It interprets HTML, CSS and JavaScript to display web pages.

C

Cache

A temporary storage layer that keeps copies of frequently requested data (pages, images, API responses) so that they can be delivered more quickly and with less load on the server.

Campaign funnel

A model describing the stages a user passes through in a campaign – from awareness to consideration and finally to action (such as a purchase or enquiry).

Canonical URL

The preferred version of a page when multiple URLs contain similar or identical content. Specified with a rel="canonical" tag to help search engines avoid duplicate content issues.

CAPTCHA

A challenge-response test (for example distorted text, image selection or “I am not a robot” checkbox) used to distinguish real users from automated bots.

CDN (Content Delivery Network)

A distributed network of servers that delivers static content (such as images, stylesheets, scripts) from locations closer to the user, improving speed and reducing load on the origin server.

CMS (Content Management System)

Software that allows non-technical users to create, edit and manage website content through an interface, without editing the underlying code (for example WordPress, Joomla, Drupal).

Community management

The ongoing process of moderating, responding to and engaging with users in online communities, such as social media pages or forums, in line with brand guidelines.

Cookie

A small text file stored in the user’s browser that allows a website to remember preferences, logins or session information across visits.

Cron job

A scheduled task on a server that runs automatically at specified times (for example nightly backups, report generation or cleanup scripts).

CTA (Call to Action)

A prompt that encourages the user to take a specific action, such as “Contact us”, “Download” or “Buy now”, often implemented as a button or highlighted link.

CTR (Click-Through Rate)

The percentage of users who click on a link, ad or call-to-action out of the total number who saw it. Often used to evaluate the effectiveness of ads or email campaigns.

D

Database

A structured system for storing and retrieving data, commonly used to hold content, user accounts, orders and other information for dynamic websites and applications.

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)

A network protocol that automatically assigns IP addresses and other network configuration details to devices on a network.

DNS (Domain Name System)

The system that translates human-readable domain names (for example, example.com) into numeric IP addresses that computers use to identify each other.

Domain name

The human-readable address of a website, registered through a domain registrar (for example, dianthos.gr).

Duplicate content

Substantial blocks of content that appear in more than one location on the same site or across multiple sites, which can cause confusion for search engines and dilute rankings.

E

E-commerce

Online buying and selling of products or services through a website or application, including product catalogues, carts, payments and order management.

Engagement rate

A measure of how users interact with content (likes, comments, shares, clicks) relative to the number of people who saw it, commonly used in social media reporting.

F

Firewall

A security system (hardware, software or both) that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined rules, helping to block unauthorised access.

Framework

A reusable set of components, libraries and conventions that simplifies building applications, such as Laravel for PHP or frontend frameworks like React or Vue.

Front-end

The visible part of a website or application that users interact with directly, typically implemented with HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

G

No terms defined under this letter yet.

H

Hashtag

A word or phrase preceded by # used on social platforms to group posts around a common topic and make them easier to discover.

Hosting control panel

A web-based interface provided by hosting companies (for example Plesk, cPanel) that allows users to manage domains, email accounts, databases, files and server settings.

HTML (HyperText Markup Language)

The standard markup language used to structure content on the web – headings, paragraphs, lists, links, images and other elements.

HTTP / HTTPS

Protocols used to transfer data between a browser and a web server. HTTPS is the secure version, using encryption (TLS) to protect data in transit.

I

Influencer marketing

Collaborating with individuals who have an established audience (in social media or other channels) to promote products, services or content.

Information architecture

The way content is structured, grouped and labelled within a website so that users can navigate and find information easily.

IP address

A unique number assigned to devices on a network, used to identify and route traffic between them. It can be IPv4 (for example 192.0.2.1) or IPv6.

J

JavaScript

A programming language that runs primarily in the browser and adds interactivity, dynamic content loading and application logic to web pages.

K

Keyword / Keyphrase

The word or short phrase that a user types into a search engine. SEO work often starts by identifying relevant keywords and keyphrases for a given topic.

L

LAN (Local Area Network)

A network covering a limited area, such as an office or building, typically used to connect computers, printers and other devices.

Landing page

A focused page where users arrive from a campaign or search result, designed around a specific goal, such as a sign-up or enquiry.

Load balancer

A system that distributes incoming traffic across multiple servers to improve performance and reliability.

Log file

A file that records events or requests on a server, such as errors, access requests and system messages, useful for debugging and security analysis.

Long-tail keyword

A more specific, usually longer search phrase (for example, “family hotel in Kalamata near beach”) with lower search volume but often higher intent.

Lookalike audience

A targeting option in advertising platforms that finds new users similar to an existing group (for example current customers or newsletter subscribers).

M

Maintenance window

A planned period during which a system may be partially or fully unavailable while updates, upgrades or changes are performed.

Metadata

“Data about data” – in websites, this typically refers to titles, descriptions, keywords and other information that describe a page’s content.

MySQL

A widely used open-source relational database management system, often used together with PHP in web applications.

N

NAT (Network Address Translation)

A method used in routers to allow multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IP address on the internet.

O

Off-page SEO

SEO work that happens outside the website itself, such as earning links from other sites, mentions and building a trustworthy online reputation.

On-page SEO

SEO work done directly on the website: structuring content, using headings, internal links, metadata and technical improvements.

Open-source software

Software for which the source code is available under a licence that allows use, study, modification and redistribution, often developed by communities.

Organic reach

The number of people who see content on social media without paid promotion.

Organic traffic

Website visitors who arrive via unpaid search results, rather than via paid ads or direct visits.

P

PHP

A server-side scripting language commonly used to build dynamic websites and applications and to power many CMS platforms.

Ping

A command-line utility that checks whether a host is reachable over the network and measures the round-trip time for messages.

Pixel / tracking code

A small piece of code embedded in a website that allows advertising and analytics platforms to track visits, conversions and user actions.

PPC (Pay-Per-Click)

An advertising model where the advertiser pays only when someone clicks on an ad, commonly used in search and social advertising.

Q

No terms defined under this letter yet.

R

Remarketing / Retargeting

Showing ads to people who have already interacted with your website or app, based on data from pixels, tracking codes or analytics.

Responsive design

A design approach where layouts adapt to different screen sizes and devices, using flexible grids, images and CSS media queries.

Robots.txt

A text file at the root of a website that provides instructions to search engine crawlers about which parts of the site may or may not be crawled.

S

Search intent

The underlying goal behind a user’s search query – for example, whether they are looking to learn, to compare or to buy.

Security update / patch

A software update that fixes known vulnerabilities, helping to protect systems from attacks or misuse.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

The practice of improving a website so that it appears more prominently in search engine results for relevant queries.

SERP (Search Engine Results Page)

The page shown by a search engine in response to a query, containing organic results and often ads or other special features.

Server

A computer or virtual machine that stores, processes and serves website or application data to users over a network.

Session

A temporary interaction between a user and a website or application, typically representing a continuous visit and tracked via cookies or session IDs.

Social media

Online platforms where users create, share and interact with content (for example Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X), used for communication, marketing and community building.

SSL / TLS certificate

A digital certificate that enables encrypted communication between a browser and a server, providing the basis for HTTPS.

Static website

A website composed of fixed HTML pages where content does not change based on user input or database queries.

Structured data / Schema markup

Additional code (often in JSON-LD format) added to pages to help search engines understand specific types of content, such as products, events or articles.

T

TCP/IP

A suite of communication protocols used to connect devices on the internet and most local networks, defining how data is packaged, addressed and transmitted.

Traceroute

A network diagnostic tool that shows the path packets take from one host to another, listing each hop on the route.

U

UGC (User-Generated Content)

Content created by users rather than by the brand or site owner, such as reviews, comments, photos or posts.

UI (User Interface)

The visible elements through which a user interacts with a system: buttons, forms, layouts, controls and visual feedback.

UX (User Experience)

The overall experience a person has when interacting with a product or service, including ease of use, efficiency and satisfaction.

Uptime

The amount of time a website or service is available and functioning as expected, often expressed as a percentage over a given period.

Uptime monitoring

Automated checking of whether a website or service is available, with alerts sent when downtime or slow responses are detected.

V

Version control

A system for tracking changes to files (usually source code) over time, enabling collaboration, rollbacks and branching (for example Git).

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A technology that creates an encrypted connection over the internet, allowing secure access to a private network from a remote location.

VPS (Virtual Private Server)

A virtual server hosted on a physical machine, providing dedicated resources and more control than shared hosting.

W

WAN (Wide Area Network)

A network that covers a large geographic area, connecting multiple LANs, often using leased lines or public networks.

Web application

An application that runs primarily in the browser but depends on server-side logic and data, often providing interactive functionality beyond simple content display.

Web content

The texts, images, videos, documents and other material presented on a website.

Web form

A section of a web page that allows users to input data (for example contact forms, search fields, checkout forms) and submit it to the server.

Web hosting

A service that provides the infrastructure and resources needed for a website to be accessible on the internet.

WYSIWYG editor (What You See Is What You Get)

A content editor that shows content in a way that closely matches how it will appear when published, allowing non-technical users to format text and images.

X

No terms defined under this letter yet.

Y

No terms defined under this letter yet.

Z

No terms defined under this letter yet.