Website Development Jargon Explained: The Business Owner’s Survival Guide
Your web developer just said your site needs “better DOM manipulation for AJAX functionality” and “canonical URL optimiSation for SEO.”
You’re paying them £3,000 (R60,000) but you have no idea what they’re actually doing.
Sound familiar?
Website development is full of technical terms that sound like a foreign language. But here’s the thing: you don’t need to become a programmer to understand what’s happening with your website.
You just need to know enough to make smart business decisions.
This guide explains website development jargon in plain English, so you can communicate with your team, make informed choices, and ensure your website actually serves your business goals.
Why Understanding Web Development Terms Matters
When you don’t speak the language, you can’t:
- Evaluate proposals and recommendations properly
- Make informed decisions about features and functionality
- Communicate your needs clearly to developers
- Spot when you’re being oversold or undersold
- Ensure your website investment delivers results
🧱 Core Website Building Blocks
1. HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
Plain English: The basic structure and content of web pages
Think of it as: The skeleton of your website
Why it matters: Good HTML means better SEO and faster loading
2. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
Plain English: The code that makes your website look good
Think of it as: The paint, wallpaper, and interior design
Why it matters: Professional design builds trust and improves user experience
3. JavaScript
Plain English: Code that makes your website interactive
Think of it as: The electrical wiring that makes things work
Why it matters: Powers contact forms, animations, and user interactions
4. AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML)
Plain English: Technology that updates parts of a page without reloading everything
Think of it as: Changing a lightbulb without rewiring the house
Why it matters: Makes websites faster and more user-friendly
📊 Content Management & Organisation
1. CMS (Content Management System)
Plain English: Software that lets you update your website without coding
Think of it as: A word processor for your website
Why it matters: You can make changes yourself instead of paying developers
Popular examples: WordPress, Drupal, Shopify
📙 Guide to: Content Management
2. Database
Plain English: Where your website stores all its information
Think of it as: A digital filing cabinet
Why it matters: Stores customer data, product info, and website content
3. MySQL
Plain English: A popular type of database system
Think of it as: A specific brand of filing cabinet
Why it matters: Reliable storage for your website’s data
⌨️ Programming Languages
1. PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor)
Plain English: A programming language that runs on servers
Think of it as: The engine that powers dynamic websites
Why it matters: Common language for business websites and e-commerce
2. Java
Plain English: A programming language used for complex applications
Think of it as: Industrial-strength software development
Why it matters: Powers large-scale business applications
3. C, C++, C# (C Sharp)
Plain English: Advanced programming languages for complex software
Think of it as: Professional-grade development tools
Why it matters: Used for high-performance applications and systems
4. Perl
Plain English: An older server-side programming language
Think of it as: A reliable but aging workhorse
Why it matters: Still used in some legacy systems
🎯 Website Architecture & Performance
1. Server Side vs Client Side
Plain English:
- Server side = processing happens on the web server before reaching you
- Client side = processing happens in your browser
Think of it as: Kitchen cooking (server) vs table-side preparation (client)
Why it matters: Affects website speed and functionality
2. Apache
Plain English: Popular web server software
Think of it as: The foundation your website sits on
Why it matters: Reliable, widely-used hosting technology
3. DOM (Document Object Model)
Plain English: How browsers understand and organise web page content
Think of it as: The blueprint browsers use to display your site
Why it matters: Affects how interactive features work
4. CDN (Content Delivery Network)
Plain English: System that delivers your website from servers worldwide
Think of it as: Multiple warehouses for faster shipping
Why it matters: Makes your website load faster globally
👀 SEO & Website Discovery
1. SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)
Plain English: Making your website more visible in Google searches
Think of it as: Marketing that helps customers find you
Why it matters: More visibility = more customers
2. Search Engine Friendly
Plain English: Website built so Google can easily understand and index it
Think of it as: Making your store easy for customers to find and navigate
Why it matters: Better search rankings mean more business
3. Canonicalisation
Plain English: Telling search engines which version of a page is the “official” one
Think of it as: Having one official business address instead of multiple
Why it matters: Prevents SEO problems from duplicate content
4. Sitemap
Plain English: A file that lists all your website pages for search engines
Think of it as: A directory for Google to understand your site structure
Why it matters: Helps search engines index your content properly
💪 User Experience & Accessibility
1. Usability
Plain English: How easy your website is to use
Think of it as: Customer service quality for your website
Why it matters: Better usability = more conversions and sales
2. Web Accessibility
Plain English: Making websites usable by people with disabilities
Think of it as: Building ramps alongside stairs
Why it matters: Legal compliance and broader customer reach
3. Assisted Technology
Plain English: Tools that help people with disabilities use websites
Think of it as: Specialised equipment for different needs
Why it matters: Your website should work for everyone
4. User Agent
Plain English: Any device or software used to view websites
Think of it as: Different ways customers can visit your store
Why it matters: Your site needs to work on phones, tablets, and computers
🤝 Website Navigation & Structure
1. Information Architecture
Plain English: How your website’s information is organised and structured
Think of it as: The floor plan of your digital store
Why it matters: Good structure helps visitors find what they need
2. Breadcrumbs
Plain English: Navigation that shows visitors where they are on your site
Think of it as: “You are here” signs in a shopping mall
Why it matters: Helps users navigate and improves SEO
3. Focus
Plain English: Which element on a page is currently selected or active
Think of it as: Highlighting the current menu item
Why it matters: Important for keyboard navigation and accessibility
4. Tabindex
Plain English: The order elements are selected when using the Tab key
Think of it as: The path customers follow through your store
Why it matters: Improves accessibility and user experience
👩💻Website Functionality & Features
1. Cookie
Plain English: Small file stored on visitor’s computer to remember them
Think of it as: A loyalty card that remembers customer preferences
Why it matters: Enables personalisation and website functionality
2. Bookmark-let
Plain English: Small program saved as a browser bookmark
Think of it as: A shortcut tool for specific tasks
Why it matters: Can provide useful functionality for website visitors
3. Rich Media
Plain English: Website content with animation, video, or interactive elements
Think of it as: The difference between a brochure and a presentation
Why it matters: Engages visitors but can slow down loading
🔂 Content Syndication & Sharing
1. RSS (Really Simple Syndication)
Plain English: Format for sharing website content with other sites automatically
Think of it as: A news feed that other websites can subscribe to
Why it matters: Helps distribute your content across the web
2. Alt Text
Plain English: Text description of images for screen readers and SEO
Think of it as: Captions that describe what images show
Why it matters: Improves accessibility and search engine understanding
✅ Technical Standards & Compliance
1. W3C (World Wide Web Consortium)
Plain English: Organisation that sets web standards
Think of it as: The governing body for website best practices
Why it matters: Following standards ensures better compatibility
2. Document Type Definition
Plain English: Declaration that tells browsers what type of code to expect
Think of it as: Instructions for how to read your website
Why it matters: Helps browsers display your site correctly
3. Open Source
Plain English: Software that’s free to use and modify
Think of it as: Community-built tools anyone can use
Why it matters: Often more affordable and flexible than proprietary solutions
🌎 Database & Content Management
1. SQL (Structured Query Language)
Plain English: Language used to interact with databases
Think of it as: The filing system for digital information
Why it matters: How your website stores and retrieves data
2. WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get)
Plain English: Editor that shows exactly how content will appear on your site
Think of it as: A word processor that shows the final result while you type
Why it matters: Makes content editing easier for non-technical users
🔗 Website Addresses & Links
1. URL/URI (Uniform Resource Locator/Indicator)
Plain English: Web addresses that point to specific pages
Think of it as: Street addresses for web pages
Why it matters: Clean URLs improve SEO and user experience
2. Access Keys
Plain English: Keyboard shortcuts that jump to specific parts of a page
Think of it as: Hotkeys for website navigation
Why it matters: Improves accessibility for keyboard users
🔧 Specialised Tools & Technologies
1. JAWS (Job Access With Speech)
Plain English: Popular screen reader software for blind users
Think of it as: Technology that reads websites aloud
Why it matters: Your website should work with these tools
2. XSL (Extensible Stylesheet Language)
Plain English: Language for formatting XML content
Think of it as: Design rules for structured data
Why it matters: Used in some content management systems
🏆 Content Quality & SEO
1. Scent
Plain English: How well your content indicates what it’s about
Think of it as: Clear signage that helps visitors know where they’re going
Why it matters: Good scent improves user experience and SEO
2. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Plain English: Section answering common customer questions
Think of it as: Self-service customer support
Why it matters: Reduces support calls and improves conversions
✨ Visual Design & Interface
GUI (Graphical User Interface)
Plain English: The visual elements users interact with on your website
Think of it as: The buttons, menus, and visual controls
Why it matters: Good GUI design improves usability and conversions
Making Sense of It All
Remember: You don’t need to memorise every term. But understanding the basics helps you:
- Ask better questions during development discussions
- Make informed decisions about features and functionality
- Communicate more effectively with your development team
- Spot potential issues before they become expensive problems
- Ensure your website serves your business goals
When to Use This Knowledge
During project planning:
- “Do we need AJAX functionality for this feature?”
- “Will this CMS allow us to update content easily?”
- “How will this affect our SEO performance?”
When reviewing proposals:
- “Why do you recommend PHP over other languages?”
- “What accessibility features are included?”
- “How will you handle database security?”
During development:
- “Can you explain how this affects our site performance?”
- “What are the SEO implications of this approach?”
- “How will this work on mobile devices?”
FAQ: Website Development Terms
Q: Do I need to understand all these terms to work with developers?
A: No, but understanding the basics helps you make better decisions and communicate more effectively with your team.
Q: Should I learn to code to better manage my website?
A: Not necessary. Focus on understanding concepts rather than implementation details.
Q: How do I know if my developer is using the right technologies?
A: Ask questions about why they recommend specific solutions and how they benefit your business goals.
Q: What’s the most important thing to understand about web development?
A: Every technical decision should support your business objectives. If you can’t see the business value, ask for clarification.
Q: How often do these technologies change?
A: Core concepts remain stable, but specific tools and techniques evolve regularly. Focus on understanding principles rather than memorising details.
The Bottom Line
Website development jargon exists for precision and clarity among technical professionals. Understanding the basics empowers you to make better decisions about your digital presence.
You don’t need to become a developer.
You just need to know enough to protect your investment and ensure your website actually serves your business.
Keep this guide handy during your next web development project.
Your future self (and your budget) will thank you.
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