Effective Web Design - Make the Web Work.
Glossary
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XHTML
XHTML is the language that displays your website's images, headlines, paragraphs, and so on. It's a more precise and strict version of HTML, making your website usable for virtually all visitors, even those using cell phones and PDAs.
CSS: Cascading Style Sheets
A stylesheet is a control document, separate from your XHTML, that describes what the elements of your website should look like. Fonts, colors, and even the layout of your site should be controlled from this document. This makes updating the look and feel of your website simple and easy, saving you time and money. It also makes your web pages leaner, which search engines love.
Semantic Code
Instead of describing page elements with presentational terms like 'red' or 'big', Semantic Code describes content by its function with terms like 'intro' or 'address'. CSS is then used to describe what an 'intro' or 'address' should look like. This makes your website easier to maintain and update and very search engine friendly.
PHP/MySQL
PHP is a processing language, and MySQL is a database. Together they can be used to create websites with dynamic content, giving larger and more complex websites greater flexibility. Typical uses include content-heavy websites and shopping carts.
Javascript
Javascript is a programming language. It's processed by the web browser, which presents some limitations. Not everyone uses javascript, and it can sometimes fail to load properly. Because of this, I use javascript very sparingly (if at all). I prefer to process important code on the server, before it gets to your visitor's web browser.
Flash
Flash is cool. It allows you to embed animated content into your website, including movies and music. Unfortunately, Flash isn't search-engine friendly. Because of this, I don't recommend using Flash for important items like logos, navigation, or forms. It's best used to add spice to your site.
SEO
SEO stands for "Search Engine Optimization". Certain techniques can be used to improve your search engine ranking. Some techniques are known as "black hat" techniques, while others are "white hat". Black hat SEO can get your website banned or blacklisted by search engines. White hat SEO will improve your bottom line by bringing you targeted traffic, resulting in more clients.
SEM
SEM stands for "Search Engine Marketing". Websites interested in taking advantage of search engine traffic can create an account with each engine and bid against competitors for visitors. Payment for this service is typically pay-per-click: when someone clicks on your ad to visit your website, you pay the search engine a small fee. SEM isn't for everyone, but it's an important option for revenue-based companies who want to go to the next level.